AoB PLANTS
Trait divergence determines the success of a newly invasive plant
It is often assumed that the ability of plants to acclimatize to the local environment through non-genetic changes in their anatomy and physiology (phenotypic plasticity)
annals-of-botany
Hornwort stomata walls are not built for movement
Guard cell walls are built to resist bending and deformation to open and close the pore. Pectins provide flexibility and resilience to walls; in particular arabinans
annals-of-botany
Functional traits of vascular plants colonizing alpine cushions
Global warming threatens species living in the highest and coldest areas. Alpine cushion plants are potentially endangered by stronger species expanding from lower elevations. This can
annals-of-botany
Correlated evolution-flower size and seed number
Evolution of large flowers and associated specialized pollination mechanisms may increase the genetic relatedness of seeds within multi-ovulate ovaries by pollination of all ovules by
annals-of-botany
Relationships between Tertiary relict and circumboreal woodland floras
Where do you find plants? Sometimes it seems the clue is in the name. For example, anyone looking for the Radnor Lily in the UK will
annals-of-botany
Floral micromorphology of bird-pollinated carnivorous Utricularia
Most bladderworts (genera Pinguicula, Genlisea, Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae) are pollinated by insects. Bird pollination is rare and has probably evolved independently three times in this family. In
annals-of-botany
Do I need a sexual partner, or is it better to be my own date? The evolution of sexually dimorphic plants
Enantiostyly, a reproductive system characterized by heteromorphic flowers with either left or right style deflection, compels reciprocal pollen transfer between floral types. The potential outcrossing advantage
annals-of-botany
Breeding system evolution in Ficus and Moraceae
Diverse breeding systems have evolved in angiosperms from the bisexual flowers of their last common ancestor. However, breeding system evolution remains poorly understood in many plant
annals-of-botany
Submergence tolerance traits in the forage legume Melilotus siculus
Submergence is a severe stress for most plants. Striker et al. assess tolerances of partial and full submergence for fifteen accessions of Melilotus siculus (Fabaceae). Traits
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Solving a major controversy in conifer evolution
One major and long-standing controversy in conifer evolution concerns the phylogenetic relationships in the subfamily Cupressoideae (Cupressaceae) between Juniperus, Cupressus and the Hesperocyparis-Callitropsis-Xanthocyparis
annals-of-botany
Functional diversity and convergence in the evolution of plant reproductive structures
Although plant reproductive structures are incredibly diverse overall, unrelated groups can show strong convergence in specific forms. Bonacorsi and Leslie use lycopsids, an ancient lineage with
annals-of-botany
Evolutionary implications of seed-cone teratologies in Pseudotaxus chienii
The ovule-bearing organs of the yew family Taxaceae differ from typical conifer seed-cones in possessing a fleshy structure surrounding the ovule/seed, which is