Molecular phylogeny of Cissus L. of Vitaceae (the grape family) and evolution of its pantropical intercontinental disjunctions

► The phylogeny of the pantropical intercontinental Cissus was reconstructed. ► Cissus is shown to be polyphyletic, consisting of three major clades. ► The core Cissus was inferred to have originated in Africa. ► Cissus colonized the Neotropics in the middle Eocene via boreotropical migration. ► Cissus reached Asia from Africa at least three times by long-distance dispersal.