Fabaceae tribe Mirbelieae (Bush peas)

Aim: Phylogenomics Stage 2
Project initiation: Aug 2021
Project lead:  James Clugston | Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust

Project description:

The poison peas and their relatives (tribe Mirbelieae) represent a spectacular, almost exclusively Australian group of species, with consists of around 756 species in 24 currently accepted genera. However, recent molecular data has indicated the largest and most diverse genus Pultenaea is likely of multiple origin, and this may also be the case with other genera including Aotus, Chorizema, Dillwynia, Eutaxia, Latrobea, Mirbelia, ‘Otion’ and Phyllota. Unfortunately, older datasets were based on a few DNA markers which were unable to provide sufficient resolution to resolve many relationships within tribe.

Here we will apply the power of target capture sequencing (Angiosperm 353) to help resolve the relationships within this diverse radiation, to better understand its drivers, and to translate that understanding into a revised generic classification of Mirbelieae. The partnership with GAP will allow us to include all recognised Pultenaea and Dillwynia species and expand representative sampling in the other genera in Mirbelieae. With this data we will be able reconstruct the phylogenetic history of Mirbelieae and resolve the backbone for the group. Also we will be able to reconstruct the phylogeny of Pultenaea and Dillwynia to understand relationships to determine species relationships.