Evidence of three parallel evolutions of leaf dwarfism and phytogeography in Lysimachia sect. Nummularia in Japan and Taiwan

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses were performed using nrITS variations of eight species including one variety of the genus Lysimachia sect. Nummularia in Japan and Taiwan, with another 34 Lysimachia species and Glaux maritime obtained from a DNA database. Among the four dwarf-leaf taxa in Japan and Taiwan, L. japonica var. minutissima of Japan and two Taiwanese species were placed into two different clades; and L. liukiuensis of Japan, was positioned outside of these two clades. These results suggest that three independent dwarfism events generated the four dwarf-leaf taxa; and that there were likely multiple migration events from China to Japan and Taiwan.