Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms

Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms
Author: Douglas Soltis
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 587
Release: 2018-01-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 022644175X

Although they are relative latecomers on the evolutionary scene, having emerged only 135?170 million years ago, angiosperms—or flowering plants—are the most diverse and species-rich group of seed-producing land plants, comprising more than 15,000 genera and over 350,000 species. Not only are they a model group for studying the patterns and processes of evolutionary diversification, they also play major roles in our economy, diet, and courtship rituals, producing our fruits, legumes, and grains, not to mention the flowers in our Valentine’s bouquets. They are also crucial ecologically, dominating most terrestrial and some aquatic landscapes. This fully revised edition of Phylogeny and Evolution of the Angiosperms provides an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the evolution of and relationships among these vital plants. Incorporating molecular phylogenetics with morphological, chemical, developmental, and paleobotanical data, as well as presenting a more detailed account of early angiosperm fossils and important fossil information for each evolutionary branch of the angiosperms, the new edition integrates fossil evidence into a robust phylogenetic framework. Featuring a wealth of new color images, this highly synthetic work further reevaluates long-held evolutionary hypotheses related to flowering plants and will be an essential reference for botanists, plant systematists, and evolutionary biologists alike.

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Total Pages: 587
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ISBN: 022638361X

Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution

Early Flowers and Angiosperm Evolution
Author: Else Marie Friis
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 597
Release: 2011-08-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139496387

The recent discovery of diverse fossil flowers and floral organs in Cretaceous strata has revealed astonishing details about the structural and systematic diversity of early angiosperms. Exploring the rich fossil record that has accumulated over the last three decades, this is a unique study of the evolutionary history of flowering plants from their earliest phases in obscurity to their dominance in modern vegetation. The discussion provides comprehensive biological and geological background information, before moving on to summarise the fossil record in detail. Including previously unpublished results based on research into Early and Late Cretaceous fossil floras from Europe and North America, the authors draw on direct palaeontological evidence of the pattern of angiosperm evolution through time. Synthesising palaeobotanical data with information from living plants, this unique book explores the latest research in the field, highlighting connections with phylogenetic systematics, structure and the biology of extant angiosperms.

Introduction to Taxonomy of Angiosperms

Introduction to Taxonomy of Angiosperms
Author: Verma
Publisher: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Total Pages: 500
Release: 2010-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 8120341147

Taxonomy is one of the oldest biological disciplines. This book presents an account of general principles and aims of taxonomy in a comprehensive manner. It has been written mainly to cater the needs of undergraduate students pursuing courses in Botany/Life Sciences/Plant Sciences, but it will be useful for postgraduate students of these disciplines as well. The book gives a critical account of the important systems of classification and salient features of the APG II (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, 2003) system of plant taxonomy. It mentions the important rules of plant nomenclature, and various codes of nomenclature including the latest Vienna Code of 2006. Further, it discusses the usefulness of anatomy, embryology, palynology, chemistry, cytology and ecology under current trends in plant taxonomy. A thorough coverage of profusely illustrated 50 important dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous angiospermic families is the hallmark of this book. Each family is described covering the following points: Distribution, vegetative features, floral description, morphological nature of organs, further classification, affinities with other families, economic importance and description of common plant(s). Finally, the book covers the different aspects and theories related to the origin of angiosperms, and elucidates the methods and techniques of herbarium development and maintenance. KEY FEATURES: Presents a key to families described in the book. Provides a pro forma for the description of angiosperms. Includes a glossary of important technical terms. Lists the important Herbaria of India and the world.

The Global Flora

The Global Flora
Author: James W. Byng
Publisher: Plant Gateway Ltd.
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2018-01-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1912629003

This volume includes an introduction to The Global Flora series and an overview of an angiosperm poster. The poster visually illustrates relationships of all angiosperm families (following APG IV) and flower images representing 269 plant families. The poster also lists important characters for major grades and clades.

A Tour of the Flowering Plants

A Tour of the Flowering Plants
Author:
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Total Pages: 324
Release: 2006
Genre: Science
ISBN:

"A Tour of the Flowering Plants provides an overview of plant families and evolutionary relationships, and introduces a modern system of angiosperm classification."--Back cover.

Plant Evolution

Plant Evolution
Author: Karl J. Niklas
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 590
Release: 2016-08-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 022634228X

Although plants comprise more than 90% of all visible life, and land plants and algae collectively make up the most morphologically, physiologically, and ecologically diverse group of organisms on earth, books on evolution instead tend to focus on animals. This organismal bias has led to an incomplete and often erroneous understanding of evolutionary theory. Because plants grow and reproduce differently than animals, they have evolved differently, and generally accepted evolutionary views—as, for example, the standard models of speciation—often fail to hold when applied to them. Tapping such wide-ranging topics as genetics, gene regulatory networks, phenotype mapping, and multicellularity, as well as paleobotany, Karl J. Niklas’s Plant Evolution offers fresh insight into these differences. Following up on his landmark book The Evolutionary Biology of Plants—in which he drew on cutting-edge computer simulations that used plants as models to illuminate key evolutionary theories—Niklas incorporates data from more than a decade of new research in the flourishing field of molecular biology, conveying not only why the study of evolution is so important, but also why the study of plants is essential to our understanding of evolutionary processes. Niklas shows us that investigating the intricacies of plant development, the diversification of early vascular land plants, and larger patterns in plant evolution is not just a botanical pursuit: it is vital to our comprehension of the history of all life on this green planet.

Plant Systematics

Plant Systematics
Author: Gurcharan Singh
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 879
Release: 2019-06-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1000586758

This fourth edition of Plant Systematics is completely revised and updated. It incorporates the updated International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (Shenzhen Code, 2018), the new version of PhyloCode (Beta version of Phylocode 5, 2014), APweb version 14 (September, 2018), revised Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG IV, 2016), new Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group Classification (PPG I, 2016), besides the updates since the publication of third edition. The book is a blend of classical fundamental aspects and recent developments, especially in the field of molecular systematics, cladistics and computer identification. Special attention has been given to information on botanical nomenclature, identification, molecular systematics and phylogeny of angiosperms. The complicated concepts of phylogeny, taxometrics and cladistics have been explained with a view to providing a comparison between these diverse but interactive fields of study. An attempt has been made to build upon a common example when exploring different methods, especially in procedures of identification, taxometrics and cladistics. The major systems of classification are evaluated critically. Discussion on major families of Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms, especially those of major phylogenetic interest, form a major portion of this edition. The ebook includes nearly 500 color photographs set out in 36 pages covering plants from different parts of the world. In addition, 305 black & white illustrations have been included to provide a better understanding of the plants covered in the book.