HOMEOSIS IN PLANTS

Abstract

According to a broad definition, homeosis is the assumption by one part of an organism of likeness to another part. In developmental terms this means that at the site of one part another part or features of another part are expressed. Whereas homeosis continues to be actively investigated in animals, especially at the genetic level, it has been almost completely ignored or overlooked in plants. One purpose of this article is to draw attention to the fact that homeosis is widespread in plants from the cellular to the organismal level. Another purpose is to examine some of the consequences of this phenomenon for developmental and evolutionary plant biology, particularly homology, punctuated equilibra, and macroevolution.