Seed Wings in Relation to Seed Size in the Genus Spergularia

The presence or absence of seed wings in the genus Spergularia is interpreted evolutionarily by a comparative investigation of 48 species. The investigation of the variation in seed size, and the distribution of winged, unwinged and heteromorphic species according to life history, habitat type, wate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 1991-06, Vol.61 (2), p.216-222
Main Authors: Telenius, Anders, Torstensson, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aquatic habitats
Biological and medical sciences
Biological taxonomies
Demecology
Ecological genetics
Ecological life histories
Evolution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Marinas
Perennials
Plants
Plants and fungi
Seed dispersal
Seed size
Spergularia
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Summary:The presence or absence of seed wings in the genus Spergularia is interpreted evolutionarily by a comparative investigation of 48 species. The investigation of the variation in seed size, and the distribution of winged, unwinged and heteromorphic species according to life history, habitat type, water availability, salinity and geographical distribution of the species, showed that seed type is the strongest predictor of seed size. Winged seeds (exclusive of the wing) were on average larger than unwinged seeds. We suggest that the variation in seed wing occurrence may reflect selection on seed size instead of selection for seed dispersal per se, as previously hypothesized. Eleven of the investigated species produce heteromorphic seeds, and in contrast to the remaining species, which normally inhabit sandy or rocky places, these species occur most frequently in marshes. We thus conclude that the heteromorphism may have evolved as a means for differential dispersal by species living under conditions where secondary dispersal by water is important.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.2307/3545339