Phylogenetic relationships and species delimitation of New Zealand bluebells (Wahlenbergia, Campanulaceae) based on analyses of AFLP data

Phylogenetic and phenetic analyses of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data were used to compare 38 individuals of 17 species of Australasian Wahlenbergia, with a focus on the New Zealand representatives. Overall, support values were slightly higher in the AFLP analyses than in previously published DNA sequence analyses, indicating the marginally better phylogenetic resolution of this technique. However, higher support was generally found towards the tips of the branches, whereas deeper relationships were equally poorly supported using either AFLPs or DNA sequence data. AFLP analyses are useful for species delimitation in New Zealand Wahlenbergia. The four members of the lowland radicate Wahlenbergia gracilis complex may all belong to the same species. We also present evidence that Wahlenbergia vernicosa should not be considered a subspecies of the Australian Wahlenbergia littoricola. The morphologically distinctive Wahlenbergia matthewsii and Wahlenbergia congesta subsp. haastii were recovered as being distinct using AFLP analyses, but members of the alpine rhizomatous Wahlenbergia albomarginata/ Wahlenbergia pygmaea complex could not be distinguished from each other.