Phylogenetics and Biogeography of the Phalaenopsis violacea (Orchidaceae) Species Complex Based on Nuclear and Plastid DNA

Abstract

The Phalaenopsis violacea complex includes two species P violacea Witte and Phalaenopsis bellina (Rchb f) E A Christ However three forms of P violacea have been found in different areas including Sumatra the Malay Peninsula and Mentawai Island The phylogenetic tree inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) the trnL intron and the atpB rbcL spacer of plastid DNA were used to clarify the phylogenetics and biogeography of the P violacea complex Analyses of the trnL intron sequences and of the atpB rbcL spacer did not allow for apparent discrimination among these three species of the P violacea complex Based on the phylogenetic tree inferred from the