Event
The Evolution of Development of Climbing Plant
Department of Biology Seminar Series
Joyce (Chery) Onyenedum
Woody vines (=lianas) are the boa constrictors of the plant kingdom, bearing the unique ability to twine and coil their appendages around a host plant in search of light at the top of the forest canopy. Because lianas must twist and turn without breaking, their wood anatomy and stem development is specifically equipped for this unique demand– this often results in unusual stem conformations that are distinct from trees and shrubs, and cell wall remodeling to render stems bendable. In this talk, I will present how modifications to plant anatomy and development have led to the independent evolutionary emergence of lianas.
Host: Erin Doody
Cornell University