Data from: A global perspective on Campanulaceae: biogeographic, genomic, and floral evolution

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The Campanulaceae are a diverse clade of flowering
plants encompassing more than 2300 species in myriad habitats from
tropical rainforests to arctic tundra. A robust, multigene phylogeny,
including all major lineages, is presented to provide a broad,
evolutionary perspective of this cosmopolitan clade. METHODS: We used a
phylogenetic framework, in combination with divergence dating, ancestral
range estimation, chromosome modeling, and morphological character
reconstruction analyses to infer phylogenetic placement and timing of
major biogeographic, genomic, and morphological changes in the history of
the group and provide insights into the diversification of this clade
across six continents. KEY RESULTS: Ancestral range estimation supports an
out-of-Africa diversification following the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction
event. Chromosomal modeling, with corroboration from the distribution of
synonymous substitutions among gene duplicates, provides evidence for as
many as 20 genome-wide duplication events before large radiations.
Morphological reconstructions support the hypothesis that switches in
floral symmetry and anther dehiscence were important in the evolution of
secondary pollen presentation mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides
a broad, phylogenetic perspective on the evolution of the Campanulaceae
clade. The remarkable habitat diversity and cosmopolitan distribution of
this lineage appears to be the result of a complex history of genome
duplications and numerous long-distance dispersal events. We failed to
find evidence for an ancestral polyploidy event for this clade, and our
analyses indicate an ancestral base number of nine for the group. This
study will serve as a framework for future studies in diverse areas of
research in Campanulaceae.