Orchids' ability to grow on other plants independently evolved multiple times
Thursday, May 25, 2023 - 12:03
in Biology & Nature
The most extensive study of the genetic relationships among orchids to date reveals that the flower's ability to grow on other plants evolved independently multiple times. A team of researchers, led by Penn State biologists, compared the sequences of 1,450 genes from 610 orchid species to reconstruct the orchid family tree and clarify the evolutionary relationships among the many subgroups of this large plant family and showed that "epiphytism"—the ability to grow on other plants—evolved at least 14 separate times.