Corolla ontogeny and aestivation in the Acanthaceae
SCOTLAND RW., ENDRESS PK., LAWRENCE TJ.
Corolla ontogeny has been investigated in 33 species of 23 genera of Acanthaceae. These data are supported by less informative descriptions of mature aestivation patterns in 96 species of 34 genera. Five distinct aestivation patterns are described and illustrated: left contort, quincuncial, ascending cochlear, descending cochlear, and open. Corolla ontogeny alone provides no evidence for distinguishing the relative plesiomorphy and apomorphy of different aestivation patterns. These data undermine previous higher level classifications of Acanthaceae. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved