A new sectional classification of Lachenalia (Asparagaceae) based on a multilocus DNA phylogeny

Lachenalia J.Jacq. ex Murray (Asparagaceae; Scilloideae; Hyacintheae) is a large and morphologically diverse genus of more than 140 bulbous species endemic to southern Africa. Previous attempts to infer a well resolved and robustly supported phylogeny of Lachenalia using Sanger sequencing of candidate loci and/or morphological characters have been largely unsuccessful. Consequently, the current infrageneric classification is artificial and there is a need to explore alternative avenues to produce a phylogenetic classification. In this paper we present a novel phylogenetic hypothesis for Lachenalia inferred using maximum likelihood and coalescent-based species tree estimation (ASTRAL) as applied to 378 hybrid-enrichment loci. Our tree is well resolved and well supported, providing strong support for a monophyletic radiation of the genus in southern Africa and a solid foundation for a revised infrageneric classification. The well-supported placement of L. isopetala Jacq. as sister to Lach...