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Fig. 5- Bootstrap Strict Consensus Tree inferred using PAUP 4.0b
Fig. 6- NJ Tree inferred using PAUP 4.0b
Discussion
Plumbaginaceae are a cosmopolitan family well represented in
temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere and showing prefer-
ences for arid or saline, often coastal, environments [47]. The Angi-
osperm Phylogeny Group classification of flowering plants [3] in-
cluded them in a broadly defined order Caryophyllales, together
with other families adapted to extreme environments including oli-
gotrophic soils (e.g., Droseraceae), arid zones (e.g., Cactaceae and
Portulacaceae), and soils with high salt content (e.g., Amaranthace-
ae and Tamaricaceae). Phylogenetic studies of Plumbaginaceae
based on plastid DNA sequences and morphological data have
been produced recently [48]. These studies confirmed the classifi-
cation of Plumbaginaceae into two subfamilies, Plumbaginoideae
and Staticoideae, well differentiated by morphological, chemical,
and molecular characters. Plumbaginoideae comprise four genera,
of which Plumbago, with approximately 20 species, is the largest.
Staticoideae are morphologically more diverse. More than 85% of
the species are in three genera, Limonium, Armeria, and Acantho-
limon, and the remaining species belong to monotypic or small gen-
era split from Limonium and Acantholimon, although the status of
these genera is not clear yet, as [47] pointed out. Recent systematic
and phylogenetic studies of Limonium lack a global perspective,
having been based on specific geographic areas [5,49] or individual
sections or groups that are putatively monophyletic [50]. The latest
comprehensive accounts for the family and Limonium were pub-
lished by [6], and later authors have followed his system with only
small alterations. Boissier divided Limonium former Statice, nom.
rej. vs. Armeria; [51] into 13 sections belonging to two main groups:
‘‘corolla polypetala’’ with eight sections and ‘‘corolla gamopetala’’
with four sections plus two others published at a later date. Only
two sections of the original corolla gamopetala, L. sect. Polyarthrion
and L. sect. Siphonantha, are still included in Limonium, although
phylogenetic relationships of these new genera to other members of
Staticoideae have not yet been assessed. Within the corolla poly-
petala group, only L. sect. Circinaria is currently separated from
Limonium as genus Afrolimon.
The most recent attempt to clarify the taxonomy of Limonium was
made by [52] who rearranged the genus for Flora Europaea. Pignat-
ti divided the European taxa in three subgenera. Limonium subge-
nus Pteroclados (equivalent to the section with the same name) has
approximately 18 species mostly endemic to the Canary Islands.
Limonium subgenus
Myriolepis was created to include three sec-
tions (L. sects. Myriolepis, Siphonantha, and Polyarthrion), all of
them members of Boissier’s corolla gamopetala group. Finally,
placed the remainder of the European sections in a large unstruc-
tured L. subgenus Limonium, leaving African, American, and Asiatic
species out of his system. In addition, nomenclature of the genus is
also obsolete. Most of the sectional names were originally pub-
lished under the former generic name Statice. Although some
names have been consequently combined under Limonium (e.g.,
for European groups), a large number of sections are still based on
dubious nomenclature.
Despite the systematic and taxonomic confusion around Limonium
and Plumbaginaceae in general, two aspects of the family, breeding
systems and phytochemistry, are better known. Phytochemical
studies [53,54] have confirmed the differences between subfamilies
and among Southern and Northern Hemisphere groups. Neverthe-
less, the lack of a robust systematic and phylogenetic framework
makes interpretation of these results speculative. Breeding systems
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Al-Ghanem S.M.S.
