Phylogenetic analysis of Eremurus, Asphodelus, and Asphodeline (Xanthorrhoeaceae-Asphodeloideae) inferred from plastid trnL-F and nrDNA ITS sequences

• Each of the genera Eremurus, Asphodelus and Asphodeline are monophyletic.
• Asphodelus and Asphodeline are closely related taxa and sister to the remaining genera.
• E. subgen. Eremurus is monophyletic, whereas the E. subgenus Henningia is paraphyletic.
• Asphodeline sect. Asphodeline is appeared to be non-monophyletic.

The current study represents phylogenetic analyses of Eremurus, Asphodelus and Asphodeline (Xanthorrhoeaceae-Asphodeloideae) using both plastids genome (trnL-F) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrDNA ITS) sequence data. The analyses revealed that each of the investigated genera is monophyletic. Eremurus subgenus Eremurus is monophyletic, whereas the E. subgenus Henningia is paraphyletic. Trachyandra is the closest relative of Eremurus. Bulbinella and Kniphofia are subsequent sisters of Eremurus and Trachyandra. Aloe, Haworthia and Bulbine were nested in a single clade, sister to the last four genera. Asphodeline section Asphodeline appeared to be non-monophyletic, because of the inclusion of A. damascena. All species of Asphodelus analyzed herein, formed a well-supported clade that it is sister to the clade of Asphodeline species.