Abstract Detail

Don Kaplan - his legacy: Influencing teaching and research

Wilson, Carol A. [1], Calvin, Clyde L. [1].

Character divergences and convergences in canopy dwelling Loranthaceae.

The Loranthaceae is the largest flowering-plant family with aerial branch parasites termed mistletoes. Three genera of Loranthaceae are terrestrial root parasites and the remaining 72 genera are aerial parasites. Several characters including habit, haustorial type, germination pattern, embryo pigmentation, pollen morphology, chromosome number, and flower merosity, fusion, symmetry and size are considered to reflect evolutionary relationships within the family. Convergence is a common pattern in evolution and can confound interpretations of evolution. We investigated character evolution by mapping character states onto a phylogenetic tree based on ITS data. Convergences in form were found in several characters including haustorial type, habit, petal fusion and flower symmetry and merosity. These convergences typically correspond to ecological parameters such as pollination syndrome or stresses associated with the canopy habit. Other characters such as chromosome number and germination pattern illustrate divergence without conflict along branches.

1 - Portland State University, Biology Department, POB 751, Portland, Oregon, 97207-0751, USA

Keywords:
ITS sequence
Loranthaceae
Parasitic plant
mistletoe
Character evolution.

Presentation Type: Symposium
Session: 33-3
Location: Ballroom 2 (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 2:20 PM
Abstract ID:816