Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Asteraceae

The Asteraceae, comprising over 23 000 species and more than 1 600 genera, represents the largest family of flowering plants. Its extraordinary diversity spans from tropical rainforests to arctic tundra, underpinned by specialised inflorescences, a characteristic fruit type and remarkable secondary metabolites. Classical taxonomy divided the family into subfamilies, tribes and subtribes on the basis of morphological characters such as florets, pappus structure and cypsela anatomy. In the past two decades, molecular phylogenetics using nuclear ribosomal markers, plastid regions and, more recently, phylogenomic datasets has transformed this framework. New analyses have clarified deep relationships among eight major clades, led to the re-circumscription of tribes (for example Heliantheae and Vernonieae) and revealed instances of convergent evolution in key characters. Genome skimming and target-enrichment approaches now resolve rapid radiations and stabilise generic boundaries in groups long regarded as polyphyletic. Fossil calibration has anchored molecular clocks, facilitating robust age estimates that illuminate the timing of diversification and biogeographical dispersal. Integrative studies combining anatomy, micromorphology and chemical profiling strengthen phylogenetic hypotheses and guide taxonomic revision. A coherent classification is vital not only for biodiversity assessment but also for applied research in crop breeding, invasive species management and natural product discovery.

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Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Asteraceae publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of asteraceae across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Phylogenetic analysis: A method for reconstructing evolutionary relationships among taxa based on morphological and molecular data to produce a branching diagram or tree.

Cypsela: A dry, single-seeded fruit typical of Asteraceae, often bearing specialised appendages for dispersal.

Pappus: A modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of bristles, scales or hairs that facilitate wind dispersal of the cypsela.

Phytomelanin: A black, inert biopolymer deposited in the outer fruit wall of some plant taxa, functioning in mechanical protection and desiccation resistance.

References

1. Novelties in Lepidaploinae (Asteraceae, Vernonieae) from the easternmost campos rupestres of Minas Gerais, Brazil: two new species and a range expansion. Plant Ecology and Evolution (2021).
2. A new report of phytomelanin in cypselae of Vernonieae: the case of the type species of Lychnophora Mart. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2021).
3. Morphological diversity of foliar trichomes in Asteraceae from Sand-fields of the Pampa biome, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Hoehnea (2019).