Phylogeny of the African Mutisieae s.l. (Asteraceae) based on ndhF and trnL-F sequences (cpDNA)

A molecular phylogenetic study of the African Mutisieae s.l. (Asteraceae) was performed using the chloroplast markers ndhF and trnL-F. The sequences of 46 species, including three representatives of Cynareae (Cardueae), were analysed applying maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference, with Mutisia and Hecastocleis as outgroups. Four main clades corresponding to the tribes Cynareae, Dicomeae, Tarchonantheae and Oldenburgieae were identified, although relationships among them were unresolved. Dicomeae split into two main clades, which on the basis of these results and a previous morphological-anatomical phylogenetic analysis are proposed as two new subtribes: Dicominae and Pleiotaxinae. Within Dicominae, Dicoma welwitschii is located outside the Dicoma clade, in a clade that includes the Pasaccardoa species. Given the singular morphology of D. welwitschii, the new genus Dicomopsis has been proposed. A more detailed study with additional markers will be necessary to decide whether Pasaccardoa baumii should be included in Dicomopsis or described as a monotypic genus. The topology of the Tarchonantheae clade does not contribute to elucidating the relationships between Tarchonanthus and Brachylaena. The four species of Oldenburgia form a well-supported monophyletic group (Oldenburgieae), despite their heterogeneous morphology.