TRIFT, IDA1* and ARNE A. ANDERBERG2. 1Department of Botany, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Department of Phanerogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, S-104 05, Stockholm, Sweden. - The phylogeny of Dionysia as a part of Primula explored by analysis of rbcL, ITS, rps and trnL.
Dionysia is a genus consisting of small cushion-forming or
rosette-forming plants in the Middle East, with the majority of the
species growing in Iran or Afghanistan. They are alpines and grow on
the shady side of cliffs or under overhangs where they are shielded
from the sun. The rosette-forming species strongly resemble members of
Primula subgenus Sphondylia, which share the same
distribution and habitat. The hypothesis of a close relationship
between these two groups has been strongly supported in recent
molecular studies. In addition, it has been shown that the position of
these two groups in relation to the rest of Primula is not
basal. The present study uses sequences from four different DNA
regions (both nuclear and chloroplast) as well as morphological data
to construct an internal phylogeny of Dionysia. The evolution
of morphological traits are discussed in the light of the new
systematic position of the genus, which has changed what can be
considered primitive character states.
Key words: Dionysia, phylogeny, Primula, Primulaceae