The chloroplast genome structure of <i>Turpinia affinis</i> (Staphyleaceae)

The species <i>Turpinia affinis</i> Merr. et Perry 1941 is widely distributed throughout southwestern China. In folk medicine, this species is often used as a substitute for the Chinese medicine Turpiniae Folium, whose legal origin is <i>T. arguta</i> (Lindl.) Seem. In order to ascertain the relationship between these two species, the chloroplast genome of <i>T. affinis</i> was aequenced and assembled, resulting in a typical quadripartite molecule with a length of 160,769 base pairs and an overall GC content of 37.3%. Additionally, 131 genes were annotated, comprising 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. A maximum likelihood analysis demonstrated that the <i>Turpinia</i> species form a monophyletic clade, with <i>T. affinis</i> positioned as the sister taxon to the clade comprising the remaining species within the genus. This outcome enhances the genomic data for the genus <i>Turpinia</i> and will contribute to further investigations into phylogenetics, evolution, and sustainable resource utilization.