Clusia: A Woody Neotropical Genus of Remarkable Plasticity and Diversity [Paperback]

This richly illustrated book presents the most recent up-to-date knowledge on Clusia with a wealth of data in tables and figures and comprehensive referencing. Clusias unique features as well as its extreme flexibility have put it in the limelight of international research. Covering all aspects of tree biology, this richly illustrated volume is an invaluable source of information for any plant scientist.

Clusia is the only dicotyledonous tree genus with crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), and in some cases all variants of CAM can be expressed in one given species. These unique features as well as Clusia's extreme flexibility have put it in the limelight of international research. The studies presented in this volume embrace anatomy, morphology and plant architecture, phytogeographical distribution and community ecology, phylogeny and genetic diversity, physiology and metabolism, physiological ecology and functional diversity, circadian rhythmicity and biological timing. Covering all aspects of tree biology, this richly illustrated volume is an invaluable source of information for any plant scientist.

Section I Background 1 Historical RecollectionsUlrich L?ttge 1.1 Namesakes: Carolus Clusius and Clusia 1.2 Alexander von Humboldt: The First Ecophysiological Studies of Clusia 1.3 The Discovery of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) in Clusia References Section II Phylogeny, Diversity and Ecology IntroductionUlrich L?ttge References 2 Morphology, Anatomy, Life Forms and Hydraulic ArchitectureUlrich L?ttge and Heitor Monteiro Duarte 2.1 Hundreds of Species of One Morphotype 2.2 Leaf Anatomy 2.3 Life Forms 2.4 Hydraulic Architecture References 3 Biogeographic Features of Clusia, with Emphasis on South American and Especially Brazilian SpeciesDorothy Sue Dunn de Araujo and Fabio Rubio Scarano 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Survey 3.3 Patterns 3.4 Discussion 3.4.1 Why Are There So Many Species? 3.4lÓ+