Phylogenetic relationships of the genera of Theaceae based on morphology.

This work represents the first phylogenetic analysis of all genera belonging to the plant family Theaceae (sensu lato). The study is based on 60 morphological characters derived from herbarium specimens and an extensive literature review of 37 genera (including the outgroup). In contrast to the results from molecular data, Theaceae is here found to consist of one clade in which the recognition of two families or subfamilies would leave Theaceae s.s. paraphyletic. Within that clade, Ternstroemiaceae is supported as monophyletic and includes Adinandra, Anneslea, Archboldiodendron, Balthasaria, Cleyera, Eurya, Euryodendron, Ficalhoa, Freziera, Symplococarpon, Ternstroemia and Visnea. The paraphyletic Theaceae s.s. includes Apterosperma, Camellia, Dankia, Gordonia, Pyrenaria, Schima, and Stewartia. Tetrameristaceae (Pentamerista and Tetramerista) are supported as a monophyletic family, with Pellicieraceae (Pelliciera) as sister group, and that clade is sister to the rest of the taxa. Bonnetiaceae (Archytaea and Bonnetia) and Kielmeyeroideae of the Clusiaceae (Caraipa, Haploclathra, Kielmeyera, Mahurea, Marila, and Neotatea) are also supported as monophyletic. Given the differences between the results obtained from morphological and molecular data, we consider that there is still a need for further research, including combined analyses.