Floral development and vasculature of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae)

Floral developmental studies are crucial for understanding the evolution of floral structures and sexual systems in angiosperms. Within the monocot order Poales, both subfamilies of Eriocaulaceae have unisexual flowers bearing unusual nectaries. Few previous studies have investigated floral development in the subfamily Eriocauloideae, including the large, diverse and widespread genus Eriocaulon. To understand floral variation and the evolution of the androecium, gynoecium and floral nectaries of Eriocaulaceae, de Lima Silva et al. analysed floral development and vasculature in Eriocaulon and compared it with that of subfamily Paepalanthoideae and the related family Xyridaceae in a phylogenetic context.

Early floral development in Eriocaulon resembles that observed in other Eriocaulaceae. The sepals are the first floral organs to emerge on the floral primordium, followed by the stamens and the gynoecium; the petals differentiate from the division of common petal–stamen primordia. Despite this relatively stable general pattern in Eriocaulon, there is variation in floral merism, size and number of perianth parts, and presence of petal glands. de Lima Silva et al.’s comparative analysis of floral development and vasculature in several species provides clues to possible evolutionary processes.

Perianth reductions can occur due to delayed development that can also result in loss of the vascular bundles of the median sepals. Nectariferous petal glands cease development and remain vestigial in some species. In staminate flowers, the inner stamens can emerge before the outer ones, and carpels are transformed into nectariferous carpellodes. In pistillate flowers, stamens are reduced to staminodes and the gynoecium has dorsal stigmas.

Floral morphology is highly diverse in Eriocaulon, as a result of fusion, reduction or loss of perianth parts. The nectariferous carpellodes of staminate flowers originated first in the ancestor of Eriocaulaceae; petal glands and nectariferous branches of pistillate flowers originated independently in Eriocaulaceae through transfer of function. de Lima Silva et al. present a hypothesis of floral evolution for the family, illustrating a shift from bisexuality to unisexuality and the evolution of nectaries in a complex monocot family, which can contribute to future studies on reproductive biology and floral evolution in other groups.

RESEARCH ARTICLE

de Lima Silva, A., Trovó, M., Stützel, T., Rudall, P.J., Sajo, M. das G., Coan, A.I., 2021. Floral development and vasculature in Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) provide insights into the evolution of Poales. Annals of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcab100