The evolution of flower synorganization in Consolida (Ranunculaceae)

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The Delphinieae clade of the Ranunculaceae is unusual among basal eudicots in having zygomorphic flowers. Delphinieae consist of the species-rich Aconitum and Delphinium (ca. 300 spp. each) and the much smaller Consolida (40-50 sp., including Aconitella). Consolida is also the only angiosperm in which floral synorganization (of the dorsal petals) occurs in conjunction with spiral phyllotaxis, two features normally incompatible with each other. The potential monophyly of Consolida and precise relationship to Delphinium are untested. This proposal is seeking support for a phylogeny that will sample up to 100 species of Consolida and Delphinium (and a few Aconitum as outgroups) for nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions to resolve the evolution of petal synorganization in this clade (sequencing can largely rely on herbarium material as shown in a pilot study and material is at hand in Munich). Details of floral development will be studied in 6-10 species selected to represent different flower types. The main questions to be answered are (i) How do spiral phyllotaxis, zygomorphy, and petal synorganization become establish and interact during development? and (ii) What is (are) the evolutionary trajectory(-ies) of perianth evolution in the the Delphinium/Consolida clade?