Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)

Members of the genus Heliconia L. (Heliconiaceae) have evolved complex interactions with both insect herbivores and hummingbird pollinators in tropical forests and secondary growth where they are abundant and diverse. Many of these same species have also been cultivated as ornamentals around the wor...

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Main Authors: W. John Kress, Tomáš Fér, Mónica M. Carlsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-01-01
Series:PhytoKeys
Online Access:https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/130409/download/pdf/
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author W. John Kress
Tomáš Fér
Mónica M. Carlsen
author_facet W. John Kress
Tomáš Fér
Mónica M. Carlsen
author_sort W. John Kress
collection DOAJ
description Members of the genus Heliconia L. (Heliconiaceae) have evolved complex interactions with both insect herbivores and hummingbird pollinators in tropical forests and secondary growth where they are abundant and diverse. Many of these same species have also been cultivated as ornamentals around the world for hundreds of years because of their extraordinary colors and forms. Because of the large size, fleshy nature, and tropical distribution, and despite a long taxonomic history, the classification and phylogenetic relationships of species of Heliconia have not received sufficient attention to date. No complete classification has been published for the entire genus, although some preliminary attempts have been offered. In this paper we used tissue sampled from field and herbarium collections of 136 species for genomic sequencing to determine the phylogenetic patterns within Heliconia, which then served as the basis for a new evolutionary classification of the genus. This new classification, which is based on extensive field work and the phylogenomic insights provided here, includes 187 currently recognized species. The new classification of Heliconia is composed of 17 sections in five subgenera with all groups well-supported in the phylogenomic analysis. Four subgenera are each composed of two sections and one subgenus includes nine sections. One subgenus and 10 sections are described as new.
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spelling doaj-art-d7f336a71e2a4a0c9514c3ebcc68dd4e2025-01-15T08:30:51ZengPensoft PublishersPhytoKeys1314-20032025-01-01251376610.3897/phytokeys.251.130409130409Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)W. John Kress0Tomáš Fér1Mónica M. Carlsen2Smithsonian InstitutionCharles UniversityMissouri Botanical GardenMembers of the genus Heliconia L. (Heliconiaceae) have evolved complex interactions with both insect herbivores and hummingbird pollinators in tropical forests and secondary growth where they are abundant and diverse. Many of these same species have also been cultivated as ornamentals around the world for hundreds of years because of their extraordinary colors and forms. Because of the large size, fleshy nature, and tropical distribution, and despite a long taxonomic history, the classification and phylogenetic relationships of species of Heliconia have not received sufficient attention to date. No complete classification has been published for the entire genus, although some preliminary attempts have been offered. In this paper we used tissue sampled from field and herbarium collections of 136 species for genomic sequencing to determine the phylogenetic patterns within Heliconia, which then served as the basis for a new evolutionary classification of the genus. This new classification, which is based on extensive field work and the phylogenomic insights provided here, includes 187 currently recognized species. The new classification of Heliconia is composed of 17 sections in five subgenera with all groups well-supported in the phylogenomic analysis. Four subgenera are each composed of two sections and one subgenus includes nine sections. One subgenus and 10 sections are described as new.https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/130409/download/pdf/
spellingShingle W. John Kress
Tomáš Fér
Mónica M. Carlsen
Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
PhytoKeys
title Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
title_full Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
title_fullStr Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
title_full_unstemmed Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
title_short Phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus Heliconia L. (Monocots, Zingiberales, Heliconiaceae)
title_sort phylogenomics and a new classification of the tropical genus heliconia l monocots zingiberales heliconiaceae
url https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/130409/download/pdf/
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