Flowers on the tree of life

"Genetic and molecular studies have recently come to dominate botanical research at the expense of more traditional morphological approaches. This broad introduction to modern flower systematics demonstrates the great potential that floral morphology has to complement molecular data in phylogenetic and evolutionary investigations. Contributions from experts in floral morphology and evolution take the reader through examples of how flowers have diversified in a large variety of lineages of extant and fossil flowering plants. They explore angiosperm origins and the early evolution of flowers and analyse the significance of morphological characters for phylogenetic reconstructions on the tree of life. The importance of integrating morphology into modern botanical research is highlighted through case studies exploring specific plant groups where morphological investigations are having a major impact. Examples include the clarification of phylogenetic relationships and understanding the significance and evolution of specific floral characters, such as pollination mechanisms and stamen and carpel numbers"-- 1 Introduction: Establishing the state of the art -- the role of morphology in plant systematics / Louis P. Ronse De Craene Craene, Louis P. Ronse De, Livia Wanntorp Wanntorp, Livia 1 -- 2 Spatial separation and developmental divergence of male and female reproductive units in gymnosperms, and their relevance to the origin of the angiosperm flower / Richard M. Bateman Bateman, Richard M., Jason Hilton Hilton, Jason, Paula J. Rudall Rudall, Paula J. 8 -- 3 New flowers of Laurales from the Early Cretaceous (Early to Middle Albian) of eastern North America / Maria von Balthazar Balthazar, Maria von, Peter R. Crane Crane, Peter R., Kaj Raunsgaard Pedersen Pedersen, Kaj Raunsgaard, Else Marie Friis Friis, Else Marie 49 -- 4 Tracing the early evolutionary diversification of the angiosperm flower / James A. Doyle Doyle, James A., Peter K. Endress Endress, Peter K. 88 -- 5 Changing views of flower evolution and new questions / Peter K. Endress Endress, Peter K. 120 -- 6 Centrifugal stamens in a modern phylogenetic context: was Corner right? / Paula J. Rudall Rudall, Paula J. 142 -- 7 Evolution of the palm androecium as revealed by character mapping on a supertree / Sophie Nadot Nadot, Sophie, Julie Sannier Sannier, Julie, Anders Barfod Barfod, Anders, William J. Baker Baker, William J. 156 -- 8 Comparative floral structure and development of Nitrariaceae (Sapindales) and systematic implications / Julien B. Bachelier Bachelier, Julien B., Peter K. Endress Endress, Peter K., Louis P. Ronse De Craene Craene, Louis P. Ronse De 181 -- 9 Multiplications of floral organs in flowers: a case study in Conostegia (Melastomataceae, Myrtales) / Livia Wanntorp Wanntorp, Livia, Carmen Puglisi Puglisi, Carmen, Darin Penneys Penneys, Darin, Louis P. Ronse De Craene Craene, Louis P. Ronse De 218 -- 10 Ontogenetic and phylogenetic diversification in Marantaceae / Alexandra C. Ley Ley, Alexandra C., Regine ClaBen-Bockhoff ClaBen-Bockhoff, Regine 236 -- 11 Floral ontogeny of Acacia celastrifolia: an enigmatic mimosoid legume with pronounced polyandry and multiple carpels / Gerhard Prenner Prenner, Gerhard 256 -- 12 Floral development of Napoleonaea (Lecythidaceae), a deceptively complex flower / Louis P. Ronse De Craene Craene, Louis P. Ronse De 279