Evolution, induction of flowering, variation.

The present work is organised such that the whole phenomenon of flowing is divided into two major steps: 1. the initiation of flower primordia and 2. The development of these primordia into mature flowers until anthesis. With this volume aiming to to provide a balanced account of themost important and recent contributions in all aspects of the subject.

This unique volume presents a developmental view of the flower and its organs in contrast with more traditional treatments of phylogeny and comparative morphology. Individual chapters on the perianth, androecium, and gynoecium explore the flower's four organ types from the perspectives of organ initiation from the floral meristem, and organ growth, differentiation, maturation and function. The many illustrations highlight potential candidates as "model systems." Also explored are the developmental aspects of inflorescences and the flowers of grasses, highlighting flower and inflorescence development in Zea, Triticum, Orqza, and Lolium. The book concludes with a discussion of the partial processes and components of flower development which might be considered as sources of morphogenetic and developmental control. In addition to the critical genetic components, the roles of plant growth substances, organelles, and microtubules and microfibrilar components of wall placement are reviewed. The author persuasively argues that flower development is best interpreted as a multidimensional, interactive process in which many potential points for control of individual minor reactions can be identified. This book is a must for researchers and students in botany, plant molecular biology, and plant physiology.

The present work is organised such that the whole phenomenon of flowing is divided into two major steps: 1. the initiation of flower primordia and 2. The development of these primordia into mature flowers until anthesis. With this volume aiming to to provide a balanced account of themost important and recent contributions in all aspects of the subject.

The reproductive organs and mating biology of angiosperms exhibit greater variety than those of any other group of organisms. Flowers and inflorescences are also the most diverse structures produced by angiosperms, and floral traits provide some of the most compelling examples of evolution by natural selection. Given that flowering plants include roughly 250,000 species, their reproductive diversity will not be explained easily by continued accumulation of case studies of individual species. Instead a more strategic approach is now required, which seeks to identify general principles concerning the role of ecological function in the evolution of reproductive diversity. The Ecology and Evolution of Flowers uses this approach to expose new insights into the functional basis of floral diversity, and presents the very latest theoretical and empirical research on floral evolution. Floral biology is a dynamic and growing area and this book, written by the leading internationally recognized researchers in this field, reviews current progress in understanding the evolution and function of flowers. Chapters contain both new research findings and synthesis. Major sections in turn examine functional aspects of floral traits and sexual systems, the ecological influences on reproductive adaptation, and the role of floral biology in angiosperm diversification. Overall, this integrated treatment illustrates the role of floral function and evolution in the generation of angiosperm biodiversity. This advanced textbook is suitable for graduate level students taking courses in plant ecology, evolution, systematics, biodiversity and conservation. It will also be of interest and use to a broader audience of plant scientists seeking an authoritative overview of recent advances in floral biology.