The familial and subfamilial relationships of Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae evaluated with rbcL data

Sequence data for the rbcL gene from twenty-four taxa of the families Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae were cladistically analysed in order to evaluate the existing familial and subfamilial classification. The taxa sampled represent all described subfamilies and a majority of the described tribes. The cladistic analysis shows that the Asclepiadaceae are nested within the Apocynaceae. An amalgamation of the two families is therefore recommended. The subfamilial classification is also in need of revision: the subfamilies Plumerioideae and Apocynoideae of the current classifications are paraphyletic, as are many of the tribes. Potential subfamily candidates and characters traditionally used in the classification are discussed.