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Leucheria (Asteraceae, Mutisioideae, Nassauvieae) has been traditionally defined as a South American genus with 49 species. In the context of an ongoing revision of the genus, we observed that 10 Chilean species (Leucheria cerberoana, L. cumingii, L. glabriuscula, L. glandulosa, L. menana, L. multiflora, L. oligocephala, L. senecioides, L. tenuis, L. tomentosa) were morphologically difficult to distinguish from each other. This group of species, called here the Leucheria cerberoana complex, shares the following features that differ from the other species of Leucheria: marginal florets and fruits of the capitulum tightly enclosed by the outer and the inner phyllaries, synaptospermy and a dimorphic pappus. Here, we test the current morphological circumscription of these 10 species on the basis of the analysis of 171 specimens. We carried out multivariate analyses (Principal Coordinate Analysis and K-means) based on 16 external morphological characters. We also examined anatomically the underground organs because these species were distinguished from each other by their annual or perennial life cycle. We found that all the specimens analyzed have underground organs with secondary growth and thus there are not annual species in this group. Our results showed that there are no morphological gaps among specimens supporting the hypothesis of a single species. It is proposed here to synonymize these species under the name Leucheria tomentosa (Lessing) Crisci. With this change, the number of species of Leucheria is reduced from 49 to 40.

Trixis salina is a new endemic species from restinga vegetation of the Center of Plant Diversity of Cabo Frio region in Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil. It grows in rocky ravines, rocky shores, and in shrubby restinga. The new species is morphologically similar to Trixis antimenorhoea; however, they differ in habit, branches, trichomes, leaf morphology, involucral bracts, and number of flowers per head. The preliminary conservation status assessment shows that Trixis salina must be included in Endangered (EN) category.

This study presents a detailed examination of the echinate and microechinate sculpturing in relation to the size of pollen grains in 31 selected species of Asteraceae belonging to the subfamilies Barnadesioideae, Mutisioideae, Carduoideae and Asteroideae. The aims were to recognize sculpturing patterns, under LM and SEM, within large and small pollen of both basal and derived species and to explore the features that could have taxonomic value to apply in palynological disciplines. The detailed examination of the exine surface showed both the relevance and limits of sculptural patterns for taxonomy. Under LM, the microechinate sculpture gave little taxonomic information, whereas in the echinate sculpture, three exine types and two subtypes were recognized. Type I included microechinate exine, which is commonly present in large pollen grains of the basal lineages. Types II (subtypes IIa and IIb) and III included echinate and smaller pollen grains. In these types, spines were always regularly arranged and, were characterized by the length, shape, tip, perforations and distribution. Type IIa included more or less conical spines usually with a distended base, less than 4 µm in length, present in species of different tribes like Astereae, Eupatorieae, Helenieae, Gnaphalieae, Senecioideae and Heliantheae to a lesser extent. Type IIb includes slender spines with narrower bases, longer than 4 µm, present in species of Coreopsideae, Heliantheae, Tageteae and Eupatorieae to a lesser extent. Type III included spines with swollen base, blunt tip and perforations over their entire surface. This type was present in only one of the basal species—Carduus thoermeri—and in one species of the derived tribe Helenieae, Gaillardia megapotamica. Probably, this is due to evolutionary convergence. Fil: Tellería, María Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentina

During the course of a recent research project on Adenocaulon and Eriachaenium it became apparent that some of the species names had not been typified. In this study we located and designated as much type material as possible for these two genera. We indicate holotypes or lectotypes where appropriate, including one for the type of the genus Adenocaulon.

