and Malope L. However,chromosome number , Pollen morphology and Molecular data Showew that the tribe Malopeae is Polyphyletic and Palaua is sister to the clade of Neotropical Fuertesimalva Fryxell and the monotypic Urocrapidium Ulbr.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that the clade of Palaua is monophyletic and contains three well-Supported subelades that are largely congruent with morphology