In today's world, Cauliflory has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide spectrum of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical relevance or its influence in different areas, Cauliflory has captured the attention and curiosity of individuals of all ages and professions. Over the years, Cauliflory has been the subject of debate, analysis and study, generating a large amount of information and opinions about it. In this article, we will explore the different aspects, perspectives and possible implications of Cauliflory, addressing its importance from various perspectives and offering a comprehensive view of the topic.
Botanical term referring to plants that flower from their main stems
Cauliflory is a botanical term referring to plants that flower and fruit from their main stems or woody trunks, rather than from new growth and shoots. It is rare in temperate regions but common in tropical forests.
One frequently suggested hypothesis for the evolution of cauliflory is to allow trees to be pollinated or have their seeds dispersed by animals, especially bats, that climb on trunks and sturdy limbs to feed on the nectar and fruits. Some species may instead have fruit which drops from the canopy and ripen only after they reach the ground, an alternative strategy termed nonfunctionally caulicarpic fruits. In Ficus, there is not an association between the evolution of cauliflory as an apomorphy and ecological associations. Alternative hypotheses have focused on competition for sugar and minerals between flowers and young leaves,mechanical support for larger flowers and fruits particularly in Atrocarpus and Durio, and evolutionary theory built on the plant as a metapopulation and differential rates of mutations across large plant bodies.
An extreme version is flagelliflory where long, whip-like branches descend from the main trunk and bear all the inflorescences. The branches grow to and along the ground and even below it. As a result, the plant or tree's flowers can appear to emerge from the soil. Examples are known mostly from the plant families Annonaceae and Moraceae such as a species of Desmopsisterriflora but also include Couroupita guianensis (Lecythidaceae) and the cactus Weberocereus tunilla (Cactaceae).
^Mildbraed, J (1922). wissenschafliche Ergebnisse der Zweiten Deutschen zentral-Afrika-Expedition 1910-1911underFuhrung Adolph Friedrichs. Herzogs zu Meckleburg.