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Darwin described the early evolutionary diversification of the flowering plants as an ``abominable mystery.'' Graham and Olmstead here describe a new approach to infer basal angiosperm phylogeny using sequences from 14 slowly evolving chloroplast genes, including three highly conserved introns, obtained using novel primers. Their results suggest that despite recent breakthroughs involving the relictual Amborella trichopoda of New Caledonia, Darwin's characterization still holds true. (see p. 1712)

Stem-elongation responses in a competitive environment

Weinig's exploration of how environmental factors interact to determine plant competitive ability is new and important. Previous studies have shown that elongation responses to light-quality cues of neighbor proximity enhance fitness of crowded plants. However, elongation responses observed in the current study suggest that plasticity to light-quality cues is more variable than previously realized and that the outcome of competitive interactions in the natural environment will depend on ambient temperatures, photoperiod, and population origin. (see p. 1660)

Dynamic microscopy

Blancaflor and Gilroy's detailed review focuses on the advances in microscopy techniques in plant cell biology that have occurred in the past ten years and projects future developments in this area. The combination of the high-resolution, three-dimensional capabilities of confocal and multiphoton microscopes with technologies such as laser tweezers that permit manipulation of individual cell components, powerful computers, and an array of optical probes allow new types of experiments to be considered. (see p. 1547)

Complex architecture

Climbing into the Asian rainforest canopy, the tropical liana Atrabotrys hexapetalus (Annonaceae) first produces thorns, then vegetative horizantal shoots, and finally branches with climbing hooks that bear flowers. Posluszny and Fisher provide a detailed description of this very complicated architecture and solve the controversy over the growth pattern and homology of hooks in this vine. Their resolution of the problem is well thought out and interesting. (see p. 1561)

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