Nikulin A. Yu., Nikulin V. Yu., Gontcharov A.A.
Botanicheskii zhurnal 2015; 100(10): 1030-1040
Here we present the analysis of phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Telephieae (Sempervivoideae, Crassulaceae) based on ITS rDNA sequence comparisons, and outline the diversification time history of major subdivisions of the tribe. In contrast to earlier phylogenetic studies, our data show that Meterostachys is a part of a robust clade of the Orostachys subsection Appendiculatae, and Sinocrassula may be a sister taxon to the Hylotelephium/Orostachys subsection Orostachys lineage. Close affinity between Meterostachys and the subsection Appendiculatae was supported by both high bootstrap values and molecular synapomorphies in their ITS. According to the Bayesian dating method, the age of the most ancient members of the Telephieae is about 25 million years. We assume that the diversification of the tribe was associated with the formation of the Himalayas.
