Phylogeny and biogeography of the pantropical genus Zanthoxylum and its closest relatives in the proto-Rutaceae group (Rutaceae)

Abstract

Zanthoxylum L. (prickly ash) is the only genus in the Citrus L. family (Rutaceae) with a pantropical distribution. We present the first detailed phylogenetic and biogeographic study of the genus and its close relatives in the proto-Rutaceae group. Our phylogenetic analyses based on two plastid and two nuclear markers show that the genus Toddalia Juss. is nested within Zanthoxylum, that earlier generic and intrageneric classifications need revision, and that the homochlamydeous flowers of the temperate species of Zanthoxylum are the result of a reduction from heterochlamydeous flowers. The biogeographic analyses reveal a Eurasian origin of Zanthoxylum in the Paleocene or Eocene with successive intercontinental or long-range migrations. Zanthoxylum likely crossed the North Atlantic Land Bridges to colonize the Americas in the Eocene, and migrated back to the Old World probably via the Bering Land Bridge in the Oligocene or Miocene. Zanthoxylum also colonized several Pacific Islands and the Hawaiian clade shows phylogenetic incongruence between the plastid and nuclear datasets, suggesting hybridization. The Hawaiian species are one of the rare examples of endemic Hawaiian lineages that are older than the current main islands.