Molecular phylogenetic study of Utricularia section Oligocista in Australia and a new Cape York endemic species

Abstract

Utricularia section Oligocista A.DC. (Lentibulariaceae) is distributed across the old and new world tropics. Wepresent a molecular phylogeny using a matrix of the nuclear ITS and two chloroplast markers that includes 19of the 37 recognised species sampled across the range of each species. The phylogenetic study also includesmembers of the closely allied sections Enskide (Raf.) P.Taylor (including section Minutae Lowrie, Cowie &Conran) and Stomoisia (Raf.) Kuntze from across each of their distributions. The phylogeny shows that Australiacontains species from the two major clades of section Oligocista, with each involving ancestors with yellow andpurple/mauve corolla colours. This study provides morphological and molecular evidence for recognition of anew species, Utricularia irwinica R.W.Jobson & Baleeiro, from Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. A lectotypeis designated for the name Utricularia cyanea var. alba Benth. We also recommend changes to the taxonomyof sections Enskide and Oligocista based on the phylogenetic results and morphology.