On the origins of observations of heterostyly in Primula

Gilmartin, Philip (2015) On the origins of observations of heterostyly in Primula. New Phytologist, 208. pp. 39-51. ISSN 0028-646X

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Abstract

In 1862, Charles Darwin published his landmark study on the different forms of flower in Primula; he coined the term distyly and subsequently expanded his studies to other species, including those with tristyly. Darwin is widely recognized as the first to study pin and thrum flowers in Primula, and to provide an explanation for the functional significance of the two floral morphs. Our laboratory is pursuing the genes that underpin floral heteromorphy in Primula, work influenced by Darwin's observations. One day, while appreciating a print of Primula vulgaris from William Curtis’ Flora Londinensis, I was struck by the fact that I was looking at images of dimorphic Primula flowers captured in a late-1700s copper-plate engraving that predated Darwin's observations by over 70 yr. This realization triggered a journey into archives of botanical texts, herbals and florilegia from the 16th to 19th Centuries, and correspondence archives, in search of earlier documents that could have influenced Darwin and the origins of an idea. Darwin was not the first to observe floral heteromorphy in Primula, but he was the first to realize the significance of the two floral morphs. Darwin's insight and exposition of purpose have underpinned all consequent work on the subject.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	floral heteromorphy,flower development,heterostyly,primula, s locus
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Plant Sciences
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	09 Feb 2016 16:00
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 00:45
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57015
DOI:	10.1111/nph.13558

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