Commelinids Diversity and Evolution of Monocots palms spiderworts spiderworts bananas and pineapples Commelinids largest group of monocots ranging from palms to grasses 4 main groups Acorales sister to all monocots Alismatids inc Aroids jack in the pulpit Lilioids lilies orchids yams non monophyletic petaloid Commelinids Arecales palms Commelinales spiderwort Zingiberales banana Poales pineapple grasses sedges Commelinids Dasypogonaceae strongly monophyletic bound ferulic acid in cell walls fluoresce under UV with ammonium hydroxide added this feature allowed placement of Dasypogonaceae 4 genera W Australia Arecaceae palms Commelinids theme reduction of flower loss of nectar loss of zoophily evolution of bracts the order has one family also called Palmae 190 genera and 2400 species of trees and shrubs grass tropics subtropics deserts Mediterranean biomes pickeral weed rapatead bromeliad Arecaceae palms Malaysia greatest center of diversity in Malay archipelago then Amazonia depauperate in Africa but diverse in Madagascar Arecaceae palms Rattan palms a plant group that honors the Wallace Biogeographic Line Asian distribution with few species passing through Sulawesi or New Guinea Rattan palm generic distributions Madagascar Arecaceae palms Great morphological diversity in stature Syagrus lilliput palm of Paraguay Arecaceae palms Great morphological diversity largest seed of seed plants Jubaea Chilean wine palm This genus of 1 species endemic to the Seychelles has generated interest in having the largest seed and in that the shape of the seed has suggested the devil s work or aphrodisiacal properties Lodoicea maldivica Seychelles palm or double nut Arecaceae palms Great morphological diversity largest leaf What is unusual about how this species was first discovered Corypha Raffia rattan Lodoicea maldivica Seychelles palm or double nut and largest inflorescence Arecaceae palms Arecaceae palms Vegetative characteristics Vegetative characteristics woody woody stems via primary thickening meristem or diffuse secondary growth palmate or pinnate compound compound sheathing plicate or folded essentially hardened leaf bases single apical meristem succeptible to frost Roystonia Arecaceae palms Arecaceae palms Floral characteristics Floral characteristics inflorescence surrounded by spathe once allied with aroids flowers unisexual or bisexual CA 3 CO 3 A 3 6 3 6 G 3 or 3 Arecaceae palms Floral characteristics Areca Betel palm Arecaceae palms Classification 5 subfamilies Nypoideae and Calamoideae are first diverging fruit a 1 seeded berry or drupe Cocos coconut Nypa fruticans salt marsh Arecaceae palms Important palms food Arecaceae palms Important palms food Cocos nucifera coconut Calamus radicalis Hawaii Phoenix Date palm Arecaceae palms Arecaceae palms Important palms oil wax Important palms horticulture Elaeis oil palm Chyrtostachys sealing wax palm Roystonea Royal Palm Arecaceae palms Important palms horticulture Palm House at Kew Royal Botanic Garden largest glass house in the world with the largest glass house plant Chilean wine palm Commelinids 4 main groups Acorales sister to all monocots Alismatids inc Aroids jack in the pulpit Lilioids lilies orchids yams non monophyletic petaloid Commelinids Arecales palms Commelinales spiderwort Zingiberales banana Poales pineapple grasses sedges Washingtonia in Santa Monica Commelinids Commelinales Zingiberales theme reduction of flower loss of nectar loss of zoophily evolution of bracts 2 closely related tropical orders primarily nectar bearing but with losses bracted inflorescences grass pickeral weed rapatead pickeral weed spiderwort heliconia nectar pollen only nectar bracts bromeliad Commelinaceae spiderwort Commelinaceae spiderwort Family of small herbs with succulent stems stems jointed leaves sheathing Family does not produce nectar but showy flowers for insect pollen gathering Inflorescence often bracted Rhoeo Moses in a cradle Commelina erecta Erect dayflower Tradescantia ohiensis spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis spiderwort Commelinaceae spiderwort Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic Commelinaceae spiderwort species rich in pantropics especially Africa CA 3 CO 3 A 6 G 3 floral diversity is enormous Commelina communis day flower Tradescantia ohiensis spiderwort Pontederiaceae pickerel weed Aquatic family of emergents or floaters Water hyacinth Eichhornia Eichhornia from tropical America is invasive species in subtropical areas of the world Pontederiaceae pickerel weed Pickerel weed has glossy heart shaped leaves superficially like Sagittaria but without net venation Flowers are in congested showy purple inflorescences Eichhornia crassipes Water hyacinth invading Florida Pontederia cordata Pickerel weed Pontederiaceae pickerel weed Haemodoraceae kangaroo paw Flowers are showy insect pollinated with nectar glands previously placed in Liliales Anigozanthus kangaroo paw Small family with floral nectar species radiations in Australia and South Africa Pontederia cordata Pickerel weed Zingiberales Zingiberales strongly supported group of 8 tropical families strongly supported group of 8 tropical families rhizomatous monocots with showy nectared but highly bracted flowers rhizomatous monocots with showy nectared but highly bracted flowers 3 shared features 3 shared features 1 Parallel pinnate leaves often distichous 2 Bracted flowers and inflorescences Zingiberales strongly supported group of 8 tropical families rhizomatous monocots with showy nectared but highly bracted flowers 3 shared features Zingiberales order fairly well known based on DNA and morphology show interesting trends in 1 fusion of perianth and 2 stamen loss and staminode development Costus floral pattern P A S 3 Inferior ovary S A A P AA A P S 3 fused sepals 3 separate petals 5 fused sterile anthers labellum DNA based Zingiberales rhizogram rhizogram by John Kress Poales I showy flowers 4 main groups Acorales sister to all monocots Alismatids inc Aroids jack in the pulpit Lilioids lilies orchids yams non monophyletic petaloid Commelinids Arecales palms Commelinales spiderwort Zingiberales banana Poales pineapple grasses sedges 1 fertile anther Poales I showy flowers showy flowers insect or bird pollinated reduced flowers insect or wind pollinated reduced flowers wind pollinated Bromeliaceae pineapples mainly epiphytic epiphytic but terrestrial as well in inhospitable regions Bromeliaceae pineapples key adaptations CAM photosynthesis modified trichomes or scales scales tank