Oxylobus (Asteraceae) analysis DNA sequence data

<p>A molecular phylogenetic investigation was carried out to clarify aspects of the systematics of <i>Oxylobus</i>, a primarily Mexican alpine genus of Eupatorieae.  Analysis of sequence data from two nuclear (nrDNA ITS, ETS) and three plastid markers (<i>rbcL</i>, <i>ndhF</i>, <i>matK</i>) confirmed the monophyly of <i>Oxylobus</i> and placed species of <i>Ageratina</i> as its sister group.  A survey of 56 samples of <i>Oxylobus</i> using nrDNA ITS and ETS provided support for the currently accepted species, and showed the recently described <i>O. coyulensis</i> to be distinct and the sister group to the rest of the genus.  The results also confirmed the placement of <i>O. juarezensis</i> in synonymy with <i>O. subglabrus</i>.  The results of a broad survey of <i>Ageratina</i> for ITS data showed that it is likely not monophyletic as currently circumscribed.  The phylogenetic results also highlighted the distinctiveness of <i>Piqueria</i> and <i>Piqueriopsis</i> as a distinct clade at the base of Eupatorieae.</p>