Phylogentic position, genetic variation and conservation status of (Calliandra medellinensis: Fabaceae).

The phylogenetic relatioships of the genus Calliandra were reconstructed, using 199 sequences from the nuclear región (ITS) and 195 sequences from the chloroplastid región (trnL – F), and the phylogenetic proporsal was complemented with 21 of the 22 species with records for Colombia. Three species were inserted in Calliandra sect. Androcallis (Calliandra antioquiae Barneby, C. tolimensis taub., C. medellinensisBritton and Killip). Despite the low resolution obtained with the nuclear marker, in the analysis of genetic distances, no diferences were found in the chloroplastid sequences between the specimens collected in Medellin from C. haematocephala and C. medellinensis, alike the sequence of an individual C. medellinensiscollected in Mariquita (Tolima) was identical to that of a specimen of C. tergemina collected in Medellin. This evidences that the location of posible origin of Calliandra medellinensis occurred in the area where the city of Medellin is located today. However, according to UICN parameters, it is declared extinct in its natural habitat, and the importance of the creation of new conservation zones that protect the natural patrimony is confirmed, as well as the need for new studies to anticipate the disappearance of diversity and establish strategies for the protection of taxa in the neotropic.

Keywords: Colombia, genetic distance, marker nuclear (ITS), intron trnL, spacer trnL – trnF, UICN.