Revised phylogeny of the Inula complex group (Asteraceae: Inuleae) with a recircumscription of Carpesium and establishment of a new genus Cladocarpesium

Abstract

Carpesium (Asteraceae) represents the largest Asian genus within the subtribe Inulinae of the tribe Inuleae, exhibiting maximum species diversity in China. This study presents the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Carpesium, utilizing nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), specific chloroplast DNA sequences (rps16-trnQ, rpl32-trnL, and ndhF-rpl32), whole chloroplast genomes and chloroplast coding sequence (CDS). The results demonstrate that Carpesium, excluding C. abrotanoides, constitutes a monophyletic group. The Carpesium s.str. clade contains two well-supported lineages with distinct morphological characteristics. Based on morphological analyses, molecular phylogenetic evidence, and karyotypic studies, this research establishes Cladocarpesium gen. nov. to accommodate C. abrotanoides. The comprehensive sampling approach has facilitated a thorough phylogenetic reconstruction of the Inula complex, establishing a robust systematic framework that clarifies previously uncertain relationships among constituent species. This multilocus methodology provides essential insights for reassessing infrageneric classifications within this taxonomically complex group.

Keywords

Asteraceae / Carpesium / Cladocarpesium / Inuleae / molecular phylogeny

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2025 The Author(s). Journal of Systematics and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.