MOLECULAR DATA AND PHYLOGENY OF FAMILY SMILACACEAE

Abstract

Family Smilacaceae’s higher order taxonomy remained disputed for many years. It was treated as an order “Smilacales” and was also placed under Liliales by several taxonomists. Even some considered as part of family Liliacaeae. In present paper, we investigated the family’s higher order phylogeny and also compared its rbcL gene sequence data with related taxa to elucidate its phylogeny. The data suggests that its family stature is beyond dispute because of its advanced karyotype, woody climbing habit and DNA sequence data. The data suggest that Smilacaceae may be a sister group of order Liliales and it forms a clear clade with the order.