Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae), with emphasis on the Australian section Dendrocoryne, and implications for generic classification

Abstract

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear rDNA were obtained for a broad range of dendrobium orchids for phylogenetic analysis using parsimony. A progressive approach was used to identify functional outgroups for analysis of all taxa in Dendrobium sect. Dendrocoryne. Our first, broadest analysis confirmed the results of other workers that Dendrobium sensu lato includes a major Australasian clade and a sister Asian clade. In the Australasian clade, the New Zealand species D. cunninghamii (=gen. Winika, Clements et al. 1997) was identified as the sister group to a well supported clade that includes the genera Cadetia, Diplocaulobium and Flickingeria, and Dendrobium sects G..