biostudies-literatureOyston JWNatural Environment Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council859-79https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4845799biostudies-literatureUnknown117(5)<h4>Background</h4>Disparity refers to the morphological variation in a sample of taxa, and is distinct from diversity or taxonomic richness. Diversity and disparity are fundamentally decoupled; many groups attain high levels of disparity early in their evolution, while diversity is still comparatively low. Diversity may subsequently increase even in the face of static or declining disparity by increasingly fine sub-division of morphological 'design' space (morphospace). Many animal clades reached high levels of disparity early in their evolution, but there have been few comparable studies of plant clades, despite their profound ecological and evolutionary importance. This study offers a prospective and some preliminary macroevolutionary analyses.<h4>Methods</h4>Classical morphometric methAnnals of botanyWhy should we investigate the morphological disparity of plant clades?PMC4845799BB/K015702/1NE/K014951/1Hughes MWills MAOyston JWGerber SfalseWhy should we investigate the morphological disparity of plant clades?<h4>Background</h4>Disparity refers to the morphological variation in a sample of taxa, and is distinct from diversity or taxonomic richness. Diversity and disparity are fundamentally decoupled; many groups attain high levels of disparity early in their evolution, while diversity is still comparatively low. Diversity may subsequently increase even in the face of static or declining disparity by increasingly fine sub-division of morphological 'design' space (morphospace). Many animal clades reached high levels of disparity early in their evolution, but there have been few comparable studies of plant clades, despite their profound ecological and evolutionary importance. This study offers a prospective and some preliminary macroevolutionary analyses.<h4>Methods</h4>Classical morphometric meth2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Apr2026-07-15T19:10:38.308Z2026-07-09T03:10:32.391ZS-EPMC48457992665829210.1093/aob/mcv135