FLORAL SYMMETRY AND ITS ROLE IN PLANT-POLLINATOR SYSTEMS: Terminology, Distribution, and Hypotheses

Floral symmetry has figured prominently in the study of both pollination biology and animal behavior. However, a confusion of terminology and the diffuse nature of the literature has limited our understanding of the role that this basic characteristic of flower form has played in plant-pollinator in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of ecology and systematics 1998-01, Vol.29 (1), p.345-373
Main Authors: Neal, Paul R, Dafni, Amots, Giurfa, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
actinomorphy
bilateral
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
Bumblebees
flower
Flowers
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Honey bees
Insect behavior
Insect pollination
Morphology, anatomy, histology, cytology
Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution
Plant evolution
Plants
Pollen
Pollinating insects
Pollination
radial
Spermatophyta
Symmetry
zygomorphy
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Summary:Floral symmetry has figured prominently in the study of both pollination biology and animal behavior. However, a confusion of terminology and the diffuse nature of the literature has limited our understanding of the role that this basic characteristic of flower form has played in plant-pollinator interactions. Here, we first contribute a classification scheme for floral symmetry that we hope will resolve some of the confusion resulting from the inconsistent application of terms. Next, we present a short review of the distribution of floral forms in angiosperm families. Finally, we provide a list of hypotheses and, when available, supporting evidence for the causes of the evolution of floral symmetry.
ISSN:0066-4162
2330-1902
DOI:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.345