Dated Phylogeny of <i>Banisteriopsis</i> (Malpighiaceae) Suggests an Ancient Colonization of the Cerrado and No Evidence of Human Manipulation in the Origin of <i>B. caapi</i>

Dated Phylogeny of <i>Banisteriopsis</i> (Malpighiaceae) Suggests an Ancient Colonization of the Cerrado and No Evidence of Human Manipulation in the Origin of <i>B. caapi</i>

<i>Banisteriopsis</i> is a genus in the Malpighiaceae family with 61 species, notable for including ritualistic taxa such as <i>B. caapi</i> (Spruce ex Griseb.) C.V. Morton, one of the main components of Ayahuasca tea. We analyzed 38 <i>Banisteriopsis</i> species,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thais A. C. Santos, Bruno S. Amorim, Jefferson R. Maciel, Cassiano A. D. Welker, Scheila Cristina Biazatti, Regina C. Oliveira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Ayahuasca
biogeography
Malpighiales
Neotropics
phylogenetics
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/7/1149
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Summary:<i>Banisteriopsis</i> is a genus in the Malpighiaceae family with 61 species, notable for including ritualistic taxa such as <i>B. caapi</i> (Spruce ex Griseb.) C.V. Morton, one of the main components of Ayahuasca tea. We analyzed 38 <i>Banisteriopsis</i> species, representing more than 60% of the genus, to investigate its geographical origin, diversification period, and colonization routes in the Neotropics. Plastid genes (<i>mat</i>K, <i>ndh</i>F, and <i>rbc</i>L) and nuclear regions (ETS, ITS, and <i>PHYC</i>) were used in our analyses. Divergence time analyses were performed using Bayesian inference with a relaxed molecular clock and ancestral area reconstruction. Our results show that <i>Banisteriopsis</i> originated in the Miocene approximately 22 million years ago, and its diversification coincides with the expansion of dry areas in South America. <i>Banisteriopsis</i> began colonizing the Cerrado earlier than most other plants, and the history of the genus reveals that the biome served as a source of species for Neotropical rainforests. Our results also indicate a probable ancient origin for <i>B. caapi</i>, with no evidence of human manipulation in its diversification, and they reinforce archaeological evidence of a millennia-old exchange of uses among Amazonian peoples.
ISSN:2223-7747

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