Salvia (Lamiaceae) is not monophyletic: implications for the systematics, radiation, and ecological specializations of Salvia and tribe Mentheae

• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.91.7.1115
• Publication Date: 2008-02-29T22:42:44Z
• Authors: Jay B. Walker; Kenneth J. Sytsma; Jens Treutlein; Michael Wink
• Keywords: Monophyly; Subgenus; Tribe; Salvia

Salvia, with over 900 species from both the Old and New World, is largest genus in Lamiaceae. Unlike most members of subfamily Nepetoideae to which it belongs, only two stamens are expressed Salvia. Although structure these remarkably variable across genus, generally each stamen has an elongate connective divergent anther thecae, form a lever mechanism important pollination. In preliminary investigation infrageneric relationships within monophyly its relationship other tribe Mentheae were investigated using chloroplast DNA regions rbcL trnL-F. Significant conclusions drawn data include: Salvia not monophyletic, Rosmarinus Perovskia together sister World clade section Audibertia subgenus Calosphace or monotypic Asian Dorystaechas, Heterosphace Salviastrum. Owing non-monophyly at next clearly monophyletic level, Mentheae, investigated.