Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The sandalwood order (Santalales) includes members that present a diverse array of inflorescence types, some of which are unique among angiosperms. This diversity presents not only interpretational challenges but also opportunities to test fundamental concepts in plant morphology. Here we used modern phylogenetic approaches to address the evolution of inflorescences in the sandalwood order. METHODS: Phylogenetic analyses of two nuclear and three chloroplast genes were conducted on representatives of 146 of the 163 genera in the order. A matrix was constructed that scored nine characters dealing with inflorescences. One character, "trios", that encompasses any grouping of three flowers (i.e., both dichasia and triads) was optimized on samples of the posterior distribution of trees from the Bayesian analysis using BayesTraits. Three nodes were examined: the most recent common ancestors of (A) all ingroup members, (B) Loranthaceae, and (C) Opiliaceae, Santalaceae s.l., and Viscaceae. KEY RESULTS: The phylogenetic analysis resulted in many fully resolved nodes across Santalales with strong support for 18 clades previously named as families. The trios character was not supported for nodes A and C, whereas it was supported for node B where this partial inflorescence type is best described as a triad. CONCLUSIONS: Essentially every major inflorescence type can be found in Santalales; however, the dichasium, a type of partial inflorescence, is rarely seen and is not plesiomorphic for the order. In the family Erythropalaceae, inflorescences are mostly in small, axillary fascicles or cymes. Successive families show both cymose and racemose types and compound systems (e.g., thyrses). Inflorescences in Amphorogynaceae and Viscaceae are not dichasial and in general are difficult to compare to "standard" inflorescences.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
The phylogeny resolved many Santalales nodes and strongly supported 18 previously named family clades.
- Taxon
- SantalalesSantalalese0
- Outcome
- fully resolved nodes across Santalalese0
- Value
- 18 cladese0
Verbatim
e0“The phylogenetic analysis resulted in many fully resolved nodes across Santalales with strong support for 18 clades previously named as families”
Claim · model-written summary
The trios character was unsupported at nodes A and C.
- Taxon
- SantalalesSantalalest0
- Outcome
- trios charactere0
- Qualifier
- nodes A and Ce0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“The trios character was not supported for nodes A and C”
t0“Santalales”
Claim · model-written summary
The trios character was supported at node B, where it is best described as a triad.
- Taxon
- SantalalesSantalalest0
- Outcome
- triade0
- Qualifier
- node Be0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“it was supported for node B where this partial inflorescence type is best described as a triad”
t0“Santalales”
Claim · model-written summary
Major inflorescence types are widespread in Santalales, while the dichasium is rare and not ancestral.
- Taxon
- SantalalesSantalalese0
- Outcome
- dichasiume0
- Qualifier
- rarely seen and is not plesiomorphice0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Essentially every major inflorescence type can be found in Santalales; however, the dichasium, a type of partial inflorescence, is rarely seen and is not plesiomorphic for the order”
Claim · model-written summary
Erythropalaceae inflorescences are mainly small axillary fascicles or cymes.
- Taxon
- ErythropalaceaeErythropalaceaee0
- Outcome
- inflorescences are mostly in small, axillary fascicles or cymese0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“In the family Erythropalaceae, inflorescences are mostly in small, axillary fascicles or cymes”
Claim · model-written summary
Successive families include cymose, racemose, and compound inflorescence systems.
- Taxon
- SantalalesSantalalest0
- Outcome
- cymose and racemose types and compound systemse0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Successive families show both cymose and racemose types and compound systems (e.g., thyrses)”
t0“Santalales”
Claim · model-written summary
Amphorogynaceae and Viscaceae inflorescences are not dichasial and are difficult to compare with standard inflorescences.
- Taxon
- Amphorogynaceae and ViscaceaeAmphorogynaceaeViscaceaee0
- Outcome
- not dichasiale0
- Qualifier
- difficult to compare to "standard" inflorescencese0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Inflorescences in Amphorogynaceae and Viscaceae are not dichasial and in general are difficult to compare to "standard" inflorescences”