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were extensively studied by [55,56], who has been influential in the
development of evolutionary and biogeographical hypotheses for
the family, including the dispersal of genera related to Limonium to
the southern continents (Afrolimon, Bakerolimon, and Muellero-
limon). Using all available information (morphology, breeding sys-
tems, and karyology), [56]) made the first attempt to clarify relation-
ships among genera and tribes in the family. [56] results were obvi-
ously limited by the amount and types of data available at that time,
and in the light of new molecular data these have been shown to be
only partially correct [48]. [56] also studied the evolution of Limoni-
um in more detail. Heterostyly, although
typical in Plumbaginoideae,
is also present in L. subsect. Genuinae [55], whereas pollen/stigma
dimorphism and self-incompatibility, common within Staticoideae,
are widespread in Limonium. Facultative apomixis is common in
Limonium, whereas truly sexual species are infrequent (e.g.,
L.
sects. Polyarthrion and Pteroclados); sexual groups usually display
fewer species than the apomictic ones. Hybridization, apomixis, and
polyploidy in L. subsects. Densiflorae, Dissitiflorae, and Steiro-
cladae are putatively key factors in the radiation of
Limonium in
areas such as the western Mediterranean basin. As a conse-
quence, a large number of microspecies have been described,
making difficult attempts to clarify the taxonomy of the group [57].
One of the advantages of constructing molecular trees is the possi-
bility of estimating the ages of lineages. The calibration of molecular
trees is usually based on the fossil record or specific events that
can be dated e.g., presence of lineages on oceanic islands [58].
Plumbaginaceae have not been the focus of any extensive fossil
research, and even pollen records are restricted to Quaternary stra-
ta [59]. Despite the lack of fossil information, the presence of phylo-
genetically isolated lineages on a volcanic archipelago, the Canary
Islands, can be used as a calibration point. The Canary Islands are
too close to the African continent to behave as a truly oceanic archi-
pelago (110 km for the closest island, Fuerteventura, and 460 km
for the most distant island, La Palma). The geomorphology of the
Canary Islands has been extensively studied, as well as biogeogra-
phy and colonization patterns [60]. The archipelago was formed by
a series of volcanic periods that started approximately 20 million
years ago (mya). There are three groups of Limonium present in the
island flora, of which L. sect. Pteroclados and L. sect. Ctenostachys
are not exclusive to the Islands. The monotypic and morphologically
atypical L. sect. Limoniodendron (L. dendroides), which is a small
tree or shrub only found on La Gomera, does not seem to be close-
ly related to any other taxa. This island, formed approximately 10
mya [60], is the only island in the archipelago that has been without
major volcanic activity for the last 4 million years. The age of the
island can be used as a reasonable minimal age for L. dendroides
to calibrate the tree, assuming that the intervening volcanic activity
did not eliminate the flora.
In Limonium, polyploidy and apomixis are common, numerous hy-
brids occur naturally, and, as a consequence, reticulate evolution
seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Sizes of ITS-1 and
ITS-2 in the Limonium species studied were similar to those report-
ed for other flowering plants, with ITS-1 longer than ITS-2 [18]. In
Limonium, the ITS region has evolved primarily by point mutations,
which conforms to other studies on closely related plants [18]. The
conservation of ITS sequences is presumably due to their role in
the production of mature rRNA, and this functionality depends on
evolutionarily conserved secondary structural motifs. Inference of
nonindependence at directly opposing sites in these secondary
structures can be determined empirically [61]. However; in the pre-
sent study, differential character weights for stem vs loop positions
did not lead to different results in the analysis of ITS sequences
from Limonium. It has been demonstrated that rRNA processing
mechanisms could be labile enough to allow readjustments of in-
trastrand RNA pairing, which could imply mutations at nonpaired
positions [62]. This pattern of substitutions could have important
implications for phylogenetic analysis but it could also mean that
selection for compensatory mutations might be weaker for these
spacers than for nrDNA coding regions, alleviating the concern
about nonindependence of characters [63]. The analysis of ITS
using parsimony methods of phylogenetic reconstruction has re-
vealed a relatively stable phylogenetic structure [64,65]. In the pre-
sent study, the relationships obtained among Limonium ITS se-
quences using ML, NJ, and parsimony approaches are, in general,
congruent for well-supported groups.
