Systematics of Western Indian Ocean Octotropideae

Abstract

The tribe Octotropideae remains one ofthe leastknown groups of Paleotropical Rubiaceae. The Western Indian Ocean and Madagascar, in particular, represents a center of diversity with a high degree o f endemism. Canephora, Chapelieria, Flagenium, Gallienia, Jovetia, and Lemyrea are some of the genera that are only found on Madagascar. Most o f the Malagasy genera are in need of taxonomic revisión and there are several species that are as o f yet undescribed. However, the generic delimitations are still not fully resolved, and molecular phylogenetic studies also indícate that not all genera are monophyletic as presently circumscribed. The aims of this study are to infer the phylogeny of Octotropideae sensu strictu using plastid and nuclear DNA data, and to clarify generic delimitations of the Malagasy members. Results will be presented and discussed.