title: Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the Andean clade and the placement of new Colombian blueberries (Ericaceae, Vaccinieae).
abstract: The blueberry tribe Vaccinieae (Ericaceae) is particularly diverse in South America and underwent extensive radiation in Colombia where many endemics occur. Recent fieldwork in Colombia has resulted in valuable additions to the phylogeny and as well in the discovery of morphologically noteworthy new species that need to be phylogenetically placed before being named. This is particularly important, as the monophyly of many of the studied genera have not been confirmed. In order to advance our understanding of the relationships within neotropical Vaccinieae and advice the taxonomy of the new blueberry relatives, here we present the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for the Andean clade. Anthopterus, Demosthenesia, and Pellegrinia are among the putative Andean genera recovered as monophyletic, while other eight Andean genera were not. The analyses also showed that genera that have been traditionally widely defined are non-monophyletic and could be further split into more discrete groups. Four newly discovered Colombian Vaccinieae are placed in the monophyletic Satyria s.s. and the Psammisia I clade. Although these new species are endemic to the Colombian Western Cordillera and Chocó biogeographic region and three are not known outside of Las Orquídeas National Park, they do not form sister pairs.
authors.affiliation: The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, Bronx, NY 10458, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedraza-Peñalosa
authors.affiliation: The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, Bronx, NY 10458, U.S.A. ; City University of New York, The Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Nelson R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: The New York Botanical Garden, Institute of Systematic Botany, Bronx, NY 10458, U.S.A. ; City University of New York, The Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Anne Lucy S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Virnig
authors.affiliation: American Museum of Natural History, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Ward C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wheeler
keywords: Andes; Colombia; Ericaceae; Molecular phylogeny; New species; Vaccinieae