6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London, England

Darwin and the Evolution of Flowers

11 – 12 May 2009

The Royal Society
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AG
tel +44 (0)20 7451 2213
fax +44 (0)20 7930 2543
email: [email protected]
www.royalsociety.org

Organised by
Sir Peter Crane FRS, University of Chicago Professor Else Marie Friis, Swedish Museum of Natural History Professor William Chaloner FRS, Royal Holloway, University of London

Synopsis
This meeting will highlight the influence of Darwin on our understanding of the evolution of flowers, presenting new and emerging evidence from seed plant phylogenetics, palaeobotany and morphology. It will review how recent research in these and related fields has brought us closer to resolving the origin of flowers and flowering plants (Darwin’s so-called “abominable mystery”). The recent clarification of angiosperm phylogeny at many taxonomic levels, coupled with evidence from the fossil record has given new opportunities for understanding patterns in the evolution of floral structure and biology. This meeting will also explore how the vast range of floral form seen in the angiosperms has been generated by developmental genetics, and the impacts of contemporary environmental change on the pollination of flowers.

Speakers
Spencer C. H. Barrett, Sarah Mathews, Charlie P. Scutt, Paula Rudall, Peter K. Endress, Susanne Renner, Juerg Schoenenberger, Elena Kramer, Scott Hodges, Sandra Knapp, Cris Kuhlemeier, Raymond L. Tremblay, Steven D. Johnson, Kingsley Dixon, Lawrence Harder.

Registration
This meeting is free to attend, but pre-registration (online) is essential. The online registration form and programme information can be found at royalsociety.org/events.

Official Website: http://royalsociety.org/event.asp?month=5&id=7434

Added by Royal Society Events on February 3, 2009