Phylogeny of Cyclamen L-(Primulaceae):: Evidence from morphology and sequence data from the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA

A molecular phylogenetic study of the genus Cyclamen L. (Primulaceae) has been undertaken, based on sequence data from the 5.8S gene in the ribosomal nuclear DNA and its flanking internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2. Sequence data from 15 species of Cyclamen and seven outgroup taxa selected from Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae were analyzed phylogenetically. A second analysis based on a combined morphological and molecular dataset was performed to evaluate earlier hypotheses of character evolution in the genus. The results indicate that four monophyletic subgroups may be recognized in the genus, viz. Cyclamen, Psilanthum Schwarz, Eucosme Schwarz and Gyrophoebe Schwarz. Each of the four subgenera is diagnosed by distinct basic chromosome number, as well as by morphological and molecular characteristics.