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Evolution of Tribe Poranthereae (Phyllanthaceae)

Leptopus decaisnei (Phyllanthaceae) drawn by Maria Vorontsova.

Tribe Poranthereae is an unexpected discovery of the recent Euphorbiaceae sensu lato (Malpighiales) molecular phylogenetic studies. Actephila, Andrachne, Leptopus, Meineckia, Oreoporanthera, Poranthera, Zimmermannia and Zimmermanniopsis were previously classified in three different tribes and three different subtribes. They exhibit distinct morphologies, occupy contrasting ecological niches and have different global distributions: a great deal of change seems to have taken place within a relatively short period of evolutionary time. This case study is an example of dry environment adaptation and rapid changes in global distribution. The aim of this PhD project is to reconstruct as far as possible the evolutionary history of tribe Poranthereae in both space and time. The relatively low number of species, c. 110, allows a variety of methods to be used: traditional morphological study, molecular phylogenetics and biogeographical analysis.

The outputs are to include a dated phylogenetic tree, illustrated systematic revisions of Andrachne and Leptopus, generic delimitation and updated nomenclature for the tribe, the maximum possible number of new DNA Bank accessions, Poranthereae herbarium specimen database, conference presentations, increased contact and collaboration between Kew and herbaria of Europe, St Petersburg (Russia), Guangzhou and Nanning (China) and finally a PhD thesis. The estimated duration of the project is 6 years.

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