HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sargent, R. D. Articles by Ree, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sargent, R. D. Articles by Ree, R. H. Agricola Articles by Sargent, R. D. Articles by Ree, R. H.

Phylogenetic evidence for a flower size and number trade-off¹

Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3140 USA; Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353 USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 USA; Field Museum of Natural History, Botany Department, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605 USA

ABSTRACT

The size and number of flowers displayed together on an inflorescence (floral display) influences pollinator attraction and pollen transfer and receipt, and is integral to plant reproductive success and fitness. Life history theory predicts that the evolution of floral display is constrained by trade-offs between the size and number of flowers and inflorescences. Indeed, a trade-off between flower size and flower number is a key assumption of models of inflorescence architecture and the evolution of floral display. Surprisingly, however, empirical evidence for the trade-off is limited. In particular, there is a lack of phylogenetic evidence for a trade-off between flower size and number. Analyses of phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs) of 251 angiosperm species spanning 63 families yielded a significant negative correlation between flower size and flower number. At smaller phylogenetic scales, analyses of individual genera did not always find evidence of a trade-off, a result consistent with previous studies that have examined the trade-off for a single species or genus. Ours is the first study to support an angiosperm-wide trade-off between flower size and number and supports the theory that life history constraints have influenced the evolution of floral display.

Key Words: floral display • flower number • flower size • inflorescence size • life history trade-offs • phylogenetic independent contrasts

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Burd, T.-L. Ashman, D. R. Campbell, M. R. Dudash, M. O. Johnston, T. M. Knight, S. J. Mazer, R. J. Mitchell, J. A. Steets, and J. C. Vamosi Ovule number per flower in a world of unpredictable pollination Am. J. Botany, June 1, 2009; 96(6): 1159 - 1167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Compiled by, F. Tooke, T. Chiurugwi, and N. Battey Flowering Newsletter bibliography for 2007 J. Exp. Bot., July 18, 2008; (2008) ern109v1. [Full Text] [PDF]