Understanding flowers and flowering / Beverley Glover.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Flowers are the beautiful and complex reproductive structures of the angiosperms, one of the most diverse and successful groups of living organisms. The underlying thesis of this book is that to fully understand plant development (and why flowers differ in shape, structure and colour), it is necessary to understand why it is advantageous for them to look like they do. Conversely, in order to fully understand plant ecology, it is necessary to appreciate how floral structures have developed and evolved. Uniquely, this book addresses flowers and flowering from both a molecular genetic perspective (considering flower induction, development and self-incompatibility) and an ecological perspective (looking at the selective pressures placed on plants by pollinators, and the consequences for animal-plant co-evolution). Understanding Flowers and Flowering, the first edition of which won BES Marsh Book of the Year in 2009, begins by considering the evolution of flowers and the history of research into their development. This is followed by a detailed description of the processes which lead to flower production in model plants. The book then examines how flowers differ in shape, structure and colour, and how these differences are generated. Finally it assesses the role of these various aspects of floral biology in attracting pollinators and ensuring successful reproduction. This new edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest advances in the field, especially an increased understanding of the evolution of floral traits. New chapters consider the genetic basis of the floral transition in diverse species, as well as the evolutionary lability of floral form. There is a new focus throughout on both phylogenetic position and morphological diversity across the angiosperm phylogeny. Understanding Flowers and Flowering continues to provide the first truly integrated study of the topic - one that discusses both the how and why of flowering plant reproductive biology.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Glover (director, Cambridge Univ. Botanic Garden) considers her book useful for readers interested in pursuing "an integrated approach to the study of flowers." Her aim is to help "bridge the gaps" in the various fields that deal with flowers. The author stresses the flexibility in developmental pathways involved in flower induction, flower organ development, and final floral morphogenesis. The book is organized into three parts. Part 1 (two chapters) covers flower evolution and historical aspects. The 11 chapters in part 2, "The Molecular Mechanisms of Flowering: Induction and Development," mainly focus on Arabidopsis thaliana, with lesser attention given to other species. In part 3 (eight chapters), the author discusses the molecular and ecological factors affecting pollination success, including flower morphology and color and the influence of pollinators on floral form. This updated edition (1st ed., CH, Jun'08, 45-5568) includes information on advances in the field; two new chapters discuss the genetic basis of floral induction and the evolutionary lability of floral form. The book is illustrated with numerous diagrams and black-and-white photographs; 11 pages of color photographs provide examples of inflorescence, individual flowers, and floral morphologies of many species discussed in the text. Thirty-five pages of references (some 200 citations) support the text. --Frank G. Dennis, Michigan State University