Meeting Abstract
Environmental conditions are widely recognized to influence leaf shape and size in plants, while flower morphology is typically attributed to coevolution with pollinators. However, abiotic factors impose functional demands that may influence the evolution of both leaf and flower traits, potentially leading to correlated evolution of habitat and pollinator type. In this study, we test associations between habitat and flower and leaf morphology in 17 species of the genus Silene. This sample of species contains herbaceous annuals and perennials that vary in pollinator type and ecological niche as well as morphology. We collected one to two plants per species and measured leaf length and width, calyx length and width, and internode length on each specimen. We also used ecological niche models to estimate average rainfall in the wettest and driest part of the year for each species range. We found that species growing in environments with less rainfall in drier months have a narrower leaf shape and smaller leaves overall. In addition, species with more precipitation in the wettest months also have longer calyces. Generally, greater precipitation is correlated with larger leaf and flower size among the species we collected. The influence of precipitation on flower size has implications for transitions to new pollinators in species colonizing drier habitats.
