Phylogenetic interrelationships in the order Primulales, with special emphasis on the family circumscriptions

Cladistic parsimony analyses, based on morphological data, have been undertaken with the purpose of identifying major monophyletic groups and phylogenetic interrelationships within the Primulales. Actinidia (Actinidiaceae, Ericales) and three genera from two families of the Ebenales (Diospyros of the Ebenaceae and Manilkara and Monotheca of the Sapotaceae) were used as outgroups in the analyses. The results indicate that the Primulaceae, Theophrastaceae, and Myrsinaceae (excluding Maesa) represent three major monophyletic groups. The Myrsinaceae were found to be paraphyletic, with the majority of taxa forming a monophyletic group but with the genus Maesa constituting the sister group of the Primulaceae. It is proposed that Maesa should be raised to the rank of family to obtain strictly monophyletic groups in the Primulales. The genera Aegiceras and Coris, for which family affinities have been controversial, are well nested within the families Myrsinaceae and Primulaceae, respectively. Key words: Primulales, Theophrastaceae, Myrsinaceae, Primulaceae, morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, cladistics, classification.