EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS AND PATTERNS IN THE ANEMONINAE

On the basis of cpDNA restriction site analyses (HOOT & al. 1994) an i mproved but still informal hierarchical survey of Anemoninae is presen ted and combined with diversity and distribution data. Several adaptiv e syndromes are recognized on the basis of interrelated vegetative, re productive, cytogenetic and group-organizational aspects. These adapti ve patterns or types often include superficially similar species group s from different Anemoninae clades and apparently are the result of th e convergent canalizing effect of similar environments and histories d uring the evolutionary process of eco-geographical radiation. This and several other reasons are discussed as obstacles in matching morpholo gical and molecular data for taxonomic purposes.