| Abstract Detail
Understanding plant evolution: morphology to molecules Hardy, Christopher R. [1]. New insights into the evolution of morphology, ontogeny, and biology of the flowers in the spiderwort and dayflower family, Commelinaceae. Flowers of the Commelinaceae are complex and notoriously delicate and ephemeral. Floral morphological diversification within the family has proceeded via the evolution of alternative ontogenetic pathways involving reduction, fusion, staminodization, and various other elaborations upon the plesiomorphic plan of six free stamens with longitudinally dehiscent anthers. In addition to providing a general overview of floral morphology in the Commelinaceae, I review the literature and present new data on the ontogenetic and biological aspects of floral diversification in the family. In-depth attention is given to ontogenetic and morphological aspects of (1) generalist, yet deceptive pollination syndromes scattered throughout the family, (2) functional convergence to buzz pollination in two very different floral forms, and (3) the independent evolution of cleistogamy in a few small, distantly related lineages.
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1 - Millersville University, James C. Parks Herbarium, Biology Department, Millersville, PA, 17551, USA
Keywords:
Commelinaceae
Floral development
Commelina
buzz pollination
pollinator deception.
Presentation Type: Symposium or Colloquium Presentation
Session: S4
Location: Room 4/Woodward
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 3:45 PM
Number: S4004
Abstract ID:294 |
