Phylogenetic affinities of polyalthia species (Annonaceae) with columellar-sulcate pollen: Enlarging the madagascan endemic genus fenerivia

Abstract

The genus Polyalthia (Annonaceae) has been demonstrated to be polyphyletic, with the Asian species with columellarsulcate pollen recently segregated to form a new genus, Maasia. The phylogenetic affinities of the other Polyalthia species with columellar-sulcate pollen, which occur in Madagascar, are investigated using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of three chloroplast DNA markers (trnL-F, matK, rbcL). The species are shown to form a well-supported clade which warrants taxonomic recognition as a distinct genus. The name Fenerivia is adopted, considerably expanding the application of this formerly monotypic name, with nine new nomenclatural combinations validated. The genus is hypothesised to have undergone a homeotic mutation in which the outermost whorl of stamens develop as inner petals (presumed andropetals), and the calyx is reduced to a vestigial flange.