A chemosystematic and cladistic study of the Southern African endemic family Bruniaceae dc.

Bruniaceae, one of the southern African endemic plant families, comprises 76 species in 12 genera. The most recent revision of the family is that of Pillans (1947). No phylogenetic analysis of within-family relationships has been carried out to date and the results of recent cladistic studies have been equivocal as regards the affinities of the family. The present study was undertaken to identify sister group(s) of Bruniaceae and using this information, to explore the phylogeny of the family. Analyses were based on non-molecular data obtained from the published literature, mainly from morphology, anatomy and palynology. An additional data set was generated from analysis, in the present study, of flavonoid profiles of 58 species representing all genera in Bruniaceae. Eight species representing Grubbiaceae, Diapensaceae, Ericaeae, Retziaceae and Geissolomaceas, familes with which Bruniaceae has been allied in recent classifications, were included in the phytochemical survey.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Scott, Gillian

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6186

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6186