Deep Morphology Toward a Renaissance of Morphology in Plant Systematics

About this book

Important volume that makes the case for the continuing value of plant morphology in plant systematics, published at a time when the dominance of molecular systematics seems all but overpowering to many botanists.

From the publisher's announcement:

How can we utilize morphological data in a more sophisticated and efficaceous way in plant systematics? This book provides some useful answers to this question. The chapters are divided into three main sections dealing with Genetics and Development (chapters 2-5), Phylogenetic Analysis (chapters 6-8), and Ecology and Adaptation (chapters 9-13), sandwiched between an introduction (chapter 1) and final overview (chapter 14). Contents: List of authors; Preface; Introduction: Chapter 1. What is morphology and why is it time for its renaissance in plant systematics? Anton Weber. Genetics and development: Chapter 2. The genetic dissection of the stepwise evolution of morphological characters. Konrad Bachmann and Oliver Gailing. Chapter 3. Architectural effects on floral form and function: a review. Pamela K. Diggle. Chapter 4. Floral developmental features and molecular data in plant systematics. Peter Leins and Claudia Erbar. Chapter 5. Comparative morphology in relation to molecu- lar and phylogenetic systematics. Stefan Gleissberg. Phylogenetic Analy- sis: Chapter 6. Homology and character evolution. David M. Williams and Christopher J. Humphries. Chapter 7. What should a "complete" morphological phylogenetic analysis entail? Peter K. Endress. Chapter 8. Beyond morphoclines and trends: the elements of diversity and the phylogenetic patterning of morphology. Larry Hufford and Michelle McMahon. Ecology and adaption: Chapter 9. Epicuticular waxes and vascular plant syste- matics: integrating micromorphological and chemical data. Wilhelm Barth- lott, Inge Theisen, Thomas Borsch and Christoph Neinhuis. Chapter 10. Toward a deeper understanding of sporoderm structure and function in pollen grains: the sporoderm. Michael Hesse. Chapter 11. Ecological adaptions and deep phylogenetic splits--evidence and questions from the secondary xylem. Pieter Baas, Steven Jansen and Elisabeth A. Wheeler. Chapter 12. The potential of plant biomechanics in functional biology and systematics. Thomas Speck, Nick Rowe, Laure Civeyrel, Regine Cla#en- Bockhoff, Christoph Neinhuis and Hanns-Christof Spatz. Chapter 13. How a better understanding of adaptions can yield better use of morphology in plant systematics: toward Eco-Evo-Devo. Thomas J. Givnish. Overview: Chapter 14. Morphological data in plant systematics. Tod F. Stuessy. Subject Index; Taxon Index.

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