The Prockieae (Flacourtiaceae) comprise 8 genera and approximately 50 species of neotropical trees and shrubs. For such a small tribe, the Prockieae exhibit much morphological diversity, even varying in conservative characters such as merosity, placentation, anther dehiscence, fruit type, and sexuality. As part of a larger-scale morphological phylogenetic analysis of the Salicaceae, Scyphostegiaceae, and Flacourtiaceae sensu stricto, the relationships among the genera of Prockieae were investigated. Using morphological, anatomical, chemical, and plastid DNA (trnL intron) sequence data, the Prockieae were found to be paraphyletic. With a broader circumscription of Prockieae including Abatia, synapomorphies of the group include valvate sepal aestivation and terminal inflorescences. Within Prockieae are two major groups, one with stellate hairs and capsular fruit and the other with simple hairs and dry berries. Both morphological and molecular evidence suggests that the axile (or pseudo-axile) placentation of Hasseltia and Prockia was gained independently.

Key words: Abatia, Flacourtiaceae, Hasseltia, Prockia, Prockieae, Salicaceae