Phylogenetic systematics of Vochysiaceae: Vochysia section Vochysiella subsection Decorticantes

• Grant number: 14/02947-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2014
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: André Olmos Simões
• Grantee: Leandro Giacobelli Cosmo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Vochysiaceae A. St. Hil is a family found predominantly in the neotropical region and highly diverse in Brazil. The family is the only one in Myrtales order from which a comprehensive phylogeny is still lacking. Within Vochysiaceae, Vochysia Aubl. is the most speciose, with Brazil having the highest number of known species. The Decorticantes subsection of Vochysia, despite being a well-defined group, reveals a high morphological variation among its constituent species. This observed variation is possibly the cause of conflicting delimitation of the species of this subsection, leading to several misleading identifications of herbarium vouchers. In that context, the construction of a phylogenetic hypothesis to the subsection aims to improve our knowledge on the relationships among its species. In addition, it may provide provide data for future studies in Vochysiaceae. (AU)