ISSN:
1615-6110
Keywords:
Angiosperms
;
evolution
;
origin
;
ancestral angiosperm
;
morphology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The ancestral angiosperm is commonly interpreted as an arborescent to shrubby magnolialean with large, multiparted, complex flowers. We examined this hypothesis using a phylogenetic analysis of new and reevaluated characters polarizabled with outgroup comparison. Our cladistic analysis of basal angiosperms placed the nonmagnolialeanChloranthaceae andPiperaceae at the bottom of the tree. We further inferred the probable ancestral states of characters not polarizable with outgroup comparison by examining their distribution among taxa at the base of our cladogram. The sum of ancestral character states suggests that the protoangiosperm was a diminutive, rhizomatous to scrambling perennial herb, with small, simple flowers.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00941148
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