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. 2023 Oct 18;132(2):293-318.
doi: 10.1093/aob/mcad091.

A comprehensive genus-level phylogeny and biogeographical history of the Lythraceae based on whole plastome sequences

Peter W Inglis  1 , Taciana B Cavalcanti  1 , Marlon G Facco  2 , Freek T Bakker  3 , Shirley A Graham  4
Affiliations

A comprehensive genus-level phylogeny and biogeographical history of the Lythraceae based on whole plastome sequences

Peter W Inglis et al. Ann Bot. .

Abstract

Background and aims: The Lythraceae are a mainly subtropical to tropical family of the order Myrtales with 28 currently accepted genera and approximately 600 species. There is currently no well-supported phylogenetic and biogeographical hypothesis of the Lythraceae incorporating all currently accepted genera, which we sought to provide.

Methods: Plastomes of representative species of 18 distinct Lythraceae genera were sequenced and annotated. Together with existing sequences, plastomes of all 28 currently accepted genera in the Lythraceae were brought together for the first time. The plastomes were aligned and a Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis was produced. We then conducted a time-calibrated Bayesian analysis and a biogeographical analysis.

Key results: Plastome-based Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees are generally congruent with recent nuclear phylogenomic data and resolve two deeply branching major clades in the Lythraceae. One major clade concentrates shrubby and arboreal South American and African genera that inhabit seasonally dry environments, with larger, often winged seeds, adapted to dispersal by the wind. The second major clade concentrates North American, Asian, African and several near-cosmopolitan herbaceous, shrubby and arboreal genera, often inhabiting humid or aquatic environments, with smaller seeds possessing structures that facilitate dispersal by water.

Conclusions: We hypothesize that the Lythraceae dispersed early in the Late Cretaceous from South American to North American continents, with subsequent expansion in the Late Cretaceous of a North American lineage through Laurasia to Africa via a boreotropical route. Two later expansions of South American clades to Africa in the Palaeocene and Eocene, respectively, are also hypothesized. Transoceanic dispersal in the family is possibly facilitated by adaptations to aquatic environments that are common to many extant genera of the Lythraceae, where long-distance dispersal and vicariance may be invoked to explain several remarkable disjunct distributions in Lythraceae clades.

