Phylogenetic study of the New Caledonian endemic genus Adenodaphne(Lauraceae) confirms its synonymy with Litsea

ABSTRACTThe genus Adenodaphneis currently considered endemic to New Caledonia, but its distinction from Litseais questionable based on morphological similarity. An earlier phylogenetic analysis (ITS) including one species of Adenodaphneand two Asian species of Litseadid support their close relationship but did not permit resolution of their generic boundary. We sampled the four species of Adenodaphnecurrently recognized (11 accessions) and 11 of the 13 endemic species of Litseacurrently recognized, plus one undescribed species (24 accessions in total). Based on our extensive herbarium studies, fieldwork, and especially our molecular phylogenetic analyses (ITS), we conclude that Adenodaphneis not distinct from Litseaand that all species of Adenodaphneshould be recognized within Litsea, thereby necessitating the creation of two new species synonymies and one nomen novum. In addition, Litsea paoueensisis here synonymized with L. deplanchei. Finally, our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the sole species of Litseafrom New Zealand, which is endemic, results from a rarely documented long-distance dispersal event from New Caledonia.