The sunflower family (Asteraceae) is the largest and the most diverse flowering plant family, comprising 24 000–30 000 species and 1600–1700 genera. In China, Asteraceae are also the largest family, with approximately 2336 indigenous species in 248 genera. In the past two decades, molecular phylogenetic analyses has contributed greatly to our understanding of the systematics of Asteraceae. Nevertheless, the large-scale analyses and knowledge about the relationships of Chinese Asteraceae at the generic level as a whole are far from complete due to difficulties in sampling. In this study, we presented a three-marker (rbcL, ndhF, and matK) phylogeny of Asteraceae, including 506 genera (i.e., approximately one-third of Asteraceae genera). The study sampled 200 Chinese genera (i.e., approximately 80% of Chinese Asteraceae genera). The backbones of the new phylogeny were largely congruent with earlier studies, with 13 subfamilies and 45 tribes recognized. Chinese Asteraceae were distributed in 7 subfamilies (Mutisioideae, Wunderlichioideae, Carduoideae, Pertyoideae, Gymnarrhenoideae, Cichorioideae, and Asteroideae) and 22 tribes (Mutiseae, Hyalideae, Cardueae, Pertyeae, Gymnarrheneae, Vernonieae, Cichorieae, Doroniceae, Senecioneae, Astereae, Anthemideae, Gnaphalieae, Calenduleae, Inuleae, Athroismeae, Helenieae, Coreopsideae, Neurolaeneae, Tageteae, Millieae, Eupatorieae, and Heliantheae). Chinese Asteraceae lacked 6 basal subfamilies and 23 tribes. Several previously ambiguous relationships were clarified. Our analyses also resolved some unplaced genera within Chinese Asteraceae. Finally, our phylogenetic tree was used to revise the classification for all genera of Chinese Asteraceae. In total, 255 genera, 22 tribes, and 7 subfamilies in China are recognized.

Based on new studies on style morphology of basal subfamilies and tribes of Asteraceae (Barnadesioideae, Famatinanthoideae, Mutisioideae, Stifftioideae, Wunderlichioideae, Gochnatioideae, Hecastocleidoideae), we establish 15 style types in view of shape, bifurcation and distribution of stylar hairs and stigmatic tissue. From the stylar characters and observing different anthetic stages of the proterandrous flowers, we inferred the mechanisms of secondary pollen presentation. The high diversity of stylar shapes in the basal groups of Asteraceae is remarkable. In the most basal subfamily Barnadesioideae, the stylar surface is smooth or, at most, papillate and secondary pollen presentation is either a deposition/primitive brushing or a pump mechanism. Considering Calyceraceae (deposition mechanism) as sister group, we conclude that presumably a deposition/primitive brushing mechanism is the beginning of all secondary pollen presentations in Asteraceae. Whereas in the higher Asteraceae both the brushing and pump mechanisms function perfectly, in some lower Asteraceae, the mechanisms work less efficiently regarding pollen release. The subfamily Mutisioideae is well-defined by the occurrence of true stylar hairs and the tribe Mutisieae by its stigmatic tissue on the margins of the stylar arms, confluent at their tips. The early step from a continuous stigma covering the whole inner surface of the stylar branches (as in most basal members) to a stigma arrangement in two separate lines (as in most Asteroideae) is realized in two ways: either by adhesion of the median ventral tissues of the stylar branches (e.g. Onoseris , Wunderlichia ) or by receptivity loss of the median tissues (e.g. Mutisia ). Our study supports further DNA-based clades by style morphology (e.g. Famatinanthoideae).

The family Asteraceae is represented in the Flora of Ecuador by a total of 310 endemic taxa. There are grouped into 4 subfamilies (Asteroideae, Barnadesioideae,Cichorioideae and Mutisioideae), 16 tribes, and 89 genera. The habitat of two hundred and seventy-two taxa (87.74%) is restricted to the Andean Region. The highest levels of endemism are associated with the Andes, and are to be found in a great majority in the high Andean forest up to the moorlands, and in the Galapagos Islands. The genera that show the greatest extent of endemism are: Mikania (26), Pentacalia (23), and Gynoxys (20). Three monotypic genera are endemic: Cyathomone, Idiopappus and Trigonopterum . The genera Darwiniothamnus, Kingianthus, Lecocarpus , and Scalesia are also endemic. The diversity of the family increases from 2000 m to 3000 m above sea level, achieving its maximum between 2900–3000 m, with a dominance of shrubby (195 species, 1 subspecies, 2 varieties) and herbaceous (97 species) plants. One hundred and twenty-six species are considered vulnerable, 90 are in danger of extinction, and 24 are critically threatened. Mean annual temperature and precipitation show significant statistical variation between biogeographical sectors.

