Phylogenetic Relationships of the Orchid Genus Coelogyne in Peninsular Malaysia Inferred from Morphological Characteristics and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sequence Data

The phylogenetic relationships among the Peninsular Malaysian orchid genus Coelogyne were studied by morphological characteristics and sequence data of internal transcribed region (ITS) from nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). is a large about 200 species distributed in pantropical areas Himalayas, Sri Lanka, India, Southern China throughout South East Asia to Papua New Guinea. widely accepted previous classification system was exclusively based on floral morphology. There very few molecular systematic studies done Malaysia thus far. In this study, 59 samples collected 57 them identified level. To study phylogeny genus, characters utilized together with evidences generate hypotheses. Cluster analysis performed using both vegetative characters. results showed that three sections Coelogyne, namely Longifoliae, Speciosae, Fuliginosae sister groups which more closely related forming one clade itself. Another consisted four other sections, Flaccidae, Coelogynae, Tomentosae, Verrucosae. Molecular phylogenies obtained Neighbour-Joining method close relationship between Tomentosae Verrucosae, whereas usage Maximum Likelihood demonstrated Fuliginosae, since they formed single clade.