Journal
TAXON
Volume 52, Issue 4, Pages 681-685Publisher
INT ASSOC PLANT TAXONOMY
DOI: 10.2307/3647343
Keywords
angiosperms; arthropod; edibility; evolution; generalist flower; herbivory; insect; radiation
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A brief over-view of arthropod/insect evolution with particular emphasis on herbivory provides the starting point for discussion of increased herbivory over time. The term flower is defined, and it is noted that angiosperm flowers are distinguished by their edibility. It is observed that the phenomenon of florivory is a primary plant-animal interaction, and pollination, as one possible outcome of the eating of flowers, is a secondary phenomenon. An hypothesis reconciling the facts that angiosperms are the most eaten of all plant groups and the most successful in term of number of species is proposed. From the perspective of a floral morphologist, I discuss what a generalist flower is and how archaic angiosperms are characterized by this flower type. Biodiversity arguments underpin a discourse on why researchers should investigate generalist flowers and florivory.
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