A backbone phylogeny that fully resolves all subfamily and deeper nodes of Asteraceae was constructed using 14 chloroplast DNA loci. The recently named genus Famatinanthus was found to be sister to the Mutisioideae-Asteroideae clade that represents more than 99% of Asteraceae and was found to have the two chloroplast inversions present in all Asteraceae except the nine genera of Barnadesioideae. A monotypic subfamily Famatinanthoideae and tribe Famatinantheae are named herein as new. Relationships among the basal lineages of the family were resolved with strong support in the Bayesian analysis as (Barnadesioideae (Famatinanthoideae (Mutisioideae (Stifftioideae (Wunderlichioideae-Asteroideae))))). Ancestral state reconstruction of ten morphological characters at the root node of the Asteraceae showed that the ancestral sunflower would have had a woody habit, alternate leaves, solitary capitulescences, epaleate receptacles, smooth styles, smooth to microechinate pollen surface sculpturing, white to yellow corollas, and insect-mediated pollination. Herbaceous habit, echinate pollen surface, pubescent styles, and cymose capitulescences were reconstructed for backbone nodes of the phylogeny corresponding to clades that evolved shortly after Asteraceae dispersed out of South America. No support was found for discoid capitula, multiseriate involucres or bird pollination as the ancestral character condition for any node. Using this more resolved phylogenetic tree, the recently described Raiguenrayun cura+. Mutisiapollis telleriae fossil should be associated to a more derived node than previously suggested when time calibrating phylogenies of Asteraceae. Fil: Panero, Jose L.. University of Texas; Estados Unidos Fil: Freire, Susana Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina Fil: Ariza Espinar, Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Crozier, Bonnie S.. P.O. Box 8315. Santa Fe; Argentina Fil: Barboza, Gloria Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas; Argentina Fil: Cantero, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; Argentina

Pamphalea tenuissima (Asteraceae), a new species from southern Brazil, is described. The new species is characterized by its finely dissected leaves, herbaceous texture and decumbent habit in most, if not all, of its stems. A detailed morphological description, illustrations, images and a distribution map, ecological preferences and phenology are provided.

Much of our knowledge of the past distribution and radiation of Asteraceae and allied families depends on the fossil pollen record. In recent years, new discoveries are coming to light from southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and southern South America (Patagonia). Unequivocally assigned morphotaxa from accurately dated sediments have permitted for the first time a comprehensive review of the past distribution of the most important core of the sunflower alliance of families (Menyanthaceae, Goodeniaceae, Calyceraceae and Asteraceae). The main goal of this contribution is to explore the major evolutionary radiation of the basal lineages of Asteraceae (Mutisioideae and Barnadesioideae) and allied relatives (Menyanthaceae, Goodeniaceae and Calyceraceae) on the basis of the worldwide fossil pollen records. Several taxa, which today are restricted to isolated geographic regions, were widespread in the Southern Hemisphere during Paleogene times. Menyanthaceae, Goodeniaceae and Mutisioideae (Asteraceae), for example, had a wide distribution over Gondwanan landmasses in the Oligocene and are now drastically reduced in their geographic range. Early Neogene records, in contrast, suggest extinction and diversification events that progressively led to the present day configuration. In broad terms, the distribution of Miocene fossils assigned to this clade (Barnadesioideae, Nassauvieae, and Calyceraceae) agrees with that of their present distribution. The major floristic turnovers coincided with the final isolation of Antarctica, leading to cooler, drier, and more seasonal climates and forced the evolution and distribution of these Gondwanan elements. Fil: Barreda, Viviana Dora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina Fil: Palazzesi, Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; Argentina Fil: Tellería, María Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentina Fil: Katinas, Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Plantas Vasculares; Argentina Fil: Crisci, Jorge Victor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Sistemática y Biología Evolutiva; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División de Plantas Vasculares; Argentina

