Morphological homoplasy and sectional polyphyly in Centaurea sect. Cynaroides and related taxa

Building natural classifications for genera with complex morphological variations such as Centaurea needs the support of molecular analysis and knowledge character diversification. Here we use parsimony Bayesian analyses nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences to gain insight into sectional relationships evolution in sections Chartolepis, Cheirolepis, Cynaroides, Grosheimia, Microlophus, Paraphysis, Phaeopappus, Plumosipappus, Pseudoserida, Pseudophaeopappus, Ptheracantha, Ptosimopappus, Rhizocalathium, from Turkey. In particular, increase sampling Turkish endemic species sect. Cynaroides related taxa. The new 26 taxa 48 locations are given. Sequences 17 given here first time. phylogeny derived data provides a reasonably resolved supported phylogenetic framework genus. Our shows characters traditionally used taxonomy flower colour, appendage width, spine length, pappus length evolved several times independently show lot homoplasies. However, can confirm validity combinations reliable subgeneric classification Centaurea.