Circumscription of the tribeCinchoneae (Rubiaceae)—a cladistic approach

Abstract

Circumscription of the tribeCinchoneae (Rubiaceae) is reconsidered on the basis of a cladistic analysis of structural data comprising 48 characters (164 states). It is concluded that the tribeCinchoneae, in order to be monophyletic, should be restricted to compriseCapirona, Cephalodendron, Cinchona, Cosmibuena, Dolicholobium, Ferdinandusa, Joosia, Ladenbergia, Macrocnemum, andRemijia. It is also suspected, on insufficient evidence, thatMaguireocharis, Pimentelia, andStilpnophyllum belong here.Alseis, Calycophyllum, Schizocalyx, andWittmackanthus form a monophyletic group possibly related to theCinchoneae. A new tribe,Calycophylleae, is proposed to accommodate them.Hillia, which is possibly the sister group of theCinchoneae, is retained in a separate tribe.Coptosapelta, Corynanthe, Crossopteryx, Hymenodictyon, Luculia, Mitragyna, Mussaendopsis, Paracorynanthe, Pausinystalia, andUncaria are referred to the same tribe, for which the nameCoptosapelteae has to be adopted. Probably alsoGreeniopsis belongs here. The generaCigarilla, Coutarea, andExostema, and possiblySyringantha andWernhamia, seem to be most closely related toPortlandia and should be transferred to the tribeCondamineeae. Bouvardia, Coursiana, Danais, Duidiana, Dunnia, Heterophyllaea, Hindsia, Lecanosperma, Manettia, Merumea, Neohymenopogon, andSchismatoclada should be provisionally transferred to the tribeHedyotideae, which is suspected to be polyphyletic, however. No conclusive results were reached concerning the position ofBalmea, Blepharidium, Emmenopterys, andSuberanthus, the position of them remaining uncertain.