Abstract Detail

Macroevolution

Rose, Jeffrey [1], Manzitto-Tripp, Erin [2].

Filament curtains, didynamous stamens, asymmetric stigmas, and the evolution of reproductive floral whorls in Ruellia (Acanthaceae).

Changes in floral morphology and their ecological correlates are of great interest to evolutionary biologists. Much of the literature on the macroevolutionary dynamics of floral form has focused on the corolla at the expense of other floral whorls. Reproductive whorls are grossly understudied, yet their evolution may parallel that of the corolla or may show different trajectories depending on changes in breeding system. Studying their evolution therefore offers exciting opportunities to concomitantly understand the evolution of pollination and breeding systems. Lamiales shows a diversity of specializations to the androecium, including fusion, reduction, and stamen length inequality. Here, we investigate the evolution of androecium and gynoecium traits in Ruellia (Acanthaceae). We first place the evolution of select reproductive traits in the context of tribe Ruellieae. We then focus on Ruellia to testing several hypotheses of the association between pollination systems and multiple reproductive traits in both the androecium and gynoecium. We conclude by testing hypotheses regarding the correlated evolution of these whorls and their possible relationship to breeding system, including a consideration of herkogamy.

1 - University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2504 9th Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68849, United States
2 - University of Colorado Boulder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 1900 Pleasant St, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA

Keywords:
Acanthaceae
Lamiales
Ruellia
floral evolution
breeding system
herkogamy.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: MACRO II005
Abstract ID:464
Candidate for Awards:None