A molecular phylogeny of Chinese orchids

Abstract

We estimated the molecular phylogenetic relationships of the Chinese members of the family Orchidaceae. Within the Tree of Life for the Genera of Chinese Vascular Plants using atpB, rbcL, matK, ndhF, and matR, the currently delimited subfamilies, tribes, and subtribes are highly supported as monophyletic except for the perplexing Epidendroideae. Five genes (rbcL, matK, psaB, ycf1, and Xdh), which are more universally used in Orchidaceae, were further analyzed to reconstruct the phylogeny of Epidendroideae. The reconstructed trees were in strong agreement and showed significant support for the tribal and subtribal clades. Based on the highly supported circumscription and arrangement of the suprageneric levels in the Tree of Life and reconstructed trees, we have proposed a new phylogenetic classification of Chinese Orchidaceae that includes five subfamilies, 17 tribes, and 21 subtribes.