Molecular phylogenetics of Dipsacaceae reveals parallel trends in seed dispersal syndromes

Phylogenetic relationships among 17 taxa of Dipsacaceae were inferred from nucleotide sequence variation in both the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron sequences. The combined phylogenetic analysis, carried out by using two taxa from Valerianaceae as an outgroup yielded a single most parsimonious tree, in which Dipsacaceae are divided into two major clades: one including Lomelosia and Pycnocomon, both in a sister group relationship with a clade containing Pterocephalus, Scabiosa and Sixalix; the other including Pseudoscabiosa, Succisa and Succisella is sister group to Knautia, Pterocephalidium, Dipsacus and Cephalaria. The results obtained here greatly differ from previous ones based on classical morphology, but are congruent with recent findings on epicalyx differentiation and with pollen characters. In particular, our results would confirm on molecular grounds the recently restricted circumscription for Scabioseae proposed by other authors. Our phylogenetic hypothesis indicates that adaptations to seed dispersal have been a very strong driving force in Dipsacaceae evolution, with similar selective pressures causing the onset of similar epicalyx shapes and dispersal modes in a parallel fashion in various taxa. For this reason, the gross morphology of the involucel is deceptive in inferring relationships.