Rosularia

Abstract: A restriction-site analysis of chloroplast DNA from 44 species, representing 19 genera and all six subfamilies of the Crassulaceae was conducted using 12 restriction endonucleases. A total of 969 variable sites was detected, 608 of which were phylogenetically informative and used in parsimony analysis. Estimated values of nucleotide sequence divergence were used to construct a distance tree by the neighbor-joining method. Maximum sequence divergence in the family was --7%. Different tree inference methods yielded only moderately different topologies. The amount of support for the monophyletic groups obtained in the Wagner parsimony analysis was evaluated by bootstrap and decay analysis. There is very strong support for a basal division of the family, which separates the monophyletic subfamily Crassuloideae from all other taxa. Four of the six traditionally recognized subfamilies are indicated to be polyphyletic. These include the Cotyledonoideae, Sempervivoideae, Sedoideae, and Echeverioideae. The Kalanchoideae and the genera Cotyledon and Adromischus exhibit low levels of cpDNA sequence divergence relative to one another, suggesting a relatively recent radiation. The genera Sedum and Rosularia are indicated to be polyphyletic. Sedum comprises sister taxa of most of the other genera of the family.

Abstract: Distribution pattern, ecology and endemism of family Crassulaceae have been studied in Pakistan and Kashmir. Out of 31 taxa, 15 are Irano-Turanian elements, 16 are Sino-Japanese elements and only one is Mediterranean element. Twenty nine taxa are classified as uniregional, while one is biregional element. Only one taxon is considered as pluriregional element. Rhodiola saxifragoides, Rosularia adenotricha subsp. chitralica and Hylotelephium pakistanicum are endemic taxa. While Rhodiola pachyclados and Rosularia sedoides are partim endemic. The former species is confined to (Kurrum valley) Pakistan and Afghanistan whereas the latter species distributed in Kashmir and N India. Rhodiola coccinea subsp. scabrida is subendemic to the peripheral belt of Irano-Turanian and Sino-Japanese regions.

Abstract: The cosmopolitan Crassulaceae comprises about 177 species in the Mediterranean region which, with respect to species richness, is the third centre of diversity within the family. Except for Hylotelephium telephium and Rhodiola roma, the Mediterranean Crassulaceae are endemic to the region or Eurasia. The Crassulaceae originated in Africa, but attained its greaiest diversity tribus Sedge after arrival on the Northern Hemisphere. Most successful is subtribus Sedinae which comprises ihe large, polyphyletic genus Sedum and its derivatives. Subtribus Sedinae comprises two lineages, the Acre-lineage and Leucosedum-lineage, which differ in morphological and molecular characters, but have similar distribution patterns. In Eurasia the Leterosedum-lineage was the most successful, comprising about 75% of all Mediterranean species of Crassulaceae. In addition to some 69 Sedum species it gave rise to the segregate genera eon um, Aichryson, Monanthes, Prometheum, Rosularia, Pistorinia, and Sempervivum (Jovibarba). Although the cen-tres of speciation of these segregate genera as well as the infrageneric taxa of Sedwn are located in different parts of the Mediterranean region there is a distinct parallelism in several evolutionary trends within these to a, e.g. development of the rosulate habit, the polymerous and/or sympetalous flower, and the glandular and often fragrant indumentum.