The molecular phylogeny of the Lardizabalaceae is reconstructed based on chloroplast trn L_F sequences alone and combined trn L_F and rbc L sequences. The phylogenetic topologies agree well with Qin's and Takhtajan's tribal classification in both analyses. Decaisneae and Sinofranchetieae are basal clades in the phylogenetic trees and external to all other taxa in the family. Lardizabaleae consisting of Boquila and Lardizabala are well supported in both trn L_F (100%) analysis and trn L_F and rbc L combined analysis (99%). Tribe Akebieae are strongly supported by a bootstrap value of 100% in both trn L_F analysis and trn L_F and rbc L combined analysis. However, the new genus Archakebia is nested within the genus Akebia in the trn L_F trees. In the combined trees, Archakebia is sister to Akebia with high bootstrap support. The inter_relationships among three closely related genera Parvatia , Holboellia and Stauntonia are still problematic. P. brunoniana ssp. elliptica is sister to H. latifolia in both analyses with low bootstrap support. H. parviflora is nested within the Stauntonia and sister to S. cavalerieana . Therefore, these three genera of tribe Akebieae may not be monophylytic and their generic boundary and delimitation need to be further studied, by exploring more molecular data, together with more morphological characters.
