Monocot Floral Evolution

Comparative and evolution studies on flowers and inflorescences in monocots

Cross section of flower of Narthecium ossifragum (Nartheciaceae)

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and various types of light microscopy (LM) are used to examine both floral ontogeny and comparative floral morphology and anatomy in a wide range of monocots, both within individual clades (e.g. Alismatales, Arecales, Asparagales, Liliales, Pandanales, Poales) and in a broader phylogenetic context. The primary goals are (1) to assess the value of these data for systematics, and (2) to establish hypotheses about monocot floral evolution that will ultimately be testable in the context of developmental-genetics. Analytical techniques currently employed include cladistic analyses of morphological and combined molecular-morphological data, and use of the improved molecular phylogenetic framework in monocots to optimise character sets.