Variation and evolution of herkogamy in Exochaenium (Gentianaceae): implications for the evolution of distyly.

ABSTRACT:

Backgrounds and aims

The spatial separation of stigmas and anthers (herkogamy) in flowering plants functions to reduce self-pollination and avoid interference between pollen dispersal and receipt. Little is known about the evolutionary relationships among the three main forms of herkogamy - approach, reverse and reciprocal herkogamy (distyly) - or about transitions to and from a non-herkogamous condition. This problem was examined in Exochaenium (Gentianaceae), a genus of African herbs that exhibits considerable variation in floral morphology, including the three forms of herkogamy.

Methods

Using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods, the evolutionary history of herkogamic and non-herkogamic conditions was reconstructed from a molecular phylogeny of 15 species of

SUBMITTER: Kissling J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3690988 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature