Origin and evolution of endemic Galápagos Varronia species (Cordiaceae)

► Endemic Galápagos Varronia species derive from continental American ancestors. ► Sequence data indicate reticulate evolutionary history for the four endemic species. ► One ancestral dispersal event for all endemic species best explains results. ► Lineage sorting, morphological divergence followed immigration to Galápagos. ► Stem and crown group radiations of endemics occurred ca. 4.5 and 1.12 Myr ago.