Flower of Tetraplasandra gymnocarpa Hypogyny with Epigynous Ancestry.
Comparative herbarium studies, floral anatomy, and distributional data show that Tetraplasandra gymnocarpa, an araliad with hypogynous flowers, evolved in Hawaii from ancestors with epigynous flowers. Suggested causes for this reversal of a well-known evolutionary trend are (i) isolation of the ancestors from flowereating predators and (ii) selection for increased outcrossing.
Eyde
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Tseng
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