Molecular phylogenetic relationships and a revised classification of the subfamily Ericoideae (Ericaceae)

Subfamily Ericoideae (Ericaceae) includes 19 genera in five recognized tribes. Relationships involving the deepest nodes have been difficult to resolve, limiting the potential for further cladistic studies within the Ericoideae. The current study analyses six molecular markers using Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods to improve phylogenetic resolution within the Ericoideae. Two large clades were discovered. One clade includes the Phyllodoceae and Bejaria. The sister clade includes the Empetreae + Diplarche, Ericeae, Rhodoreae, and a clade comprised of Bryanthus and Ledothamnus. The current study improves upon the resolution of the phylogeny of the Ericoideae, particularly demonstrating support for the deepest nodes. Based on these results, we propose to retain the Ericeae, expand the Phyllodoceae to include Bejaria, expand the Empetreae to include Diplarche, retain the Rhodoreae (without Diplarche), dismantle the Bejarieae, and construct a new tribe, Bryantheae (Bryanthus and Ledothamnus).