Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Gynostemma compressum (Cucurbitaceae), an endemic plant in China

Gynostemma compressum is an endemic herbaceous species distributed in northwestern China. Here, we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of G. compressum using Illumina pair-end sequencing. The circular complete cp genome of G. compressum was 157,959 bp in length and contained a large single copy region (86,809 bp), a small single copy region (18,560 bp) and two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (26,295 bp). The cp genome encodes 133 genes including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and 1 pseudogene. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that all the species of G. compressum formed a monophyletic clade and Gynostemma pentaphyllum was closely related to the genus Citrullus with strong bootstrap values.