Phylogeny and re‐circumscription of Cheniella (Leguminosae: Cercidoideae) based on plastome data and morphology, with description of three new species.

Subfamily Cercidoideae is an early‐diverging lineage of Leguminosae, within which the number and classification of genera have been controversial. is a recently described genus in the Cercidoideae which requires revision and testing of its monophyly and circumscription. Here we infer the phylogenetic position and infrageneric relationships of as well as the intergeneric relationships of Cercidoideae using 48 newly sequenced plastid genomes, including 34 individuals representing all species of . Our phylogenetic analyses yield a well‐resolved tree of Cercidoideae with robust support at most nodes. We also present morphological studies through field work and herbarium studies to re‐assess the classification and circumscription of the genus. Based on the results of molecular analyses and morphological studies combined with distribution data, we broaden the circumscription of to comprise a total of 15 species and 3 subspecies, including three new species ( . , . , . ), one new combination ( . ) and one new status and combination ( . ).

Project(s)

4

Funder

Funder name	Awards
National Natural Science Foundation of China, China	31270222
Guangdong Provincial Special Fund for Natural Resource Affairs on Ecology and Forestry Construction, China	GDZZDC20228704
China Scholarship Council, China	State Scholarship Fund
Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province, China	Science and Technology Program (E2360900)
Vetenskapsrådet, Sweden	(2019-05191)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom	Sainsbury Orchid Fellowship
Swiss Orchid Foundation, Switzerland