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Walker-Larsen and Harder carefully assess the occurence of staminodes inangiosperms with handsome interpretations of the function and evolution ofsterile androecial structures in flowers. The authors' integratedconsideration of staminode position and function enlarges the scope of thepaper. The plotting of staminodial characters on the phylogram of Chase etal. (Annals of Missouri Botanical Garden, vol. 80, pp. 528–580)provides a clear survey of the value of staminodes as taxonomic markersand reveals further insights into evolutionary trends. (see p. 1367)

Floral commitment

The question of when, where, and how plants are committed to floweringis significant. Washbum and Thomas show that soybean (Glycinemax) produces a few flowers without undergoing a commitment toflowering. Many other model plants do not revert as readily. Thisalternative pattern serves to highlight some of the questions that remainunanswered regarding commitment. (see p. 1425)

Floral organ size and development

Runions and Geber make a quantitative analysis of flowering morphology anddevelopment in two subspecies of Clarkia xantiana. In general,floral organs of the descendant, self-pollinating subspecies are smallerand grow at a greater rate but for less time than those of the outcrosser.Their paper provides developmental insights into the evolution of floralmorphology of self-pollinators and is a valuable addition to the field ofplant development and evolution. (see p. 1439)

Flowering behavior and heat production of Asian skunkcabbage

Wada and Uemura present fascinating and somewhat counterintuitive databaout the Asian skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus renifolius), aself-incompatible, protogynous, perennial, thermogenic aroid. They foundthat large plants began blooming earlier, produced more heat, made thetransition from female to male phase more rapidly, and lasted longer asmales than small ones. Small plants bloomed later and spent more time infemale phase. Thus size-dependent flowering performance causedunidirectional pollen flow from large to small plants. These results areintriguing, especially in light of Bierzychudek's classic 1982 study(Ecological Monographs, vol. 52, pp. 335–351) of anotheraroid, jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), in which smallerplants are male, larger ones female, and size-dependent resourcelimitation of sexual function is strongly implied. (see p. 1489)

This Article 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 Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content