Flower biology and molecular systematics in African Marantaceae

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In the submitted third year of the grant the phylogenetic analysis of the African Marantaceae will be finalized including a temporal dimension. The evaluation of the flower ecological data from the field work in Gabon will be finished, the morphological examination will be completed and these three datasets will be analysed and discussed in their complexity focusing on the radiation of the African Marantaceae. The following aims shall be reached:• Completion of the phylogenetic tree and testing of a molecular clock to date speciation events.• Completion of the comparative analysis of floral diversity in the African Marantaceae including theo clarification of floral synorganisation during the setting up of the style tension and pollen transfer onto the stylar depression in the bud ando establishment of pollination syndromes based on flower morphology, flower-ecological measurements and observed plant-pollinator interactions.• Reconstruction of the evolution of floral diversity and in particular of the style movement by 'mapping' selected characters on the molecular tree.• Taxonomical description of four new Marantaceae species from Gabon