Abstract
Ruscus aculeatus is a subandroecious species widespread in Mediterranean environments. Our studies on floral differentiation show that the unisexual flowers pass through a stage in which both androecial and gynoecial primordia are initiated. The hypothesis that dioecy has arisen secondarily from hermaphroditism is discussed. Data on flowering phenology of Mediterranean populations ofR. aculeatus showed it has a long flowering season (about 7 months). This phenology is similar to that of the Mediterranean species originated before the development of the Mediterranean climate. Members of the family Ruscaceae where present in Laurasia during the tropical Tertiary and the present study on flower and fruit morphology and reproductive phenology reveals forR. aculeatus a list of characters generally reported for tropical species. Small and greenish flowers, fleshy fruits, few large seeds, and resprouting capacity, together with long flowering season and continuous availability of ripe fruits, occur all together inR. aculeatus. It constitutes a “tropical reproductive syndrome” which might have survived the climatic fluctuations of the Quaternary, the establishment of the Mediterranean climate, and the present anthropogenic disturbs.
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