Systematics of Polemoniaceae Subfamily Cobaeoideae

密歇根州立大学的Larry Prather博士正在通过对所有物种进行全面的分类和系统发育研究，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，来探索热带薄荷科Cobaeoideae亚科（夹竹桃科）的多样化过程。根据这里的定义，热带亚科包括五个属：棘属、Bonplandia、Cantua、Cobaea和Huthia。分类研究将以植物标本馆、野外和温室研究为基础，并将包括形态变异、花粉和种子形态、分布、生态学、染色体数目、传粉、生殖生物学、生物地理学和系统发育方面的新数据。形态学系统发育研究将辅以利用核（ITS）和叶绿体DNA序列（trnT - trl5 ‘和trl3 ’ - trnF间隔区和部分ndhF编码区）的分子研究。Prather、Rancho Santa Ana植物园的研究生Anna K. Wiese和J. Mark Porter将进行为期12周的南美田野调查，以记录形态变化和授粉系统。系统发育数据将与至少两组物种的比较形态学研究相结合，这些物种具有与相似传粉机制相关的趋同花形态。这些分析将有助于辨别同源性和性状进化如何促进相似花综合征的重复进化。对Polemoniaceae植物家族成员进行了突破性的进化和生态学研究，但对这一群体的热带成员知之甚少。其中一些物种有重要的文化贡献；自印加人以来，人们就开始种植这些植物，他们用这些美丽的植物来装饰他们的寺庙。其中一种，buxifolia，是玻利维亚和秘鲁的国花。这些物种分布在新热带地区，发生在从沙漠到雨林的环境中；许多是狭窄的地方性物种，面临灭绝的威胁，因此本研究将为保护这些物种提供必要的基础信息。初步研究表明，一些新物种可能被描述为该研究的一部分，从而进一步加深了我们对热带多样性的理解。这项研究也将为进化多样化的机制和模式提供深入的见解。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，这样我们就可以了解这些相似的形态是如何多次出现的。这些研究将提供深入了解这些进化模式是如何发展的，不仅在柠檬科，而且在一般植物中。

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.