Palacios et al [66] have detected intraspecific polymorphism in spe-
cies of Limonium with two molecular markers, RFLPs of chloroplast
DNA and nrDNA ITS sequences. L. furfuraceum, a sexual species
with a very conspicuous morphology but no variability was found in
its rDNA. L. delicatulum represents another case in which intraspe-
cific variability has been detected but with an opposite rDNA-cpDNA
pattern of variability. A similar explanation has also earlier been
suggested for ITS polymorphism in other plant species [67]. In
some cases, conspecific samples rendered identical genotypes; in
others, intraspecific variability has been detected through pooled
DNA samples from different individuals of the same population.
These phenomena should prevent reporting these ITS sequences
as unique sequences, representative of the corresponding species.
In the present analyses taxon were included from 1. Sect. Limonium
Subsections Densiflorae, 2. Sect. Limonium Subsections Steiro-
cladae, 3. Sect. Limonium Subsections Hyalolepidae, 4. Sect. Limo-
nium Subsections Limonium, 5. Sect. Limonium Subsections Dissiti-
florae, 6. Sect. Polyarthrion, 7. Sect. Schizhymenium. In the present
study, Limonium axillare, L. cylndrifolium, L. carnosum, and L. loba-
tum were sequenced as well as studied morphologically also. Limo-
nium axillare (Forssk.) O. Kuntze, [Revisio Generum Plantarum 2:
395. 1891. (5 Nov 1891), Synonym= Statice axillaris Forssk. Peltier,
M. 1981. Plombaginacées. Fl. Madagasc. 163: 15-23; Statice bovei
Jaub. & Spach. Peltier, M. 1981. Plombaginacées. Fl. Madagasc.
163: 15-23], is in Arabic known as Qataf, is distributed in Tropical
Africa, Egypt, and Costal region on the red sea in Saudi Arabia;
which have been characterized as: a costal small shrub up to c. 50
cm tall; leaves fleshy, alternate, lamina oblanceolate to oblanceo-
late-spathulate, 3-8 mm wide, tapering to amplexicaul base, inflo-
rescence a panicle of one sided spikes bearing few flowered
cymes; bracts and bracteoles reddish, the bracteoles c. 2.5 mm
long; calyx tube c. 2 mm long, the limb c. 4 mm across, calyx tube
plicate, papery membranous, white with reddish ribs, the ribs pu-
bescent at base, corolla purplish red, crumpling.
Limonium cylndrifolium (Forssk) O. Kuntze, [rev Gen. Pl 2: 395
(1891); Synonym= Stice cylindrifolium Forssk (1753)], is distributed
in Ethiopia, Yemen, and Red sea coast and island, Farsan Island
near Ras Hassis in Saudi Arabia, have been morphologically char-
acterized as: acostal perennial herb up to c. 50 cm tall, old branch-
es covered with whitish, spirally arranged remnants of bases of
fallen-off leaves; leaves cylindrical, up to c. 6 cm long, 1.5-2 mm
across, mucronate; flowers in few flowered cymes densely arranged
in one sided spikes forming racemes or panicles on leafless space;
bracteoles up to c. 3.75 mm long, reddish brown; calyx up to c. 3.25
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Phylogenetic Relationship Studies on the Genus Limonium Mill. Plumbaginaceae from Saudi Arabia Using its Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal
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mm long, hardly projecting above the bracteoles; calyx tube c. 2
mm long, glabrous, not pubescent along the ribs; corolla deep red-
dish projecting about 1 mm beyond calyx, crumpled within calyx on
drying up, stamens exserted.
