A revision of Papaver sect. Meconidium

Molecular phylogeny of Asian Meconopsis based on nuclear ribosomal and chloroplast DNA sequence data

The taxonomy and phylogeny of Asian Meconopsis (Himalayan blue poppy) remain largely unresolved. We used the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) trnL-F region for phylogenetic reconstruction of Meconopsis and its close relatives Papaver, Roemeria, and Stylomecon. We identified five main clades, which were well-supported in the gene trees reconstructed with the nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL-F sequences. We found that 41 species of Asian Meconopsis did not constitute a monophyletic clade, but formed two solid clades (I and V) separated in the phylogenetic tree by three clades (II, III and IV) of Papaver and its allies. Clade V includes only four Asian Meconopsis species, with the remaining 90 percent of Asian species included in clade I. In this core Asian Meconopsis clade, five subclades (Ia-Ie) were recognized in the nrDNA ITS tree. Three species (Meconopsis discigera, M. pinnatifolia, and M. torquata) of subgenus Discogyne were imbedded in subclade Ia, indicating that the present definition of subgenera in Meconopsis should be rejected. These subclades are inconsistent with any series or sections of the present classifications, suggesting that classifications of the genus should be completely revised. Finally, proposals for further revision of the genus Meconopsis were put forward based on molecular, morphological, and biogeographical evidences.

A revision of Papaver L. Sects. Pilosa Prantl and Pseudopilosa M. Popov Ex Günther (Papaveraceae)

A revision of the perennial Papaver L. sects. Pilosa Prantl and Pseudopilosa M. Popov ex Giinther is presented. Sect. Pilosa is considered to contain one species with five subspecies: P. pilosum Sibth. & Sm. subsp. pilosum, subsp. glabrisepalum Kadereit subsp. now, subsp. strictum (Boiss. & Balansa) Wendt ex Kadereit comb, et slat, now, subsp. spicatum (Boiss. & Balansa) Wendt ex Kadereit comb, et star, now and subsp. sparsipilosum (Boiss.) Kadereit comb, et stat. now The species is distributed in W Turkey. Sect. Pseudopilosa contains three species with five subspecies: P. rupifragum Boiss. & Reut., P. allanticum (Ball) Coss. subsp. atlanticum and subsp. mesatlanticum (Maire) Kadereit comb, et stat. now, P. lateritium K. Koch subsp. lateritium and subsp. inonanthum (Trautv.) Kadereit comb, et stat. now Whereas P. rupifragum and P. atlanticum are found in S Spain and NW Africa, P. lateritium grows in NE Anatolia, Georgia and the Caucasus Mts.

Phylogenetics of Papaver and related genera based on DNA sequences from ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid trnL intron and trnL-F intergenic spacers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Representatives from Papaver, Roemeria, Stylomecon and Meconopsis were studied to elucidate phylogenetic relationships between Papaver and these closely allied genera.

METHODS

Two molecular data sets were used individually and combined and included sequences from the internally transcribed spacer region (ITS) of 18S-26S nuclear ribosomal DNA and the trnL intron and the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer region of plastid DNA.

KEY RESULTS

Parsimony analysis demonstrated that the genus is not monophyletic unless the closely related Roemeria, Stylomecon and Meconopsis cambrica are included in a revised circumscription of Papaver. Three distinct clades are resolved in a combined ITS and trnL-F analysis. Clade 1 consists of Papaver sect. Meconella and Asian Meconopsis. Clade 2 contains a group here identified as Papaver s.s., comprising sections Carinatae, Meconidium, Oxytona, Papaver, Pilosa, Pseudopilosa and Rhoeadium. Clade 3 consists of Papaver sect. Argemonidium and Roemeria refracta. A number of diagnostic indels support these groupings. Within clade 2, sects. Papaver and Rhoeadium are either not monophyletic or lack evidence supporting their monophyly.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this molecular analysis indicate that a number of morphological characters such as valvate capsule dehiscence, dark or light filaments and sessile stigmatic discs have arisen in parallel. The phylogenetic trees are incongruent with the existing taxonomy of Papaver, and a revised classification is suggested.