Phylogenetic relationships in Southern African chloridoid grasses (Poaceae) based on nuclear and chloroplast sequence data

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships in southern African members of chloridoid grasses were investigated using DNA sequences from the chloroplast trnL (UAA) 5’ exon‐ trnF (GAA) region and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions. The two datasets were analysed separately before being combined into a matrix of 50 specimens, representing 38 species. The congruence between the individual data sets was assessed in a conditional combination approach and the congruent data sets were then combined into a single data set. In this analysis, the chloridoid grasses were monophyletic and two large groups, corresponding to the tribes Eragrostideae and Cynodonteae, were polyphyletic; Eragrostis, the largest genus in the subfamily, was polyphyletic. Otherwise, high support levels were found at species and generic level.