ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3558
Poster No. = 699


EVOLUTION IN THE AUSTRALIAN LORANTHACEOUS MISTLETOES


Ainsley Calladine and Michelle Waycott, Plant Sciences & TESAG, James Cook University, Australia


The Loranthaceae are epiphytic parasites except three monotypic genera of root parasites (Nuytsia, Atkinsonia and Gaiadendron) among some 1000 species in the family. These three encompass a range in habit, trees, shrub and liana, and have been considered primitive in this family, two being Australian endemics. The Australian mistletoe flora includes Gondwanan and intrusive elements. The intrusive component is a recent arrival from Malesia. The Gondwanan element contains relict temperate Gondwanan taxa with various plesiomorphic character states and derived tropical and arid Australian radiations. We use 18S rDNA sequence data to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Australian Loranthaceae investigating evolutionary trends among primitive Gondwanan and intrusive elements and assumptions of primitive status in terrestrial genera.


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