Phylogenetic position of Meteoromyrtus (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

We investigated the phylogenetic affinities of the rare and threatened Indian species Meteoromyrtus wynadensis (Bedd.) Gamble. Sequences from the ITS and ETS regions of nrDNA and the trnK/matK and psbA–trnH regions of the plastid genome were compiled in a 45 taxon dataset augmented by sequences from Genbank. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and Bayesian approaches showed that Meteoromyrtus is deeply embedded in Eugenia and sister to E. reinwardtiana in a clade with other Old World taxa. The evidence clearly indicates that the genus should be considered a synonym of Eugenia and that the species should henceforth be known by its original name E. wynadensis Bedd.