Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Morphogenesis

Morphogenesis

Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.

Pollination and Flower Structure

Pollination and Flower Structure

Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.

Non-vascular Seedless Plants

Non-vascular Seedless Plants

The diverse plant life on Earth—consisting of nearly 400,000 species—can be divided into three broad categories based on biological characteristics: nonvascular, seedless vascular, and seed plants.

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Introduction to Plant Diversity

Introduction to Plant Diversity

From Water to Land

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Development and proof-of-concept of a complex intervention to support appropriate imaging for musculoskeletal pain: the Betti programme.

Implementation science communications·2026

Same author

Characterisation of cuticle mechanical properties: analysing stiffness in layered living systems to understand surface buckling patterns.

Soft matter·2025

Same author

A brief look into protein-protein interactions orchestrating flower and fruit development.

Journal of experimental botany·2025

Same author

Barriers and facilitators for the utilisation of psycho-oncological services in German hospitals as perceived by patients and healthcare professionals: a mixed-methods study.

BMC health services research·2025

Same author

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Mediated by Molecular Modeling and Docking and Its Effect on the Protein-Protein Interactions of the bHLH Transcription Factors SPATULA, HECATE1, and INDEHISCENT.

Plants (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

The transcription factor ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION 2 orchestrates cytokinin dynamics leading to developmental reprograming and green callus formation.

Plant physiology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Published on: April 12, 2018

Evolution and development of complex floral displays.

Farahnoz N Khojayori¹, Udhaya Ponraj¹, Kristina Buch¹

¹Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK.

Development (Cambridge, England)

|November 5, 2024

Summary

Flowering plants evolved diverse floral displays through animal pollination, leading to angiosperm richness. This review explores genetic pathways and modular systems driving complex flower evolution.

Keywords:

Complex flowers Evo-devo Plant evolution Pollinator shifts

More Related Videos

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Published on: April 1, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2025

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

Published on: April 12, 2018

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Protocols for Problematic Plant, Oomycete, and Fungal Samples

Published on: February 3, 2017

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Live Confocal Imaging of Developing Arabidopsis Flowers

Published on: April 1, 2017

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Developmental biology
Plant science

Background:

Flowering plants (angiosperms) exhibit remarkable floral diversity, driven by animal pollination and resulting in the most species-rich plant clade.
Floral displays integrate macroscale (color, symmetry) and microscale (cell type, tissue patterning) features, creating elaborate structures.
Research often focuses on model species with simple flowers, limiting understanding of complex floral display evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge on the development and evolution of complex floral displays in angiosperms.
To examine gene regulatory networks underlying key floral developmental pathways.
To discuss how evolutionary modifications of these pathways generate floral complexity.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on floral development and evolution.
Analysis of gene regulatory networks in classical plant models.
Exploration of evolutionary modifications in developmental pathways.

Main Results:

Gene regulatory networks control inflorescence architecture, organ identity, flower symmetry, and flower color.
Evolutionary alterations in these pathways lead to diverse complex floral displays.
Simultaneous modification of multiple pathways results in the most elaborate floral displays.

Conclusions:

Understanding the genetic basis of floral development is crucial for deciphering angiosperm diversity.
Evolutionary modifications of developmental pathways provide a framework for understanding complex floral evolution.
Modular systems offer insights into the generation of extreme floral elaborations.