Nolaneae-Solanaceae

Phylogenetic Systematics of Nolana (Solanaceae) and Biogeographic Implications for the Atacama and Peruvian Deserts National Science Foundation DEB - 0415573 Michael O. Dillon Department of Botany Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605 USA Jun Wen Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013

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The vegetation of coastal Peru and northern Chile, termed "lomas" formations, is composed of floristic elements from a variety of biogeographic sources. The genus Nolana (Solanaceae-Nolaneae), with 89 species, stands out as the most wide-ranging and conspicuous floristic element of these formations; and the evolutionary history of Nolana holds clues to age and origin of the coastal deserts. One endemic species is disjunct on the Galápagos Islands. Members of the Nolana have traditionally been recognized at the familial (Nolanaceae) or subfamilial (Nolanoideae) rank in the Solanaceae due to their unusual gynoecium of mericarps, however, results from molecular systematics have placed Nolana L. firmly within the family Solanaceae with closest relationships to Sclerophylax Miers, Phrodus Miers, Lycium L. and Grabowskia Schldl. in a clade that also contains Hyoscyamus L. and Atropa L. (cf. Tu et al. 2010). Studies of the relationships within the Nolana include data from extensive field studies, hybridization experiments, morphology, physiology, and molecular systematic investigations. The establishment of a phylogeny for Nolana provides a framework for testing hypotheses of character evolution and biogeography.

The genus Nolana L.f. (Solanaceae) was originally described by Linnaeus in 1762 and derives its origin from the Latin, nola or small bell. The genus currently consists of 89 species from Peru (40 species) and Chile (44 species), four species found in both Chile and Peru, and one endemic species from the Galápagos Islands (Dillon, 2009; Dillon, et al. 2003). Nolana is considered monophyletic and is diagnosed by possessing fruits of a 5-carpeled gynoecium forming sclerified mericarps with 1-7 seeds each, a unique derived character in the Solanaceae (cf. Knapp, 2002). Most species (~70 species) occupy fog-dependent, coastal environments called lomas formations and occur from 8° to 30° S latitude and generally within 25 kms of the Pacific Ocean (Dillon, 1997; Dillon 2005, Dillon & Hoffmann, 1997; Rundel et al. 1991). The genus generally has flowers borne singly in the leaf axils and corollas small to large, tubular-salverform to campanulate, infundibular, or rotate, showy flowers. Colors generally range from blue to lavender with whitish to yellowish throats, with or without dark purple proximal spot and occasionally dark feathered nectar guides. As interpreted here, the genus Nolana contains 89 species, making it the 4th largest genus in the family Solanaceae, behind Solanum (1000-1500 spp), Lycianthes (ca. 200 spp), Cestrum (ca. 175 spp) and just slightly larger than Nicotiana (75-80 spp) and Physalis (60-70 spp). The number of species has been controversal with some workers only accepting 18 species. However, extensive observations throughout the range of the genus has allowed for the recognition of species primarily collected in poorly collected regions and during optimal conditions. With the support of the National Science Foundation DEB 0415573, DEB9801297, DEB 8513205 progress has made for greater understanding in a large and complex genus. The following papers present our data and working hypotheses for evolution and biogeography in Nolana. New Peruvian Nolana Species - Arnaldoa 14(2): 191-212. 2007 (2008) Five New Peruvian Nolana Species New Chilean Nolana Species - Arnaldoa 14(2): 191-212. 2007 (2008) Five New Chilean Nolana Species Biogeographic diversification in Nolana (Solanaceae), a ubiquitous member of the Atacama and Peruvian Deserts along the western coast of South America -- Journal of Systematics and Evolution 2009 47(5): 457 - 476 Systematic placement and biogeographical relationships of the monotypic genera Gypothamnium and Oxyphyllum (Asteraceae: Mutisioideae) from the Atacama Desert Federico Luebert, Jun Wen, & Michael O. Dillon Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 159: 32-51. 2009. Phylogeny of Nolana (Solanaceae) of the Atacama and Peruvian deserts inferred from sequences of four plastid markers and the nuclear LEAFY second intron Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution 49: 561-573. 2008. Phylogeny of the Paranepheliinae (Liabeae, Asteraceae) Paranephelius & Pseudonoseris: classification, biogeography, and Andean orogeny TAXON 56(4) Phylogeny of Nolana (Nolaneae, Solanoideae, Solanaceae) as inferred from granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) sequences Nomenclatural changes in Nolana (Nolaneae, Solanaceae) Cambios nomenclaturales en Nolana (Nolaneae, Solanaceae) Gayana Botánica 66(2): 294-296. Click for pdf copy. Dispersals of Hyoscyameae and Mandragoreae (Solanaceae) from the New World to Eurasia in the early Miocene and their biogeographic diversification within Eurasia. [Visit ABIS Homepage]