A phylogenetic analysis of the Schisandraceae based on morphology and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

Abstract

Cladistic analyses were conducted using morphological and ITS sequence data to examine phylogenetic relationships within the Schisandraceae. The most parsimonious trees obtained from the morphological data consistently show a dichotomy, with clades corresponding with the two currently accepted genera, Kadsura and Schisandra. In the ITS trees S. propinqua consistently groups with the Kadsura clade, and the position of S. glabra is uncertain. The trees resulting from the analysis of combined data are polytomous, due to the variable positions of K. scandens, K. coccinea and S. propinqua. The monophyletic status of Kadsura subgen. Kadsura sect. Kadsura and Schisandra subgen. Pleiostema are strongly supported, although the monophyly of other supraspecific taxa is unclear. Further studies are required before an unambiguous phylogeny is achieved for the family.