Phylogeny, biogeography, systematics and taxonomy of Salicornioideae (Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae) – A cosmopolitan, highly specialized hygrohalophyte lineage dating back to the Oligocene

Salicornioideae (Amaranthaceae / Chenopodiaceae) comprise 11 genera and ca. 100 species of succulent halophytes distributed worldwide in coastal and inland saline habitats. Most species have peculiar articulated, seemingly leafless stems and spike‐like sessile thyrses with highly reduced flowers hidden by fleshy bracts. We analysed sequence data of four markers (ETS, ITS, atpB‐rbcL, matK‐trnK ) from 57 species, 9 subspecies, 1 variety and 2...