Parallel evolution of angiosperm-like venation in Peltaspermales

Autor(en)
Mario Coiro, Stephan McLoughlin, Margret Steinhorsdottir, Vivi Vadja, Dolev Fabricant, Leyla Jean Seyfullah
Abstrakt

Leaf venation is a pivotal trait in the success of vascular plants. Whereas gymnosperms have single or sparsely branched parallel veins, angiosperms developed a hierarchical structure of veins that form a complex reticulum. Its physiological consequences are considered to have enabled angiosperms to dominate terrestrial ecosystems in the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Although a hierarchical-reticulate venation also occurs in some groups of extinct seed plants, it is unclear whether these are stem relatives of angiosperms or have evolved these traits in parallel. Here, we re-examine the morphology of the enigmatic foliage taxon Furcula, a potential early Mesozoic angiosperm relative, and argue that its hierarchical vein network represents convergent evolution (in the Late Triassic) with flowering plants (which developed in the Early Cretaceous) based on details of vein architecture and the absence of angiosperm-like stomata and guard cells. We suggest that its nearest relatives are Peltaspermales similar to Scytophyllum and Vittaephyllum, the latter being a genus that originated during the Late Triassic (Carnian) and shares a hierarchical vein system with Furcula. We further suggest that the evolution of hierarchical venation systems in the early Permian, the Late Triassic, and the Early Cretaceous represent ‘natural experiments’ that might help resolve the selective pressures enabling this trait to evolve.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Paläontologie
Externe Organisation(en)
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Ronin Institute for Independent Scholarship, Stockholm University
Journal
New Phytologist
Band
242
Seiten
2845-2856
Anzahl der Seiten
12
ISSN
0028-646X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19726
Publikationsdatum
2024
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
106008 Botanik, 105117 Paläobotanik, 106029 Pflanzenmorphologie, 106012 Evolutionsforschung
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Plant Science, Palaeontology, Physiology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 15 – Leben an Land
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/10473b01-c211-4b91-85fe-7ebfb9a75d24