Synthesizing existing phylogenetic data to advance phylogenetic research in Orobanchaceae

To date, no comprehensive phylogenetic analyses have been conducted in Orobanchaceae that include both a wide generic sampling and a large sampling of species. In addition, a lack of fossil evidence in the clade precludes the use of primary fossil calibrations for divergence time estimation, preventing the establishment of a comprehensive temporal framework for use in macroevolutionary studies. Here, we use a recently developed set of tools for synthesizing publicly available data, apply these to reconstruct a comprehensive timetree for Orobanchaceae, and then investigate diversification dynamics in this clade of mostly parasitic plants using two model based methods. The assembled supermatrix included more than 900 species, representing approximately 40% of the known species diversity of the family, and the resulting phylogeny largely confirmed relationships revealed in earlier studies; however, we identified ten non-monophyletic genera that will require focused systematic attention to ...