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CONTENS - International Organization of Plant Biosystematists

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O 09<br />

Phylogeny and biogeography <strong>of</strong> selected plant groups from the<br />

Balkan Peninsula<br />

Božo Frajman 1 & Peter Schönswetter 2<br />

1 Biology Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University <strong>of</strong> Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-<br />

1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail: bozo.frajman@bf.uni-lj.si<br />

2 Department <strong>of</strong> Biogeography and Botanical Garden, University <strong>of</strong> Vienna, Rennweg<br />

14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: peter.schoenswetter@univie.ac.at<br />

The Balkan Peninsula is renowned for its biodiversity and high levels <strong>of</strong> endemism<br />

both among animals and plants. Still, biota <strong>of</strong> some parts <strong>of</strong> the Balkans ranges<br />

among the least known in Europe. Studies using modern molecular approaches are<br />

largely lacking, with the exception <strong>of</strong> some recent phylogenetic and phylogeographic<br />

studies.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> the genera with several endemics described from the Balkans is Heliosperma<br />

(Sileneae, Caryophyllaceae). Phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies using<br />

chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences as well as AFLP data suggest complex<br />

reticulate patterns and molecular data do not support traditional taxonomic<br />

delimitations within the H. pusillum group. Chloroplast data suggest an old split within<br />

the group, which is geographically correlated. This is not supported by nuclear data,<br />

possibly due to hybridisation between the two groups. Molecular dating suggests a<br />

recent, most probably Pliocene/Pleistocene diversification within the group. On the<br />

contrary, H. macranthum from Montenegro/Albania/Kosovo, is likely <strong>of</strong> more ancient<br />

Tertiary origin. The general assumption that many Balkan endemics are Tertiary<br />

relics has thus to be taken with caution.<br />

Another plant group including several Balkan endemics is the Euphorbia barrelieri<br />

group. Phylogenetic studies using nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences reveal<br />

patterns different from traditional classifications. ITS data suggest that Euphorbia<br />

barrelieri from Italy is not most closely related to E. barrelieri from the Balkan<br />

Peninsula. Euphorbia nicaeensis and E. glareosa are nested within this group and E.<br />

herzegovina is most closely related to E. nicaeensis. Euphorbia kerneri and E. triflora<br />

are most closely related, whereas E. saxatilis from the Eastern Alps forms an<br />

independent lineage. Additional sampling is needed to corroborate these preliminary<br />

results.<br />

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