Cladistic analysis of the section Adonanthe under genus Adonis L. (Ranunculaceae) from East Asia

Abstract

Cladistic analysis was conducted for 11 taxa belonging to sect. Adonanthe in the gen. Adonis in East Asia on the basis of morphological and cytological characters, and the evolutionary change of major diagnostic characters and the validity of the existing taxonomic system were reviewed. Adonis davidii has been considered the most primitive species of the 11 treated taxa. However, cladistic analysis indicated that A. davidii differentiated since A. sutchuenensis branched. Evolutionary tendencies of taxonomic characters were generally orthogenesis. However, a few characters evolved in the reverse direction. Meanwhile, the cladistic analysis did not support the classification system proposed by Wang, who classified sect. Adonanthe into four series, as most of these were found to be rather polyphyletic or paraphyletic. The differences between these proposed four series were thought to be attributed to the adaptation of only a few morphological characters that pertained to the leaves shape and the petals color.