The Development of Flowers

This unique volume presents a developmental view of the flower and its organs in contrast with more traditional treatments of phylogeny and comparative morphology. Individual chapters on the perianth, androecium, and gynoecium explore the flower's four organ types from the perspectives of organ initiation from the floral meristem, and organ growth, differentiation, maturation and function. The many illustrations highlight potential candidates as "model systems." Also explored are the developmental aspects of inflorescences and the flowers of grasses, highlighting flower and inflorescence development in Zea, Triticum, Orqza, and Lolium. The book concludes with a discussion of the partial processes and components of flower development which might be considered as sources of morphogenetic and developmental control. In addition to the critical genetic components, the roles of plant growth substances, organelles, and microtubules and microfibrilar components of wall placement are reviewed. The author persuasively argues that flower development is best interpreted as a multidimensional, interactive process in which many potential points for control of individual minor reactions can be identified. This book is a must for researchers and students in botany, plant molecular biology, and plant physiology.