Systematic and evolutionary studies of Acacia series Gummiferae (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae)

Study of the evolution and systematics of Acacia series Gummiferae encompassed revision of a subset of the New World members of the series that are endemic to the West Indies, a cladistic analysis of chloroplast DNA restriction site variation of members of Acacia series Gummiferae and related taxa, and a cladistic analysis of morphological data of Acacia series Gummiferae. The results were used to draw conslusions regarding the biogeography of Acacia series Gummiferae overall and aspects relating to the edaphic endemism found in many of the species endemic to the West Indies. The monograph and revision of the 14 species endemic to the West Indies completes work by the author and collaborators towards a monograph of all of the New World members of Acacia series Gummiferae. Based on morphological comparisons, the West Indian species were found to belong to 3 distinct groups: 10 species informally designated the A. acuifera species group, all but one of which are narrowly endemic and edaphically specialized, and are restricted to serpentine areas or limestone outcrops; 1 species, A. choriophylla, which bears no close resemblance to any other members of the series, and 3 species which belong to either of two previously monographed groups of species. Cladistic analysis of 29 taxa belonging to Acacia series Gummiferae, other series of Acacia, two closely related genera, and one member of subfamily Caesalpinioideae show monophylesis of Acacia series Gummiferae, paraphylesis of Acacia overall, and conformation of Acacia series Gummiferae to a Boreotropical biogeographic hypothesis which proposes relationships between Old and New World members of certain tropical groups to be the result of an early Tertiary Laurasian distribution. Cladistic analysis of morphological data of 26 taxa of Acacia series Gummiferae shows conformation with the restriction site data regarding relationships among groups of species and the biogeography of these taxa.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Plant Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Clarke, Hugh David

Contributors dc:contributor

• Seigler, David S.

• Biology, Botany

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Clarke, Hugh David

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9543559
(UMI)AAI9543559

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22243