Molecular identification of Cupressaceae (Coniferales) in Vietnam based on 18S-rRNA sequence

We investigated phylogenetic relationships of nine Cupressaceae species from four subfamilies: Cupressoidae, Taxodioidae, Cunninghamioidae and Taiwanioidae using 18S ribosomal DNA sequences. These data indicated that Cupressaceae was divided into two lineages: Taiwanioidae/Cunninghamioidae containing the species in genera Cunninghamia and Taiwania, and Cupressoidae/Taxodioidae containing the species in the six remaining genera Cupressus, Calocedrus, Fokienia, Xanthocypahs, Juniperus and Crytomeha. Within the Cupressoidae, Xanthocyparis is strongly associated with Cupressus, sharing a sister relationship with Juniperus.