XVI International Botanical Congess

To clarify phylogenetic relationships of Caprifoliaceae, matK sequences were analyzed. Molecular data clearly demonstrate that Caprifoliaceae in traditional sense are not monophyletic. Seven major clades, Sambucus-Adoxa, Viburnum, Diervilla, Lonicera, Heptacodium, Linnaea and Zabelia, were recognized. Among them, Sambucus-Adoxa and Viburnum were placed at the base of the tree. Lonicera was paraphyetic and closely allied with Symphoricarpos and Triosteum. The tribe Linnaeeae did not appear as a monophyletic group and divided into two clades of Zabelia and Linnaea. Linnaea clade appeared as a sister group to Dipsacaceae and Valerianaceae. These results suggest that taxonomic circumscriptions of Caprifoliaceae sensu lato should be reconsidered.