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Phylogenetic classification of some taxa of Hypericum L. from Turkey, inferred from nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL 3ˈ‒trnF sequences
Abstract
This study revealed the phylogenetic relationships within 26 taxa of Hypericum L., a genus well represented in the Turkish flora, utilizing nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL 3ˈ‒trnF regions. Among the studied species, seven of them are endemic to Turkey, including H. confertum subsp. stenobotrys (Boiss.) Holmboe, H. ekerii Yüce, Aytaç & Pınar, H. elongatum var. antasiaticum (Grossh.) N. Robson , H. pseudolaeve N. Robson , H. scabroides N. Robson & Poulter, H. thymbrifolium Boiss. & Noë and H. uniglandulosum Hausskn. ex Bornm. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using the Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods. The ITS dataset resolved three distinct clades. Clade I comprised species from Hypericum sect. Hirtella and sect. Taeniocarpium. Clade II encompassed taxa from sect. Drosocarpium, sect. Hypericum, and sect. Crossophyllum. Clade III was represented by sect. Androsaemum (only H. hircinum). The trnL-3ˈ trnF phylogenetic tree largely aligns with the ITS phylogeny, exhibiting similar major clades. However, H. hircinum L. did not form a distinct clade as observed in the ITS tree, and discrepancies were also noted at lower taxonomic levels. A strongly monophyletic and recently diverged lineage was affirmed for H. lysimachioides var. spathulatum N. Robson and H. lysimachioides Boiss. & Noë var. lysimachioides, and no molecular differentiation was observed between these two varieties. Significantly, H. ekerii, an endemic and critically endangered species, was included for the first time in a molecular phylogenetic study, clustering within Clade I.
