Evolution of wood anatomical characters in Nepenthes and close relatives of Caryophyllales.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Nepenthes attracts wide attention with its spectacularly shaped carnivorous pitchers, cultural value and horticultural curiosity. Despite the plant's iconic fascination, surprisingly little anatomical detail is known about the genus beyond its modified leaf tip traps. Here, the wood anatomical diversity of Nepenthes is explored. This diversity is further assessed with a phylogenetic framework to investigate whether the wood characters within the genus are relevant from an evolutionary or ecological perspective, or rather depend on differences in developmental stages, growth habits, substrates or precipitation.

Methods

Observations were performed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Ancestral states of selected wood and pith characters

SUBMITTER: Schwallier R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5604564 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature