Interaction between floral rewards and floral symmetry shapes diversification dynamics in Amazonian trees.

ABSTRACT: Floral zygomorphy, or monosymmetry, is thought to have a positive effect on the diversification rates of angiosperms, but its true impact is still an open topic. Given the controversy surrounding this matter, our study evaluates whether rewards such as nectar and pollen produced by floral structures evolve in correlation with floral symmetry and its effects on diversification. Using the family Lecythidaceae, we characterized the floral structures that produce different rewards for pollinators and assessed whether these rewards evolve correlated with the varying levels of floral symmetry observed in the subfamily Lecythidoideae. We also used trait-dependent diversification to assess whether this trait correlation affects lineage diversification rates. Floral rewards are produced by structur

SUBMITTER: Graciano D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12630423 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature