Character evolution and missing (morphological) data across Asteridae.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Plant systematics
• Phylogenetics

Background:

• Flowering plant phylogeny offers a framework for character evolution studies.
• Synthesizing phylogenetic data with morphological datasets is crucial but underexplored.
• Asteridae (asterids) represent a major angiosperm clade ideal for such investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore character evolution within the Asteridae clade.
• To integrate extensive morphological data with a well-resolved phylogeny.
• To identify potential synapomorphies for major asterid clades.

Main Methods:

• Scored 15 phenotypic characters (chemistry, anatomy, floral, fruit, seed) for 248 species.
• Utilized a phylogenetic framework based on 73 plastid genes for ancestral state reconstruction.
• Applied comparative analyses to a well-resolved phylogeny of Asteridae.

Main Results:

• Iridoid production, unitegmic ovules, and cellular endosperm reconstructed as synapomorphic for Asteridae.
• Sympetaly evolution is complex, with multiple independent origins suggested within the clade.
• Identified potential synapomorphies for subclades Gentianidae (e.g., equal stamens to petals) and Lamianae (e.g., adnate stamens).

Conclusions:

• The study enhances understanding of character evolution in Asteridae, identifying key synapomorphic traits.
• Significant gaps remain in knowledge of phenotypic features for several asterid groups.
• Further research into morphology, anatomy, development, and chemistry is vital for a comprehensive understanding of early asterid evolution.