Phylogeographical patterns based on trnH-psbA plastid DNA shed light on evolution within Waldsteinia (Rosaceae)

Abstract

Abstract Waldsteinia Willd. is a small herbaceous genus presumably of Neogene age and formerly wide-distributed around the Northern Hemisphere and now presents the remnants of the tertiary flora. According to the latest taxonomic revision, Waldsteinia is considered a group nested in Geum L. A comparatively low level of morphological divergence together with fuzzy ploidy patterns within Waldsteinia could not be reliable evidence to establish the former distributions and migration pathways of species. In the present study, using plastid DNA (trnH-psbA) data we tried to throw light on Waldsteinia history. Based on our data we believe that the taxonomic decision of nesting Waldsteinia in Geum does not reflect the complex structure of the obtained clade. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the objectivity of previous division Waldsteinia on two subgenera, Waldsteinia and Comaropsis (Rich. ex Nestl.) Teppner, which was based on morphological differences, is becoming controversial. We also suggest an East Asian origin of Waldsteinia and subsequent speciation and taxa distribution in the direction of Europe and North America. W. ternate s.l. (traditionally including W. maximowicziana, W. ternata, and W. trifolia) is appeared to be a polyphyletic group and at least W. maximowicziana should be considered a distinct species.