THE PHYLOGENY OF THE PAPAVERACEAE SENSU-LATO - MORPHOLOGICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

On the background of the phylogeny of the Papaveraceae s.1., the evolu tion of the androecium and gynoecium, the geographical distribution, a nd the ecological differentiation of the family is discussed. An effor t is made to homologize the diverse androecia of Pteridophyllum, Hypec oum, Fumariaceae and Papaveraceae s.str., and it is concluded that bot h the polyandrous androecium as found in the Papaveraceae s.str. and t he polycarpellate gynoecium as found in Papaveraceae s. str. subfam. P apaveroideae incl. Platystemonoideae are secondary and derived from wh orled oligomerous androecia and bicarpellate gynoecia, respectively. T he comparative consideration of the geographical distribution, ecology and diversity of various monophyletic units within the family suggest s (1) that forest floor habitats might be ancestral in the family, (2) that in parts of the family generic diversification preceded the brea k-up of the northern continents, and (3) that aridification of the env ironment was a major stimulus for both diversification and morphologic al divergence in the family.