Abstract
The tribe Podalyrieae is a diverse and interesting group with most of its species found in
the Cape Floristic Region (120 out of 128 species), the smallest floral kingdom and the
subject of intense conservation interest. DNA sequence data from nuclear ribosomal
internal transcribed spacer, including the 5.8s coding region, were used to reconstruct
the phylogeny of this Cape Floral Clade. Results support a transfer of Cadia
(Sophoreae) to Podalyrieae. Cyclopia is well imbedded in a paraphyletic Podalyriinae
and not sister to the tribe as previously suggested. A broader concept of Podalyrieae,
which include Podalyriinae, Xiphothecinae and Cadia is suggested. Dating the nodes of
the phylogenetic tree using non-parametric rate smoothing with a fossil calibration point
indicates that the root node of Podalyrieae (+ Cadia) is 34.35MYA.
Dr. M. van der Bank