Repeated evolution of net venation and fleshy fruits among monocots in shaded habitats confirms a priori predictions: evidence from an ndhF phylogeny.

We present a well-resolved, highly inclusive phylogeny for monocots, based on ndhF sequence variation, and use it to test a priori hypotheses that net venation and vertebrate-dispersed fleshy fruits should undergo concerted convergence, representing independent but often concurrent adaptations to shaded conditions. Our data demonstrate that net venation arose at least 26 times and was lost eight times over the past 90 million years; fleshy fruits arose at least 21 times and disappeared 11 times. Both traits show a highly significant pattern of concerted convergence (p<10(-9)), arising 16 times and disappearing four times in tandem.

Phylogeny, concerted convergence, and phylogenetic niche conservatism in the core Liliales: insights from rbcL and ndhF sequence data.

Calochortus and the family Liliaceae s.s. have often been considered each other's closest relatives, based partly on their shared possession of bulbs, visually showy flowers, winged wind-dispersed seeds, and narrow parallel-veined leaves.