Based on DNA sequence data from the plastid genome, we
have shown conclusively that Satyriinae is not monophyletic in
its current circumscription i.e. including both the genera Satyrium and Pachites. Our finding corroborates those of Kurzweil
(1993a,b, 1996) and Kurzweil et al. (1995), who doubted that
Pachites was correctly placed in Satyrinae on the basis of
morphology, seed ultrastructural characteristics and unusual
anatomical features such as amphistomatic leaves with equally
large leaf epidermal cells on both sides, irregularly thickened
leaf cuticle, sclerenchymatous stem ground tissue, sclerenchymatous root pith and monostelic tubers. Kurzweil et al. (1995)
suggested that it might be more closely related to the Disinae
and Corycinae on the basis of the equally large epidermal cells
and polystelic tubers, which are common in the last two
subtribes. This suggestion is not supported by our data, but we
concur with Kurzweil et al. (1995) that Pachites is peculiar and
phylogenetically isolated.