The phylogenetic history and biogeography of the frankincense and myrrh family (Burseraceae) based on nuclear and chloroplast sequence data.

Generalized hypotheses for the vicariant, Gondwanan origin of pantropically distributed eudicotyledon families must be refined to accommodate recently revised dates that indicate major continental rifting events predate the evolution of many tricolpate angiosperm clades. Here, we use molecular phylogenies of an eudicotyledon family previously hypothesized to have a Gondwanan origin, the Burseraceae, to test this and other alternative biogeographical hypotheses in light of recalibrated geological events. Phylogenies based on nuclear and chloroplast data were reconstructed for 13 of the 18 genera (50 spp.