Keywords: Lythraceae; biogeography; dispersal; phylogeny; plastome.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Plate 1. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Adenaria floribunda Kunth, Acre, Brazil; C, Ammannia latifolia L., Paraíba, Brazil; D, Capuronia benoistii (Leandri) P.E.Berry, Madagascar; E, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott, Pennsylvania, USA; F, Cuphea rasilis S.A.Graham, Mexico; G, Diplusodon sordidus Koehne, Goiás, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Marcos Silveira; C, Frederico Acaz Sonntag; D, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; E, Josiah Townsend; F, Shirley A. Graham; G, Mauricio Mercadante. Plate 2. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph.Wood, Arkansas, USA; C, Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp., India; D. Galpinia transvaalica N.E.Br., Eswatini; E, Ginoria americana Jacq., Cuba; F, Heimia apetala (Spreng.) S.A.Graham & Gandhi, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; G, Gyrosphragma latipetala T.B.Cavalc. & Facco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Jim Keesling; C, Dinesh Valke; D, Phil White; E, Todd Olson; F, Marlon G. Facco; G, Paulo M. Gonella. Plate 3. A, Koehneria madagascariensis (Baker) S.A.Graham, H.Tobe & Baas, Madagascar; B, Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil., Brasília, Brazil; C, Lagerstroemia indica L., Brazil, cultivated; D, Lawsonia inermis L., Anguilla, cultivated; E, Lythrum maritimum Kunth, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; F-G, Pehria compacta Sprague, Honduras. Photographs by: A, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; B, C, Mauricio Mercadante; D, Karl Questel; E, Sergio Bordignon; F, G, Oliver Komar, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Honduras. Plate 4. A-B, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Maldives; C, Physocalymma scaberrimum Pohl, Brasília, Brazil; D, Pleurophora saccocarpa Koehne, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; E, Punica granatum L., Brasília, Brazil, cultivated; F, Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Emanuele Santarelli; C, E, Mauricio Mercadante; D, J.A. Siqueira Filho; F, Gabriel Garcia. Plate 5. A-B, Sonneratia alba Sm., New Caledonia; C-D, Trapa natans L., France; E-F. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz, India. Photographs by: A, B, Benoit Henry; C, D, François-Xavier Taxil; E, F, Dinesh Valke.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Plate 1. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Adenaria floribunda Kunth, Acre, Brazil; C, Ammannia latifolia L., Paraíba, Brazil; D, Capuronia benoistii (Leandri) P.E.Berry, Madagascar; E, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott, Pennsylvania, USA; F, Cuphea rasilis S.A.Graham, Mexico; G, Diplusodon sordidus Koehne, Goiás, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Marcos Silveira; C, Frederico Acaz Sonntag; D, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; E, Josiah Townsend; F, Shirley A. Graham; G, Mauricio Mercadante. Plate 2. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph.Wood, Arkansas, USA; C, Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp., India; D. Galpinia transvaalica N.E.Br., Eswatini; E, Ginoria americana Jacq., Cuba; F, Heimia apetala (Spreng.) S.A.Graham & Gandhi, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; G, Gyrosphragma latipetala T.B.Cavalc. & Facco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Jim Keesling; C, Dinesh Valke; D, Phil White; E, Todd Olson; F, Marlon G. Facco; G, Paulo M. Gonella. Plate 3. A, Koehneria madagascariensis (Baker) S.A.Graham, H.Tobe & Baas, Madagascar; B, Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil., Brasília, Brazil; C, Lagerstroemia indica L., Brazil, cultivated; D, Lawsonia inermis L., Anguilla, cultivated; E, Lythrum maritimum Kunth, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; F-G, Pehria compacta Sprague, Honduras. Photographs by: A, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; B, C, Mauricio Mercadante; D, Karl Questel; E, Sergio Bordignon; F, G, Oliver Komar, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Honduras. Plate 4. A-B, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Maldives; C, Physocalymma scaberrimum Pohl, Brasília, Brazil; D, Pleurophora saccocarpa Koehne, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; E, Punica granatum L., Brasília, Brazil, cultivated; F, Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Emanuele Santarelli; C, E, Mauricio Mercadante; D, J.A. Siqueira Filho; F, Gabriel Garcia. Plate 5. A-B, Sonneratia alba Sm., New Caledonia; C-D, Trapa natans L., France; E-F. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz, India. Photographs by: A, B, Benoit Henry; C, D, François-Xavier Taxil; E, F, Dinesh Valke.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Plate 1. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Adenaria floribunda Kunth, Acre, Brazil; C, Ammannia latifolia L., Paraíba, Brazil; D, Capuronia benoistii (Leandri) P.E.Berry, Madagascar; E, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott, Pennsylvania, USA; F, Cuphea rasilis S.A.Graham, Mexico; G, Diplusodon sordidus Koehne, Goiás, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Marcos Silveira; C, Frederico Acaz Sonntag; D, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; E, Josiah Townsend; F, Shirley A. Graham; G, Mauricio Mercadante. Plate 2. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph.Wood, Arkansas, USA; C, Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp., India; D. Galpinia transvaalica N.E.Br., Eswatini; E, Ginoria americana Jacq., Cuba; F, Heimia apetala (Spreng.) S.A.Graham & Gandhi, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; G, Gyrosphragma latipetala T.B.Cavalc. & Facco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Jim Keesling; C, Dinesh Valke; D, Phil White; E, Todd Olson; F, Marlon G. Facco; G, Paulo M. Gonella. Plate 3. A, Koehneria madagascariensis (Baker) S.A.Graham, H.Tobe & Baas, Madagascar; B, Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil., Brasília, Brazil; C, Lagerstroemia indica L., Brazil, cultivated; D, Lawsonia inermis L., Anguilla, cultivated; E, Lythrum maritimum Kunth, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; F-G, Pehria compacta Sprague, Honduras. Photographs by: A, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; B, C, Mauricio Mercadante; D, Karl Questel; E, Sergio Bordignon; F, G, Oliver Komar, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Honduras. Plate 4. A-B, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Maldives; C, Physocalymma scaberrimum Pohl, Brasília, Brazil; D, Pleurophora saccocarpa Koehne, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; E, Punica granatum L., Brasília, Brazil, cultivated; F, Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Emanuele Santarelli; C, E, Mauricio Mercadante; D, J.A. Siqueira Filho; F, Gabriel Garcia. Plate 5. A-B, Sonneratia alba Sm., New Caledonia; C-D, Trapa natans L., France; E-F. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz, India. Photographs by: A, B, Benoit Henry; C, D, François-Xavier Taxil; E, F, Dinesh Valke.