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Using 46 species and a combination of 241 molecular and morphological characters, Weiblen takes a new look at Ficus phylogeny. Many Ficus are functionally dioecious due to their complex relationships with pollinating fig wasps. Weiblen shows that a former classification uniting the functionally dioecious species does not reflect their evolutionary relationships. Multiple transitions between functional dioecy and monoecy appear to have occurred. Interestingly, associations of the pollinating fig wasps are congruent with the host fig phylogeny. (see p. 1342)

Hydraulic properties of xylem

The hydraulic properties of xylem in determining species distribution and success are discussed in two papers in this issue. Pockman and Sperry demonstrate that the water potential at which hydraulic failure occurs in the xylem is a useful benchmark for predicting where a given species might succeed in the Sonoran Desert. Their discussion of variability in the safety margin above this mark is ecologically and evolutionarily illuminating. Tibbetts and Ewers compare xylem hydraulic properties in the native Vitis riparia (riverbank grape) vs. the highly invasive Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet). Their study clearly shows that xylem efficiency and xylem safety do not explain the success of the exotic plant over the native species. Further, the study provides original information on the hydraulic architecture of lianas. (see p. 1287 and 1272 )

Benefits of sex change?

Griffin, Mavraganis, and Eckert examine the widely held but rarely tested hypothesis that dichogamy, a prominent feature of flowering plants, reduces interference between sexual functions and reduces self-fertilization. Using columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) as their test species, they take an original, imaginative approach to experimentally enforce dichogamy and alter the degree of separation between sex function to show that columbine, often described as a classic example of protogyny, does not actually exhibit a pronounced sex change and that sex change does not confer the expected benefits. (see p. 1246)

Long-distance seed dispersal

Recognition of the crucial importance of long-distance seed dispersal to many ecological processes is growing. However, the study of long-distance dispersal in plants has been hindered by the difficulty of obtaining empirical data. In this timely and comprehensive review, Cain and colleagues discuss promising new estimation procedures that use genetic data to help identify and quantify long-distance dispersal events (see p. 1217)

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