Turnip Time Travels: Age Estimates in Brassicaceae

Abstract

Results of research in life sciences acquire a deeper meaning if they can also be discussed in temporal contexts of evolution. Despite the importance of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) as a prominent angiosperm model family, a robust, generally accepted hypothesis for a family-wide temporal framework does not yet exist. The main cause for this situation is a poor fossil record of the family. We suggest that the few known fossils require a critical re-evaluation of phylogenetic and temporal assignments as a prerequisite for appropriate molecular dating analyses within the family. In addition, (palaeo)biogeographical calibrations, not explored so far in the family, should be integrated in a synthesis of various dating approaches, with each contributing their specific possibilities and limitations.