Limonium carnosum (Boiss.) O. Kuntze, [Rev. Gen. Pl. 2 : 394
(1891); synonym= Statice carnosa Boiss (1848)], is in Arabic known
as Qataf or Awaidhan, and distributed in Eastern region or at the
margins of costal marshes of Saudi Arabia, and Iran; have been
morphologically characterized as: perennial, ascending to erect,
much branched undershrub up to c. 40 cm tall; branches thin, lower
leafy, the scapose leafless with only small bracts, mostly warty with
foviate pustular glands; leaves densely foveolate-pustular, alter-
nate, rather densely arranged, linear spathulate, up to 3 cm long
and up to 3 mm at the top, tapering downwards into thin petiole like
basal parts which expand to form membranous edged, amplexicaul
bases; flowers pink, in few to several flowered, dense, cymose,
shortly pedunculate or sessile, axillary clusters arranged on leafless
branches of paniculate spaces; bracts foveolate pustular at the
least in the median region; bracteoles up to c. 2 mm long; calyx c. 3
mm long, pink, glabrous or sparsely pubescent basally along some
of the ribs; corolla c. 4.5 mm long, pink or white, becoming crumped
and inconspicuous at the base of calyx.
Limonium lobatum (L. f.) Chaz. [Dict. Jard. 2:36(1790) plate 172;
synonym= Staice thouinii Viv., (1802); S. lobata L. f. (1782); Limoni-
um thouinii Kuntze (1891)] is patchily seen in silty soils of Saudi
Arabia, known in Arabic as Kitaah sibsab, have been characterized
as: annual, stiff herb up to c. 25 cm tall with several erect scapes
from a basal rosette of leaves; scapes simple or branched, 3
winged in the upper nodes; leaves sessile or subsessile, oblanceo-
late to spathuate, up to 8 x 2 cm, branched, pinnately lobed into
usually 3-4 pairs; the lobes rounded, usually 3-4 pairs; flowers in
few-several flowered dense cymes subtended by broadly 3-winged
obconical branches of the scape, the whole acting as a disseminule
and falling off together; bracteoles 2-keeled at back, up to c. 6 mm
long; calyx silvery white to pale blue c. 4 mm long, lobes 5, about as
long as the tube, alternating with 5, prominent bristles, coyellowish,
crumpling up.
The analyses clearly reveals that the largest section of the genus
(section Limonium) does not constitute a monophyletic assemblage.
Limonium carnosum clade with Limonium narbonense and Limoni-
um vulgare (Sect. Limonium, Subsections Limonium); L. cylindrifoli-
um and L. axillare which has been previously placed in Sect. Limo-
nium, Subsections
Limonium doesnot nested within its clade of
own, rather were found base of the phylogenetic tree. Limonium
lobatum which has been previously based on morphology have
been placed in Section Pteroclados, subsection Pdontolepideae,
occupied basal most position in the pylogenetic tree.
In the absence of a previous phylogenetic analysis of section Limo-
nium based on other independent characters [48], [66] discussed
the results only in relation to the classification of the group, which is
based mainly on morphological and karyological characters [6,5],
and find out that the splitting of section Limonium does not agree
with the results of the phylogenetic analyses of nuclear and orga-
nellar markers. suggested that the largest section of the genus
(section Limonium) does not constitute a monophyletic assemblage.
The basal position of the two analyzed species of subsection Limo-
nium (
L. vulgare and
L. narbonense) was strongly supported in all
analyses. The same results were obtained using rbcL sequences
with five Limonium species. Levels of sequence divergence suggest
that molecular differentiation between taxa of subsection Limonium
and the other species from section Limonium is larger than ex-
pected based on exomorphic features. In addition, morphological
and anatomical data suggest that subsection Limonium is a group
of well-knit species not linked by intermediates to the remaining
section Limonium. This agrees with results based on anatomical
and morphological proposed that subsections Densiflorae and
Dissitiflorae should be merged. Nevertheless,
Limonium taxa be-
longing to these four subsections are apomictic and, presumably,
have a hybrid origin from ancestors belonging to either subsection
[67].
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