The genus Ravenelia represents the third largest genus of rust fungi and parasitizes a great number of leguminous shrubs and trees, mainly in the subtropics and tropics. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of this genus using nc 28S rDNA and CO3 sequences are presented with a special focus on South African representatives of Ravenelia. Many of the specimens had been collected by us in recent years, mainly from acacia species of the genera Vachellia and Senegalia. Morphological characters were extensively studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The analyses resolved several well-supported phylogenetic groups. By linking these groups to their morphology and life cycle characteristics, it was possible to interpret the outcomes in terms of their evolutionary ecology and biogeography. Several characters previously used to define subgeneric groups within Ravenelia were found to be misleading because of assumed convergent evolution. However, host associations, the ability to induce aecial galls as well as the development of two-layered probasidial cells emerged as useful criteria for inferring monophyletic groups. Six novel Ravenelia species were discovered and described. Furthermore, five species represent new reports for South Africa, species descriptions were emended for two taxa, and a new host report emerged for R. inornata.

中文翻译：

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南非的Ravenelia（Pucciniales）属

属Ravenelia代表锈菌的第三大属，寄生豆科灌木和树木的大量，主要分布在亚热带和热带地区。该属的分子系统发育分析使用nc 28S rDNA和CO3序列进行了介绍，特别侧重于南非乌鸦代表。许多标本在最近几年收集我们主要从属刺槐种Vachellia和Senegalia。使用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对形态特征进行了广泛的研究。该分析解决了几个得到良好支持的系统发育群体。通过将这些群体与其形态和生命周期特征联系起来，就可以根据其进化生态学和生物地理学来解释结果。以前使用中定义亚组几个字符Ravenelia被发现，因为假定趋同进化的误导。然而，宿主协会，诱导胆囊的能力以及两层probasidial细胞的发展已成为推断单系群体的有用标准。六本小说Ravenelia物种被发现和描述。此外，有五个物种代表了南非的新报告，对两个类群的物种描述进行了修改，并且出现了新的寄主R. inornata的报告。