The phylogeny of the genera of Rhinantheae has been explored using DNA markers.[3][4] Three assemblages can be distinguished in this tribe:
Rhinanthus is the sister genus to Lathraea, and then to Rhynchocorys. These taxa are closely related to the core Rhinanteae.
In the core Rhinantheae, Odontites sensu lato, including Bornmuellerantha and Bartsiella, is the sister genus to Bellardia, including Parentucellia and Bartsia canescens + B. mutica. These taxa are closely related to Hedbergia (including Bartsia decurva + B. longiflora) and Tozzia. In turn, these genera share phylogenetic affinities with Euphrasia, and then with Bartsia sensu stricto (Bartsia alpina).
Melampyrum occupies an isolated, deep-branching position.
^ abcMcNeal, J. R.; Bennett, J. R.; Wolfe, A. D.; Mathews, S. (2013). "Phylogeny and origins of holoparasitism in Orobanchaceae". American Journal of Botany. 100 (5): 971–983. doi:10.3732/ajb.1200448. ISSN0002-9122. PMID23608647.
^ abTěšitel, Jakub; Říha, Pavel; Svobodová, Šárka; Malinová, Tamara; Štech, Milan (2010-10-28). "Phylogeny, Life History Evolution and Biogeography of the Rhinanthoid Orobanchaceae". Folia Geobotanica. 45 (4): 347–367. doi:10.1007/s12224-010-9089-y. ISSN1211-9520. S2CID39873516.
^ abScheunert, Agnes; Fleischmann, Andreas; Olano-Marín, Catalina; Bräuchler, Christian; Heubl, Günther (2012-12-14). "Phylogeny of tribe Rhinantheae (Orobanchaceae) with a focus on biogeography, cytology and re-examination of generic concepts". Taxon. 61 (6): 1269–1285. doi:10.1002/tax.616008.