Diversity and Evolutionary Biology of Tropical Flowers [Paperback]

A unique account of the structure, biology and evolution of tropical flowering plants.The comparative study of flowers began in temperate regions and as a consequence most books on flowers are concerned with temperate plants. In contrast, this volume concentrates on tropical flowers, which exhibit the full range of biological phenomena that occurs in flowers.The comparative study of flowers began in temperate regions and as a consequence most books on flowers are concerned with temperate plants. In contrast, this volume concentrates on tropical flowers, which exhibit the full range of biological phenomena that occurs in flowers.The first part of the volume deals with general structural and biological features of flowers and shows facets of their diversity. The second part focuses on the flowers of selected tropical plants and emphasizes their structural and biological idiosyncrasies and evolutionary features. The author also outlines new trends in the study of floral evolution and the role of flowers in the study of flowering plant phylogeny.1. Introduction; 2. Floral organisation (bauplan, groundplan); 3. Floral construction (architecture, gestalt); 4. Floral adaptations to different pollinators (floral styles); 5. Special differentiations associated with pollinator attraction; 6. Special differentiations associated with the breeding system; 7. The process of anthesis; 8. Floral structure: biology of selected systematic groups in the tropics; 9. Aspects of flower evolution; 10. Prospects; Index. ...provides a wealth of information that will prove to be of great value to all persons interested in plant systematics, phylogeny, structure-function relationships, and ecology...will undoubtedly prove to be an indispensable and widely cited reference work for all professional botanists well into the future. William C. Dickison, Taxon