title: Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics for studying floral shape variation.
abstract: Variation in floral shape is of major interest to evolutionary and pollination biologists, plant systematists and developmental geneticists. Quantifying this variation has been difficult due to the three-dimensional (3D) complexity of angiosperm flowers. By combining 3D geometric representations of flowers obtained by micro-computed tomography scanning with geometric morphometric methods, well established in zoology and anthropology, floral shape variation can be analyzed quantitatively, allowing for powerful interpretation and visualization of the resulting patterns of variation.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, P.Bag X01, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa. vdniet@gmail.com
authors.forename: Timotheüs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Niet
authors.forename: Christoph P E
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Zollikofer
authors.forename: Marcia S Ponce de
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: H Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods; D035264:Flowers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000033:anatomy & histology*