Gypothamnium and Oxyphyllum (Asteraceae) are two monotypic genera endemic to the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. We performed a phylogenetic analysis using published sequences of the plastid rbcL and ndhF genes, the trnL-trnF region and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) to assess the systematic placement of the two genera within Mutisioideae. On the basis of the phylogenetic results, we constructed area cladograms to explore the biogeographical relationships and origin of the genera. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Gypothamnium is closely related to Aphylloclados, Plazia, Urmenetia, Lycoseris and Onoseris, whereas Oxyphyllum is closely related to Leucheria, Moscharia, Polyachyrus and, with low support, Jungia. These results do not differ substantially from those proposed in previous treatments based on morphological characters. The biogeographical analysis suggests that Gypothamnium in the coastal Atacama Desert is related to taxa that are currently distributed in eastern subtropical South America and in the Puna. Oxyphyllum may have originated from central Chile and other areas in southern South America, but its sister group (Leucheria + Polyachyrus) also reaches the Puna and the coastal Atacama Desert. Both groups show ancestral affinities with elements currently distributed in north-western South America and Mesoamerica. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159, 32–51.

Concerning the genus Trichocline (Asteraceae: Mutisieae), a neotype is designated for the name Bichenia aurea (≡ T. aurea) and lectotypes are designated for the names Onoseris heterophylla (≡ T. heterophylla), T. humilis and T. linearifolia. Nomenclatural and taxonomic information and IUCN conservation status assessments are given for the four species T. aurea, T. heterophylla, T. humilis and T. linearifolia. In addition, a new record of T. heterophylla for Argentina is reported., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The genera Eriachaenium and Adenocaulon (Compositae) have distinct but complex histories and both have been placed in a number of tribes across the family. For the first time the two genera are included in a molecular study and the results show that they are best placed in the tribe Mutisieae s.s. and are the only genera in the re-instated subtribe Adenocaulinae. When described, this subtribe contained only Adenocaulon and was found in the Inuleae. The study also confirms one of the conclusions of a recent morphological study that Eriachaenium and Adenocaulon are sister taxa. Past difficulties in tribal assignment are attributed to the distinct and unusual morphology of each genus. Both genera and the subtribe are described and a key to separate the genera is provided., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Perezia is an Andean-centered genus and belongs to the early diverging lineages in the phylogenetic tree of the Asteraceae (Compositae). Previous tudies in Perezia proposed several evolutionary lines and alternative areas of origin. A phylogenetic morphological analysis was performed to test these hypotheses and ancestral areas and dispersal-vicariance analyses were applied. The results of the phylogenetic analysis support Perezia as a monophyletic taxon, including the recently excluded Perezia nutans and P. prenanthoides, and support most of the previously proposed evolutionary lines. The biogeographic results suggest the southern Andes as the probable ancestral area for Perezia, with multiple dispersals. Supported by geologic, paleoclimatology, and fossil evidence, it is inferred that the ancestor of Perezia may have inhabited the areas above the humid, temperate forests in the southern Andes during the Tertiary., Perezia tiene su mayor concentración en los Andes y pertenece a los linajes tempranos del árbol filogenético de Asteraceae (Compositae). En estudios previos en Perezia se propusieron varias líneas evolutivas para el género y áreas de origen alternativas. Se desarrolla aquí un análisis filogenético sobre la base de caracteres morfológicos para poner a prueba dichas hipótesis y se aplican los métodos biogeográficos de areas ancestrales y de dispersión-vicariancia. Los resultados del análisis filogenético muestran que Perezia es un taxón monofilético si incluye a las recientemente excluidas Perezia nutans y P. prenanthoides, y sustentan a la mayoría de las líneas evolutivas previamente propuestas. Los resultados biogeográficos sugieren a los Andes del sur como probable área ancestral de Perezia, con múltiples dispersiones. Sobre la base de la evidencia geológica, paleoclimatológica, y fósil, se propone que el ancestro de Perezia podría haber habitado las áreas por encima de los bosques templados del sur de los Andes durante el Terciario., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Se realiza la revisión taxonómica de Panphalea Lag. (Compositae: Nassauvieae) para Uruguay. Panphalea en Uruguay consiste de cinco especies: Panphalea bupleurifolia Less., Panphalea cardaminifolia Less., Panphalea commersonii Cass., Panphalea heterophylla Less. y Panphalea maxima Less. Todas las especies uruguayas fueron evaluadas y circunscriptas en base al análisis de los protólogos, análisis de laboratorio, estudio cuidadoso del material tipo, observación de especímenes de herbario y observaciones a campo. Se presenta una clave dicotómica para la identificación de las especies reconocidas para el Uruguay. Para cada especie se provee sinonimia, descripciones ampliadas, distribución geográfica y dibujos. Se designan dos neotipos., A taxonomic revision of Panphalea Lag. (Compositae: Nassauvieae) for Uruguay is presented. Panphalea, in Uruguay, is composed of five species: Panphalea bupleurifolia Less., Panphalea cardaminifolia Less., Panphalea commersonii Cass., Panphalea heterophylla Less., and Panphalea maxima Less. All uruguayan species of Panphalea were taxonomically evaluated and circumscribed based on analyses of the protologues, laboratory studies, and careful study of type material, herbarium specimens and field observations. A dichotomous key for the identification of the Uruguayan species is provided. For each species, synonymy, detailed description, geographic distribution, and line drawings are presented. Two neotypes are designated., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

