2001/09/01 by Wendy B. Zomlefer, Norris H. Williams, W. Mark Whitten +1 · 6 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
paper · doi:10.2307/3558411
openalex publication_date 2001/09/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The circumscription and relationships of genera within the tribe Melanthieae (29 representative taxa) were evaluated using parsimony analyses of ITS (nuclear ribosomal) and trnL-F (plastid) DNA sequence data, alone and in combination. Proposed new generic circumscriptions, strongly supported by the tree statistics and topologies in all analyses, are correlated with potential morphological synapomorphies at the proper level of universality. Based on the molecular cladograms, Stenanthium is biphyletic, and the traditional Zigadenus s.l. (sensu lato) is polyphyletic. Amianthium and Schoenocaulon are distinct entities; the Veratrum complex is conservatively treated as one large monophyletic genus (including Melanthium). Although some generic relationships are not highly resolved, the analyses provide strong support for Zigadenus glaberrimus as sister to the rest of the tribe, and Amianthium muscitoxicum as closely related to Veratrum s.l. As a result of these analyses, seven genera (some with novel circumscription) are recognized within the tribe Melanthieae: Amianthium, Anticlea, Schoenocaulon, Stenanthium, Toxicoscordion, Veratrum, and Zigadenus.