%0 Journal Article
%T Molecular Phylogeny of the Philippine Endemic Genus <i>Antherostele</i> Bremek. (Rubiaceae) Inferred from ITS Data (nrDNA) and Its Conservation Status
%A Jasper John A. Obico
%A Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 1399-1407
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2012
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2012.310169
%X <i>Antherostele</i> Bremek. is an understudied genus of Rubiaceae endemic to the Philippines formerly comprising four species of shrubs or small trees distributed in Luzon and Visayas. In this first molecular study of the genus, the ITS (nrDNA) was utilized to determine the monophyly of <i>Antherostele</i>, reconstruct its phylogeny, and resolve its placement in Rubiaceae. Furthermore, an update on the assessment of its conservation status of the included species in the genus was done. <i>Antherostele</i> is monophyletic and is nested within the tribe Urophylleae of subfamily Rubioideae which confirms its segregation from <i>Urophyllum</i> and its placement within Urophylleae as proposed by earlier authors based on morphology. However, the relationships of Urophylleae members remain unresolved. <i>Antherostele</i> is united by reflexed corolla, hairs on upper side of the corolla lobes and syngenesious stamens. The montane <i>A. luzoniensis</i> with small leaves is found to be sister to the rest of <i>Antherostele</i> species. <i>Antherostele</i> is hypothesized to originate from montane regions and diversified by forming larger leaves following dispersal to the shaded forest understory. From the five species of <i>Antherostele</i> currently recognized in the study, two are endangered (<i>A. banahaensis, A. grandistipula</i>) and three are critically endangered including a new species (<i>A. callophylla, A. luzoniensis, A.</i> sp. nov.) following the criteria of IUCN.
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Antherostele&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Philippine Endemic
%K ITS
%K IUCN
%K Rubiaceae
%K Urophylleae
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=24103