biostudies-literatureKissling JSwiss National Science Foundation95-102https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3690988biostudies-literatureUnknown112(1)<h4>Backgrounds and aims</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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 Annals of botanyVariation and evolution of herkogamy in Exochaenium (Gentianaceae): implications for the evolution of distyly.PMC3690988129140Barrett SCKissling JfalseVariation and evolution of herkogamy in Exochaenium (Gentianaceae): implications for the evolution of distyly.<h4>Backgrounds and aims</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Jul2026-07-15T11:53:45.56Z2019-03-27T00:14:22ZS-EPMC36909882363995410.1093/aob/mct097