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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Neubig, K. M. [1], Whitten, W. M. [2], Blanco, Mario A. [1], Endara, Lorena [1], Williams, N. H. [2], Koehler, S. [3].

Molecular phylogenetics of Sobralia and relatives (Orchidaceae: Sobralieae).

The orchid tribe Sobralieae is a major constituent of the Neotropical flora with approximately 200 species. As currently circumscribed, the tribe includes four genera: Elleanthus, Epilyna, Sertifera, and Sobralia. Most species of these four genera typically produce long, cane-like stems but differ drastically in flower size and inflorescence structure. DNA sequence data support the monophyly of Elleanthus, Epilyna, and Sertifera, but not Sobralia, which is a polyphyletic assemblage traditionally placed together due to relatively large flower size. Details of floral and inflorescence structure provide characters that can easily distinguish the different clades of Sobralia. However, the misleading characteristic of flower size is probably due to several shifts in pollination syndrome within the tribe. With few exceptions, species of Sobralia predominantly offer no reward and are pollinated by bees. Elleanthus and Sertifera are small-flowered and putatively pollinated by hummingbirds in most cases, with a legitimate reward. Nothing is known of pollination in Epilyna. To better understand the pollinator shifts among Sobralieae, observed and inferred pollination syndromes were mapped on a phylogeny. The resulting analysis indicates that bee pollination is plesiomorphic for Sobralieae with multiple origins of hummingbird pollination.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - University of Florida, Department of Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118526, Gainesville, FL, 32611-8526, USA
2 - University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7800, USA
3 - Escola Superior de Agricultura ‘‘Luiz de Queiróz’’ , Departamento de Genética, Caixa Postal 83, Piracicaba, SP, 13400-970 , Brazil

Keywords:
Sobralia
Elleanthus
pollination syndromes
phylogeny.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 6
Location: 555A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 6012
Abstract ID:249


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