Historical biogeography and character-mapping of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae) evidence a revised infrageneric classification system and shifts in African biomes from the Eocene to the Miocene

This study reconstructs the molecular phylogeny, historical biogeography, and morphological evolution of Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae). Using six DNA markers, character mapping, and dated phylogenies, it proposes a new monophyletic infrageneric classification system.

The genus originated ~43 Ma in African–Madagascan rainforests, with multiple Oligocene colonisations of dry forests. The Miocene diversification of Madagascan savannas is corroborated.