Parimary Systematics Of Anaphalis From China

Anaphalis DC. belongs to Gnaphalinae, Inuleae, Compositae. The circumscriptions between Anaphalis and related generas are unclear. The species numbers under the Anaphalis are larger and the relatioships of them are ambiguous. The Anaphalis is of unstable and variable characters, which make it one of the most problematic groups in Compositae. The origin of Anaphalis is also disputed. In this study, most taxa of Anaphalis were observed and experimented based on macro-morphological characteristics, anatomical structure, micro-morphological features and molecular systematics for the first time. The aim was to explore the useful characters and finally clarify the systematic relationship of taxa under Anaphalis.The results of macro-morphological characteristics, anatomical structure and micro-morphological features showed that different characteristics had different taxonomic value among various taxa of Anaphalis and supported the establishment of subgen. Gnaphaliops and subgen. Anaphalis and the establishment of sect. Anaphalis and sect. Margaripes under subgen. Anaphalis as in "Flora of China". But subgen. Gnaphaliops was not the original group of Anaphalis.In molecular systematics, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of three species of Anaphalis were sequenced and analysed combined with published 13 species of Anaphalis and related genera. The aim was to analyse the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa of Anaphalis and the relationship between Anaphalis and related genera. The result showed that the phylogenetic relationships of A. nepalensis and A. triplinervis which belong to sect. Margaripes formed a clade. A. Sinica of Ser. Sinicae and A. margaritacea of Ser. Margaripes formed a clade, with a 99% bootstrap value. A. aureo-punctata from Henan and Yunnan formed a clade, with a 100% bootstrap value. Anaphalis trinervis and A. subrigida from NesZealand formed a clade, distantly related to other taxa of Anaphalis and but near with Helichrysum. bellidioides and H. alpinum with a less than 50% bootstrap value. So the cladistic analysis supported the view of Helichrysum bellidioides should not be placed in Anaphalis and the view of Gnaphalium was more evolutionary than Anaphalis. The result showed that the result of molecular systematics was same with the results from morphology and could be taken as a classification evidence of Anaphalis. Finally, Anaphalis from China was systematically arranged based on observing a large number of specimens, analysing characters and experiment. Anaphalis from China was confirmed to have fifty-five species, twenty-eight varieties, two varieties were reduced to synonyms, and on the basis of the front work, key of Anaphalis was made. .