Cladistic analysis of the genus Malva L. in Iran based on morphological characters

Abstract

The genus Malva L. with 8 species and 8 varieties in Iran has a wide spread distribution. For studying the cladistic analysis of the species, 18 characters were studied. The characters have entered to the matrix as multistate character. For rooting the shortest tree, we have used three species: Alcea flavovirens, Althaea officinalis, Lavatera thuringiaca as out groups. By using parsimony analysis based on Fitch method the shortest tree with 8.67024 steps has resulted (RI=0.82, CI=0.64). The majority rules consensus tree has selected. The most parsimony cladogram didn't support monophyly of Malva species. The species in our analysis didn't occur in one clade. Also Bootstrap analysis didn't show the monophyly of Malva species.

Keywords

• Malva
• Phylogeny
• Parsimony analysis
• Iran