A synopsis of Plazia Ruiz & Pav. (Onoserideae, Asteraceae) is presented, including the description of a new species, Plazia robinsonii M.O.Dillon & Sagást., from a locality c. 20 km west of Huamachuco, Department of La Libertad in northern Peru. It most closely resembles P. conferta Ruiz & Pav., a narrow endemic from central Peru some 450 km to the south; however, the latter species has larger leaves and smaller capitula. Plazia is a small genus of four species confined to the Andean Cordillera of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. A distribution map of the four species, an illustration of the new species, a photograph of the holotype, and a key to species are provided.

Background and Aims: Morphological, molecular and biogeographical information bearing on early evolution of the sunflower alliance of families suggests that the clade containing the extant daisy family (Asteraceae) differentiated in South America during the Eocene, although palaeontological studies on this continent failed to reveal conclusive support for this hypothesis. Here we describe in detail Raiguenrayun cura gen. & sp. nov., an exceptionally well preserved capitulescence of Asteraceae recovered from Eocene deposits of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Methods: The fossil was collected from the 47·5 million-year-old Huitrera Formation at the Estancia Don Hiplito locality, Ro Negro Province, Argentina. Key Results: The arrangement of the capitula in a cymose capitulescence, the many-flowered capitula with multiseriateimbricate involucral bracts and the pappus-like structures indicate a close morphological relationship with Asteraceae. Raiguenrayun cura and the associated pollen Mutisiapollis telleriae do not match exactly any living member of the family, and clearly represent extinct taxa. They share a mosaic of morphological features today recognized in taxa phylogenetically close to the root of Asteraceae, such as Stifftieae, Wunderlichioideae and Gochnatieae (Mutisioideae sensu lato) and Dicomeae and Oldenburgieae (Carduoideae), today endemic to or mainly distributed in South America and Africa, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first fossil genus of Asteraceae based on an outstandingly preserved capitulescence that might represent the ancestor of MutisioideaeCarduoideae. It might have evolved in southern South America some time during the early Palaeogene and subsequently entered Africa, before the biogeographical isolation of these continents became much more pronounced. The new fossil represents the first reliable point for calibration, favouring an earlier date to the split between Barnadesioideae and the rest of Asteraceae than previously thought, which can be traced back at least 47·5 million years. This is the oldest well dated member of Asteraceae and perhaps the earliest indirect evidence for bird pollination in the family., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Se presenta una actualizacion sistematica y de distribucion geografica de las especies y categorias infraespecificas de la subfamilia Mutisioideae (tribus Mutisieae, Nassauvieae y Onoserideae) para Chile. El trabajo fue realizado sobre la base de bibliografia y la revision de ejemplares principalmente de los herbarios SGO y CONC. Los resultados arrojan la presencia de 28 generos, 192 especies y otros 22 taxones infraespecificos en Chile. Siete de estos generos, 77 especies y 12 taxones infraespecificos tienen caracter de endemicos para el pais. La revision arroja dos adiciones y dos sustracciones a la flora de Chile. Adicionalmente, 47 de los taxones han sido corregidos en cuanto a su distribucion geografica por region en Chile. Se discute finalmente las implicancias que posee un adecuado conocimiento de la distribucion geografica de las especies para estudios de biogeografia y conservacion de la flora nativa.

