title: Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution of the "sacaca" clade: novel relationships of Croton section Cleodora (Euphorbiaceae).
abstract: Phylogenetic relationships of Croton section Cleodora (Klotzsch) Baill. were evaluated using the nuclear ribosomal ITS and the chloroplast trnL-F and trnH-psbA regions. Our results show a strongly supported clade containing most previously recognized section Cleodora species, plus some other species morphologically similar to them. Two morphological synapomorphies that support section Cleodora as a clade include pistillate flowers in which the sepals overlap to some degree, and styles that are connate at the base to varying degrees. The evolution of vegetative and floral characters that have previously been relied on for taxonomic decisions within this group are evaluated in light of the phylogenetic hypotheses. Within section Cleodora there are two well-supported clades, which are proposed here as subsections (subsection Sphaerogyni and subsection Spruceani). The resulting phylogenetic hypothesis identifies the closest relatives of the medicinally important and essential oil-rich Croton cajucara Benth. as candidates for future screening in phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo Cx. Postal 11461, 05422-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mbrcaruzo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz R
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Caruzo
authors.forename: Benjamin W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van Ee
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Ricarda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riina
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001938:Brazil; D029802:Croton / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D018742:DNA, Chloroplast / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D018742:DNA, Chloroplast; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer