Item Details

abstract

The plant family Polygonaceae Juss. has long been recognized as a distinct group based on the presence of ochrea, a single, basal ovule, a perianth composed of 5 or 6 tepals, and the fruit, an achene. However, the family is morphologically diverse with growth forms varying from small herbs or cushion plants to shrubs, lianas, and trees over 20m tall. Members of Polygonaceae are distributed worldwide (but most species are concentrated on the northern temperate zone), and they colonize virtually all ecosystems. Although few molecular studies have been done in Polygonaceae, the monophyly of the family has been established and a new subfamily classification has recently been proposed. Although the same subfamilies are recognized (Eriogonoideae and Polygonoideae), the circumscription changed: Eriogonoideae was expanded to include the woody Neotropical genera previously placed in Polygonoideae.

subject

Eriogonoideae

Phylogeny

Polygonaceae

Pseudomyrmex

Ruprechtia

Triplaris

contributor

Sanchez, Adriana (author)

Kron, Kathleen A. (committee chair)

Smith, William K. (committee member)

Michelangeli, Fabian A. (committee member)

Silman, Miles R. (committee member)

Tague, Brian W. (committee member)

date

2011-07-14T20:35:57Z (accessioned)

2012-01-14T09:30:13Z (available)

2011 (issued)

degree

Biology (discipline)

embargo

2012-01-14 (terms)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/33474 (uri)

language

en (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

title

Evolutionary Relationships In Polygonaceae With Emphasis On Triplaris

type

Dissertation