Molecular systematics of subtribe Orchidinae and Asian taxa of Habenariinae (Orchideae, Orchidaceae) based on plastid matK, rbcL and nuclear ITS

- Orchidinae is divided into distinct subclades.
- Habenaria is subdivided into two distantly related groups.
- We proposed to establish a new genus to accommodate Ponerorchis chrysea.
- Tsaiorchis and Sirindhornia are distinctive genera.

The subtribe Orchidinae, distributed predominantly in Eastern Asia and the Mediterranean, presents some of the most intricate taxonomic problems in the family Orchidaceae with respect to generic delimitation. Based on three DNA markers (plastid matK, rbcL, and nuclear ITS), morphological characters, and a broad sampling of Orchidinae and selected Habenariinae mainly from Asia (a total of 153 accessions of 145 species in 31 genera), generic delimitation and phylogenetic relationships within the subtribe Orchidinae and Habenariinae from Asia were assessed. Orchidinae and Asian Habenariinae are monophyletic, and Orchidinae is divided into distinct superclades. Many genera, such as Amitostigma, Habenaria, Hemipilia, Herminium, Platanthera, Peristylus and Ponerorchis, are not monophyletic. Habenaria is subdivided into two distantly related groups, while Platanthera is subdivided into three even more disparate groups. Many previously undetected phylogenetic relationships, such as clades formed by the Amitostigma-Neottianthe-Ponerorchis complex, Platanthera latilabris group, Ponerorchis chrysea, Sirindhornia, and Tsaiorchis, are well supported by both molecular and morphological evidence. We propose to combine Hemipiliopsis with Hemipilia, Amitostigma and Neottianthe with Ponerorchis, Smithorchis with Platanthera, and Aceratorchis and Neolindleya with Galearis, and to establish a new genus to accommodate Ponerorchis chrysea. Tsaiorchis and Sirindhornia are two distinctive genera supported by both molecular data and morphological characters. A new genus, Hsenhsua, and 41 new combinations are proposed based on these findings.