Phylogenetic relationships in Cyperus L. s.l. (Cyperaceae) inferred from plastid DNA sequence data

The phylogeny of Cyperus and allied genera has been reconstructed using cladistic analysis of plastid rbcL gene, rps16 intron, trnL intron, and trnL-F intergenic spacer sequence data in 40 species of tribe Cypereae. Cyperus s.s. as currently circumscribed is not monophyletic because ten cyperoid genera are embedded within it. Eucyperoid Cyperus species (with a C3 anatomy, e.g. C. involucratus) and the genera Courtoisina, Kyllingiella and Oxycaryum form a clade that is sister to a clade comprising chlorocyperoid species (with a C4 anatomy, e.g. C. papyrus) and the genera Alinula, Ascolepis, Kyllinga, Lipocarpha, Pycreus, Remirea and Sphaerocyperus. The position of two species is uncertain; C. tenellus is resolved in a clade together with Isolepis although with typical cyperoid spikelets, whereas I. humillima is not resolved near either Isolepis or Cyperus s.l.