Patterns of floral evolution in the early diversification of non-magnoliid dicotyledons (eudicots)

Abstract

Recent cladistic analyses of angiosperms based on both morphological and molecular sequence data recognize a major clade of dicotyledons defined by triaperturate or triaperturate-derived pollen (non-magnoliids/eudicots). Evidence from morphology, as well as the atpB and rbcL genes (cpDNA), indicates that extant Ranunculidae (e.g., Papaverales, Lardizabalaceae, Berberidaceae, Menispermaceae, Ranunculaceae) as well as “lower” Hamamelididae [e.g., Eupteleaceae (allied to Ranunculidae), Hamamelidaceae, Myrothamnaceae, Platanaceae, Trochodendraceae] and several other families (e.g., Gunneraceae, Nelumbonaceae, Proteaceae, Sabiaceae) are basal in this group. The earliest records of diagnostic eudi..