Structural analysis of female and hermaphroditic flowers of a gynodioecious tree, Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae)

The evolution of gynodioecy from hermaphroditism involves modifications of floral structure such that male or female fitness is enhanced in hermaphrodites and females, respectively. We present an analysis of structural specialization of flowers of Ocotea tenera, in order to evaluate gender system ev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of botany 1997-03, Vol.84 (3), p.298-307
Main Authors: Gibson, J. Phil, Diggle, Pamela K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ALLOMETRY
ANATOMIA DE LA PLANTA
ANATOMIE VEGETALE
ANDROCEE
ANDROCEO
ANDROECIUM
ANTERA
ANTHERE
ANTHERS
Botany
COSTA RICA
CRECIMIENTO
CROISSANCE
DIMENSION
DIMENSIONS
DIMORFISMO SEXUAL
DIMORPHISME SEXUEL
DIOECY
EVOLUCION
EVOLUTION
Female animals
FEMALE FLOWERS
FLEUR
floral evolution
FLORES
FLOWERS
Flowers & plants
gender system
GINECEO
GROWTH
GYNECEE
GYNODIOECY
GYNOECIUM
Lauraceae
male sterility
MEASUREMENT
MEDICION
MESURE
OCOTEA
Ocotea tenera
Ovaries
PERIANTH
PERIANTHE
PERIANTIO
PLANT ANATOMY
Plants
POLEN
POLLEN
SEX
SEXE
SEXO
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
SIZE
STAMENS
Structure and Development
Trees
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Summary:The evolution of gynodioecy from hermaphroditism involves modifications of floral structure such that male or female fitness is enhanced in hermaphrodites and females, respectively. We present an analysis of structural specialization of flowers of Ocotea tenera, in order to evaluate gender system evolution in this tropical tree species. Significant morphological and anatomical variation was found between high fruiting and low or nonfruiting trees. Female flowers were significantly smaller than hermaphroditic flowers, produced no viable pollen, and made relatively greater allocation to structures that increase female fitness. Hermaphroditic flowers were significantly larger than female flowers, produced copious quantities of pollen, and made relatively greater allocation to male structures. Analyses indicated that changes in allometries between whole-flower growth and growth of reproductive structures may have occurred, which enhance function of the flower and plant as a male or female. Efficiency of nutrient allocation for reproduction is argued to be a factor driving gender system evolution in Ocotea tenera
ISSN:0002-9122
1537-2197
DOI:10.2307/2446003