A revised subtribal classification of Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae)

ROB D. SMISSEN, RANDALL J. BAYER, NICOLA G. BERGH, ILSE BREITWIESER, SUSANA E. FREIRE, MERCÈ GALBANY-CASALS, ALEXANDER N. SCHMIDT-LEBUHN & JOSEPHINE M. WARD

TAXON

INT ASSOC PLANT TAXONOMY

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2020 p. 778 - 806

0040-0262

Gnaphalieae are one of the larger tribes of the daisy family Asteraceae (Compositae) with c. 2100 species in 177 genera, occurring globally across a wide range of temperate habitats. Recent years have seen considerable advances in our understanding of their phylogenetics and evolution, but there is no widely accepted, stable, subtribal classification. The present paper summarises the taxonomic history and presents the various major clades that have been named informally in phylogenetic studies. We also provide the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data to date, including over 1,000 species. Based on published studies and our new phylogenetic analyses, we suggest a subdivision of the tribe into two subtribes. These are a largely African-endemic Relhaniinae (124 species in 11 genera) and a much enlarged Gnaphaliinae, the latter accounting for more than 90% of the species diversity (c. 2000 species in 166 genera). Although a finer division of Gnaphaliinae sensu amplo may be desirable, there are at present several obstacles to such a classification, in particular contradictory or ambiguous inferences of relationships.