The phylogeny and biogeography of Gentiana L. sect. Ciminalis (Adans.) Dumort.: A historical interpretation of distribution ranges in the European high mountains

Abstract Gentiana sect. Ciminalis consists of seven mostly ecologically or geographically vicariant and closely related species which are distributed throughout the South and Central European high mountains. The analysis of a RAPD data set and trn L-intron and ITS sequences resulted in slightly different phylogenetic hypotheses. In the preferred hypothesis the group consists of two completely resolved main lineages: 1) G. clusii and G. alpina. 2) G. dinarica, G. acaulis, G. ligustica, G. angustifolia and G. occidentalis. The most important conclusions we have drawn from this phylogenetic hypothesis and from the observed patterns of molecular variation are: 1) The calcifuge ecology of G. aca…