Phylogenetic insights into Hypericum (Hypericaceae) from China based on genome‐skimming data

Abstract Hypericum (Hypericaceae) is a large genus of flowering plants that contains approximately 500 species. In China, Hypericum is comprised of 13 sections, 76 species, and 9 subspecies, with at least 30 species that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite its medicinal importance, only a few studies have focused on the molecular phylogenetic relationships of Hypericum within China. In this study, a total of 102 individuals representing 12 sections, 54 species, and 6 subspecies of Hypericum were sampled for phylogenetic analyses, using plastomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA datasets. These analyses constitute the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of Hypericum from China. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Hypericum is monophyletic and support the treatment of Triadenum and Lianthus as synonyms of Hypericum . Compared with traditionally defined sections based on morphological characteristics, only H. sect. Elodea , H. sect. Hirtella , H . sect. Monanthema , and H . sect. Trigynobrathys are monophyletic. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, we clarify the systematic position of H. elatoides , which is placed in H. sect. Roscyna . In addition, we observe that plastome data provide better resolution for infrageneric relationships within Hypericum than nrDNA sequences, and that the two datasets exhibit substantial cyto‐nuclear discordance. This discordance is likely a result of both hybridization and suboptimal phylogenetic signal in the datasets used.