Contributions to a molecular phylogeny and systematics of Anemone and related genera (Ranunculaceae-Anemoninae)
Contributions to a molecular phylogeny and systematics of Anemone and related genera （Ranunculaceae—Anemoninae）

Plastid atp B/ rbc L intergenic spacer sequences were obtained from 21 selected taxa and one hybrid of Anemoninae ( Anemone, Pulsatilla, Hepatica ) and compared with Ficaria (Ranunculinae) as an outgroup. From the resulting matrix (1226 bp) a single most parsimonious tree was obtained (Fig. 1). The branching of this tree is confirmed by many informative indels and appears largely congruent with past plastid restriction analyses. Several new taxa are added. The monophyly of the Anemoninae and their early split into two major clades is supported: clade I with the chromosome base number x=8, clade II with the reduced x=7. Clade I is made up of the basal Pulsatilla and the Rivularis Vitifolia groups. The Multifida group links to the crown groups Coronaria, Blanda and Nemorosa. Clade II consists of the basal Dichotoma group, followed by Hepatica, and finally by the N. Hemisphere Narcissiflora and the S. Hemisphere Antucensis groups as sisters. The problems of the Anemoninae ancestry, phylogenetic differentiation, and recent attempts for systematic classification are critically discussed. In view of the still incomplete sampling of DNA data, a conservative and informal approach to classification problems is recommended.