Molecular phylogeny of the ranunculaceae and related plants based on the nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA sequences
A phylogenetic tree was constructed by using Neighbor-joining and Maximum parsimony methods based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences from 6 genus 12 plants of Ranuneulaceae and 2 outgroup taxa of Paeonia suffruticosa and Mahonia bealei. The result shows that the 18S rRNA sequence of Ranunculaceae lies between 1807 bp to 1810 bp;there was a relative close relationship between Aquilegia and Thalictrum, Cimicifuga and Aconitum. Results supported establishment of Cimicifugoideae and Paeoniaceae. A preliminary molecular basis was provided for distinguish the plants which contain Magnoflorine and Ranunculin and the relationship of the Ranunculaceae plants.