Flower morphology results from the interaction of an established genetic program, the
influence of external forces induced by pollination systems, and physical forces acting …

The origin of the flower was a key innovation in the history of complex organisms,
dramatically altering Earth's biota. Advances in phylogenetics, developmental genetics, and …

The origins of novel traits are often studied using species trees and modeling phenotypes as
different states of the same character, an approach that cannot always distinguish multiple …

Many melittophilous flowers display yellow and UV-absorbing floral guides that resemble
the most common colour of pollen and anthers. The yellow coloured anthers and pollen and …

Pseudonectaries, or false nectaries, the glistening structures that resemble nectaries or
nectar droplets but do not secrete nectar, show considerable diversity and play important …

Convergent evolution has fascinated and occasionally mystified biologists since the
principle of universal common ancestry was accepted. Similar phenotypes can arise by …

Background In angiosperms, phenotypic variation of floral organs is often considered as the
traditional basis for the evolutionary relationship of different taxonomic groups above the …

Background Understanding the relationship between macroevolutionary diversity and
variation in organism development is an important goal of evolutionary biology. Variation in …

The abrupt origin and rapid diversification of the flowering plants presents what Darwin
called “an abominable mystery”. Floral diversification was a key factor in the rise of the …

Abstract Background Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), also called Chinese date, is one
of the oldest and widely cultivated fruit trees with great economic values, which, at least, can …