Fossil capitula and pollen grains of Asteraceae from the Eocene of Patagonia, southern Argentina, exhibit morphological features recognized today in taxa, such as Mutisioideae and Carduoideae, that are phylogenetically close to the root of the asteracean tree. This fossil supports the hypothesis of a South American origin of Asteraceae and an Eocene age of divergence and suggests that an ancestral stock of Asteraceae may have formed part of a geoflora developed in southern Gondwana before the establishment of effective dispersal barriers within this landmass.

The Guyana Highland-centred genera, or Stenopadus group, are a complex of species that belong to the tribes Mutisieae and Stifftieae of Asteraceae. The pollen morphologies of 29 species, from 12 of 13 genera of this complex, are described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The exine sculpture and structure are highly significant. Four exine types, previously characterized, were distinguished: Gongylolepis, Wunderlichia, Mutisia, and Stenopadus. The characterization of the Stenopadus exine type is enlarged here. These exine types led to the recognition of four well-defined pollen types, whereas the spine length and exine thickness characterized six subtypes. Pollen types circumscribe genera or groups of genera, and some subtypes distinguish species. The pollen morphology within the complex is discussed in relation to the rest of Mutisioideae and other palynologically allied tribes of Cichorioideae. There is little correlation between pollen types and tribes; only the Stenopadus exine type is exclusive to the Stifftieae tribe. The remaining types are shared by the two tribes of the complex. Pollen morphology supports the hypothesis that this group of genera is close to the Gochnatia complex and the Cardueae tribe., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

The largest family of flowering plants Asteraceae (Compositae) is found to contain 12 major lineages rather than five as previously suggested. Five of these lineages heretofore had been circumscribed in tribe Mutisieae (Cichorioideae), a taxon shown by earlier molecular studies to be paraphyletic and to include some of the deepest divergences of the family. Combined analyses of 10 chloroplast DNA loci by different phylogenetic methods yielded highly congruent well-resolved trees with 95% of the branches receiving moderate to strong statistical support. Our strategy of sampling genera identified by morphological studies as anomalous, supported by broader character sampling than previous studies, resulted in identification of several novel clades. The generic compositions of subfamilies Carduoideae, Gochnatioideae, Hecastocleidoideae, Mutisioideae, Pertyoideae, Stifftioideae, and Wunderlichioideae are novel in Asteraceae systematics and the taxonomy of the family has been revised to reflect only monophyletic groups. Our results contradict earlier hypotheses that early divergences in the family took place on and spread from the Guayana Highlands (Pantepui Province of northern South America) and raise new hypotheses about how Asteraceae dispersed out of the continent of their origin. Several nodes of this new phylogeny illustrate the vast differential in success of sister lineages suggesting focal points for future study of species diversification. Our results also provide a backbone exemplar of Asteraceae for supertree construction.