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This latest volume in the series focuses on evolution and palaeobotany, plant-microbe interactions, and biomechanics.Collinson reviews the Early Tertiary floras and presents new evidence on the evolution and diversification of land plants using computer analysis of plant assemblages and reconstructions of fossil plants and plant communities. Fries and Endress combine the skills of palaeobotanists and neobotanists to more closely examine the evolution and morphology of angiosperm flowers.Miller turns his attention to the bacteria symbiotic in the leaf nodules of plants. This most complex of relationships between bacteria and higher plants involves a close and lifelong interaction at the deepest cellular level and is a fascinating system only poorly understood as of yet. Vincent deals with the fracture properties of plants--an important subject both for the plant trying to survive in a hostile environment and for its implications for agriculture and the palatability of food.
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Advances in
BOTANICAL RESEARCH VOLUME 17
Advances in
BOTANICAL RESEARCH Editor-in-Chief J . A. CALLOW
School of Biologicul Sciences, University of Birminghum, Birminghum, England
Editorial Board John Innes Institute, Nor 1 3 ich , England Depurlrnent of Botany, Royal Hollowuy & Bedford N i w College, University of London, Egh um Hill, Eghum , Su r rey , Engliin cl E. A. C. MAcROBBTE Depurtment Qf Botany, Universit,v of Ccimhr idge, Cumhridge, Englund
H . W. WOOLHOUSE W. G. CHALONER
Advances in
BOTANICAL RESEARCH Edited hi,
J. A. CALLOW
VOLUME 17
1990
ACADEMIC PRESS Harcourt Brace Jmanovich, Publishers
London
San Diego New York Boston Sydney Tokyo Toronto
This book is printed on acid-free paper
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United Stales Edition published by ACADEMIC PRESS INC. San Diego, CA 92 I0 I
Copyright i t ' 1990 by ACADEMIC PRESS LIMITED
All rights reserved No part ol' this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy. recording. or any information storage and retrieval system. without permission in writing from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Advances in botanical research.-Vol. 17 I . Botany-Periodicals 581'.05 QKI ISBN 0-1 2 -00591 7-7
Typeset by Eta Services (Typesetters) Ltd, Beccles, Suffolk Printed by Galliards (Printers) Lld, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
CONTRIBUTORS TO VOLUME 17
M. E. COLLINSON, Dicisioti
of' Biosphere Sciences, King's College Lonllon, Kcwington Cutitpus, Cutitp(lc.ti Hill RoLid, London Wbr 7A H , U K P. K . EN DRESS, Dt~purtt?i~tit of' S j ~ s ~ t w t i ~Botutij-, tii~ Univc~rsitj~ of' Zurich. Zuricli, S\j.itxrlund E. M . FRIIS, Department of' Palueohotany, Swedish Museum of Natural His t o r j ., SIock /I olm , S1t w l e t i I. M . MILLER. Depurttiimr of' Biologkul S c i m ~ t ~Wright s, Statc Uniwr.sitj*, Duj-ton. O H 45435, USA J. F. V. VINCENT, Biomechanics Group, Departments of Zoology and Engiricrring. LJtiiversitj~of Rwtliti~g.Wliitekniglits, PO Bos 228, Reuiling, UK
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PREFACE
In this volume of Adiwncv.v it1 Botriniul Rc.vwrc~lrwe start with two reviews on aspects of primitive floras and angiosperm evolution. Collinson's article is concerned with the Early Tertiary or Palaeogene era, a time of major geological and evolutionary change producing new microhabitats and competitive pressures. The resultant radiations of flora and fauna (including the second radiation of angiosperms) represent the early stages in the evolution of the communities and biological diversity that characterize the modern world. Collinson's r