Molecular systematics of the Leptospermum suballiance (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

Two chloroplast regions, the matK gene and the atpb –rbcL intergenic spacer, were sequenced for 31 species of the Leptospermum suballiance. Both regions proved to be highly informative of relationships within the suballiance. Cladistic analyses confirm the monophyly of the Leptospermum suballiance but not of the Leptospermum alliance. Neither Agonis nor Leptospermum is monophyletic and there is no support for the distinctness of Angasomyrtus from Kunzea. The utility of the rps16 intron for this group was also investigated but further work on this region was discontinued because of primer incompatibility.