Systematics of Polemoniaceae Subfamily Cobaeoideae

密歇根州立大学的Larry Prather博士正在探索Polemoniaceae（Phlox科）的热带亚科Cobaeoideae的多样化过程，通过提供所有物种的全面分类学和系统发育研究，并结合形态学，生态学和系统发育数据来探索谱系的进化模式。热带亚科，如这里所定义的，包括五个属：Escherogilia，Bonplandia，Cantua，Cobaea和Huthia。分类学研究将以植物标本馆、田间和温室研究为基础，并将包括形态变异、花粉和种子形态、分布、生态、染色体数目、授粉、生殖生物学、植物地理学和植物发生学方面的新数据。形态学系统发育研究将通过使用核（ITS）和叶绿体DNA序列（trnT - trnL 5'和trnL 3' - trnF间隔区以及部分ndhF编码区）的分子研究来补充。普拉瑟，研究生安娜K。威斯和兰乔圣安娜植物园的J·马克·波特将进行为期12周的南美实地考察，以记录形态变异和授粉系统。系统发育数据将与至少两组具有与类似授粉机制相关的趋同花形态的物种的比较形态学研究相结合。 这些分析将有助于辨别同源性和特征进化如何有助于相似花综合征的重复进化。对花葵科植物进行了开创性的进化和生态学研究，但对这一组的热带成员知之甚少。其中一些物种具有重要的文化贡献;自印加人以来，他们一直在种植，他们用这些美丽的植物来装饰他们的寺庙。其中一种，Cantua buxifolia，是玻利维亚和秘鲁的国花。这些物种分布在新热带地区，出现在从沙漠到雨林的环境中;许多是狭窄的地方特有种，面临灭绝的威胁，因此这项研究将为保护这些物种提供所需的基本信息。初步研究表明，几个新物种可能被描述为这项研究的一部分，从而进一步加深我们对热带多样性的理解。这项研究也将提供深入了解进化多样化的机制和模式。例如，至少有两组不相关的物种，但具有相同的花的形状，大小和颜色，将被详细研究，以便我们可以了解这些相似的形态如何多次出现。这些研究将提供深入了解这些进化模式如何发展不仅在Polemoniaceae，但在一般植物。

Dr. Larry Prather of Michigan State University is exploring the process of diversification in the tropical subfamily Cobaeoideae of the Polemoniaceae (Phlox family) by providing comprehensive taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of all the species and by combining morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic data to explore patterns of evolution in the lineage. The tropical subfamily, as defined here, includes five genera: Acanthogilia, Bonplandia, Cantua, Cobaea and Huthia. Taxonomic studies will be based on herbarium, field, and greenhouse studies and will include new data on morphological variation, pollen and seed morphology, distribution, ecology, chromosome numbers, pollination, reproductive biology, biogeography, and phylogeny. Morphological phylogenetic studies will be complemented by molecular studies using nuclear (ITS) andchloroplast DNA sequences (trnT - trnL 5' and trnL 3' - trnF spacer regions, and partial ndhF coding region). Prather, graduate student Anna K. Wiese, and J. Mark Porter of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, will perform twelve weeks of South American fieldwork to document morphological variation and pollination systems. Phylogenetic data will be combined with comparative morphological studies in at least two sets of species that have convergent floral morphologies associated with similar pollination mechanisms. These analyses will help to discern how homology and character evolution contribute to the repetitive evolution of similar floral syndromes. Groundbreaking evolutionary and ecological studies have been performed onmembers of the plant family Polemoniaceae, yet little is known about the tropical members of this group. Several of these species have important cultural contributions; they have been in cultivation since the time of the Incas, who used these beautiful plants to adorn their temples. One species, Cantua buxifolia, is the national flower of both Bolivia and Peru. These species are distributed in the neotropics and occur in environments from desert to rainforest; many are narrow endemics and are threatened with extinction, thus this study will provide the basic information needed for conservation of these species. Preliminary studies suggest that several new species may be described as a part of this study, thus furthering our understanding of tropical diversity. This study will also provide insight into the mechanisms and pattern of evolutionary diversification. For example, at least two sets of species that are unrelated, but that have the same floral shape, size, and color, will be studied in detail so that we can learn how these similar morphologies arise multiple times. These studies will provide insight into how these evolutionary patterns develop not only in the Polemoniaceae, butin plants in general.