Taxonomic recircumscriptions in the Aglaia elaeagnoidea complex (Meliaceae).

is the most widespread and species-rich genus in , comprising 124 species. has presented along standing dilemma for taxonomists; it is highly morphologically and ecologically variable, and has a range extending across India, South east Asia, Australia and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Previous work has examined molecular variation in the eastern part of the species 'range; however, molecular variation in the western half of its distribution remained uncharacterised, precluding taxonomic resolution of the complex. In this study, we used DArT-seq analysis to investigate genetic structure in from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Java and Bali. Wefind a strong genetic disjunction between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, suggesting that western comprises two taxa. On the basis of these results, in combination with morphology and previous molecular work on eastern , we resolve into three species, retaining for the eastern (type)species, and reinstating for a species in Bangladesh, Thailand, Java and Bali, and for a species occurring in India and Sri Lanka. We provide descriptions for each taxon and a key to the species, thereby resolving a previously difficult species group in a notoriously complex genus.

Project(s)

Priority 4: Accelerated Taxonomy

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Australasian Systematic Botany Society, Australia	Hansjörg Eichler Research Fund Grant
Wet Tropics Management Authority, Australia	Student Research Grant
Australian Government
Prinzessin Therese von Bayern Foundation, Germany