| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section / ASPT Whitlock, Barbara A. [1], Silver, Julie [2], Prince, Jeffrey S. [1]. A re-examination of seed characters in Gentianopsis (Gentianaceae). SEEDCOAT morphology has long served to characterize species, sections, and genera of Gentianaceae. As the phylogeny of this family has become better resolved, seedcoat characters can be reconsidered to determine 1) whether they characterize monophyletic lineages and 2) their degree of homoplasy. We use SEM to examine seedcoat morphology in 16 taxa of Gentianopsis and the closely related genus Pterygocalyx, representing 12 species, four subspecies, and a putative hybrid. We resolve inconsistencies in previous reports and present new observations based on details of sculpting of the seedcoat of several species. Four characters best describe the variation in seedcoat morphology in this group: seed shape, shape of the outer periclinal walls of individual cells, presence or absence of visible sculpting on the inner periclinal walls, and seed size. Our preliminary molecular phylogeny of these species and their potential outgoups enables us to hypothesize the sequence of evolution of these characters within Gentianopsis.
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1 - University of Miami, Department of Biology, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, Florida, 33124, USA
2 - University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA
Keywords:
Gentianaceae
Gentianopsis
Pterygocalyx
seed morphology
character evolution.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 62-7
Location: 106/Ayres
Date: Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006
Time: 9:30 AM
Abstract ID:653 |
