"Most genetic studies including Baldellia species have focused on
general patterns in Alismataceae and Alismatales phylogeny. The order Alismatales is indeed
of great interest because it has often been regarded as one of
the most ancient group of the monocotyledons and therefore centers
several studies investigating the systematics, biogeography
and evolutionary processes of flowering plants."
"Our ITS phylogeny clearly places Baldellia in a clade composed
of Alisma and Luronium. This result corroborates several recent
molecular, chromosomal and anatomical studies suggesting
that Baldellia is actually closely related to Alisma, Damasonium
and Luronium. Our study definitively ends the long standing discussion about the relationship
of Baldellia with the predominantly neotropical genera
Echinodorus and Helanthium, as suggested by Cook in his influential
book on the aquatic plants of the world (Cook, 1990). Therefore,
morphological similarities of these genera probably result from
convergences and not from genetic relatedness."
From: "Phylogenetics and phylogeography of the monocot genus Baldellia (Alismataceae):
Mediterranean refugia, suture zones and implications for conservation" (PDF)
by Nils Arrigo et. al."