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Plate 1. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Adenaria floribunda Kunth, Acre, Brazil; C, Ammannia latifolia L., Paraíba, Brazil; D, Capuronia benoistii (Leandri) P.E.Berry, Madagascar; E, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott, Pennsylvania, USA; F, Cuphea rasilis S.A.Graham, Mexico; G, Diplusodon sordidus Koehne, Goiás, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Marcos Silveira; C, Frederico Acaz Sonntag; D, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; E, Josiah Townsend; F, Shirley A. Graham; G, Mauricio Mercadante. Plate 2. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph.Wood, Arkansas, USA; C, Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp., India; D. Galpinia transvaalica N.E.Br., Eswatini; E, Ginoria americana Jacq., Cuba; F, Heimia apetala (Spreng.) S.A.Graham & Gandhi, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; G, Gyrosphragma latipetala T.B.Cavalc. & Facco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Jim Keesling; C, Dinesh Valke; D, Phil White; E, Todd Olson; F, Marlon G. Facco; G, Paulo M. Gonella. Plate 3. A, Koehneria madagascariensis (Baker) S.A.Graham, H.Tobe & Baas, Madagascar; B, Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil., Brasília, Brazil; C, Lagerstroemia indica L., Brazil, cultivated; D, Lawsonia inermis L., Anguilla, cultivated; E, Lythrum maritimum Kunth, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; F-G, Pehria compacta Sprague, Honduras. Photographs by: A, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; B, C, Mauricio Mercadante; D, Karl Questel; E, Sergio Bordignon; F, G, Oliver Komar, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Honduras. Plate 4. A-B, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Maldives; C, Physocalymma scaberrimum Pohl, Brasília, Brazil; D, Pleurophora saccocarpa Koehne, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; E, Punica granatum L., Brasília, Brazil, cultivated; F, Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Emanuele Santarelli; C, E, Mauricio Mercadante; D, J.A. Siqueira Filho; F, Gabriel Garcia. Plate 5. A-B, Sonneratia alba Sm., New Caledonia; C-D, Trapa natans L., France; E-F. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz, India. Photographs by: A, B, Benoit Henry; C, D, François-Xavier Taxil; E, F, Dinesh Valke.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Plate 1. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Adenaria floribunda Kunth, Acre, Brazil; C, Ammannia latifolia L., Paraíba, Brazil; D, Capuronia benoistii (Leandri) P.E.Berry, Madagascar; E, Decodon verticillatus (L.) Elliott, Pennsylvania, USA; F, Cuphea rasilis S.A.Graham, Mexico; G, Diplusodon sordidus Koehne, Goiás, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Marcos Silveira; C, Frederico Acaz Sonntag; D, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; E, Josiah Townsend; F, Shirley A. Graham; G, Mauricio Mercadante. Plate 2. Lythraceae genera. A-B, Didiplis diandra (Nutt. ex DC.) Alph.Wood, Arkansas, USA; C, Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC.) Walp., India; D. Galpinia transvaalica N.E.Br., Eswatini; E, Ginoria americana Jacq., Cuba; F, Heimia apetala (Spreng.) S.A.Graham & Gandhi, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; G, Gyrosphragma latipetala T.B.Cavalc. & Facco, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Jim Keesling; C, Dinesh Valke; D, Phil White; E, Todd Olson; F, Marlon G. Facco; G, Paulo M. Gonella. Plate 3. A, Koehneria madagascariensis (Baker) S.A.Graham, H.Tobe & Baas, Madagascar; B, Lafoensia pacari A.St.-Hil., Brasília, Brazil; C, Lagerstroemia indica L., Brazil, cultivated; D, Lawsonia inermis L., Anguilla, cultivated; E, Lythrum maritimum Kunth, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; F-G, Pehria compacta Sprague, Honduras. Photographs by: A, Landy Rajaovelona, RBG Kew Madagascar; B, C, Mauricio Mercadante; D, Karl Questel; E, Sergio Bordignon; F, G, Oliver Komar, Zamorano Biodiversity Center, Honduras. Plate 4. A-B, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., Maldives; C, Physocalymma scaberrimum Pohl, Brasília, Brazil; D, Pleurophora saccocarpa Koehne, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; E, Punica granatum L., Brasília, Brazil, cultivated; F, Rotala ramosior (L.) Koehne, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Photographs by: A, B, Emanuele Santarelli; C, E, Mauricio Mercadante; D, J.A. Siqueira Filho; F, Gabriel Garcia. Plate 5. A-B, Sonneratia alba Sm., New Caledonia; C-D, Trapa natans L., France; E-F. Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz, India. Photographs by: A, B, Benoit Henry; C, D, François-Xavier Taxil; E, F, Dinesh Valke.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Lythraceae species richness. The colour of each square indicates the number of different Lythraceae species recorded in a 1° × 1° world grid, according to the indicated scale.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Lythraceae genus richness. The colour of each square indicates the number of different Lythraceae genera recorded in a 1° × 1° world grid, according to the indicated scale.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Physical map of the annotated Lourtella resinosa plastome. The central circle (in grey) represents local GC content and genes marked with an asterisk contain introns.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Bayesian inference (BI) consensus phylogram of the Lythraceae, based on plastome (LSU, IRa, SSU) data. The topology was fully supported (PP = 1.0) in the BI analysis, but branches with < 100% bootstrap support in the ML analysis are indicated, preceded by the PP value. The tree was rooted with Ludwigia octovalvis (Onagraceae). Habit and ecological niche are indicated in green and clade designations, as discussed in the text, are in blue.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
BEAST chronogram based on plastome (LSU, IRa, SSU) data. Mean divergence times are given for each node, where the 95% HPD is indicated by bars. The scale is in millions of years before the present (Ma). Full posterior support was obtained for all branches. Sampled species names are given, followed by the number of extant species for that genus in parentheses as well as the distribution of that genus (data taken from Kew Plants of the world online – POWO, 2023). Five log-normal calibrated nodes are circled in red and two nodes with normal secondary calibrations are circled in blue.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Ancestral range estimate on the Lythraceae chronogram using BioGeoBEARS (DIVALIKE+J model) in RASP. The scale is in millions of years before the present (Ma) and the six biogeographical areas coded in the analysis are shown on the map inset. Each pie chart contains the likelihood percentage for each estimated area per genus or clade.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.
Hypothesized long-distance expansion routes of Lythraceae clades and selected genera shown on present-day map (excluding Antarctica).
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