Department of Plant Biology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6509. Investigations into the biology of the four genera of the Fossombroniineae has resulted in several unexpected discoveries, a few of which will be detailed in this presentation. Populations are often comprised of single genets which are self-fertile, spore dispersal is local and gene flow between populations is low.
Cosmopolitan taxa are anthropogenic and endemics are common.
Austrofossombronia comprises several turf-forming species, distributed not only on Antarctic Islands, but also at high elevations around the world. Anatomical studies verify that Petalophyllum and Sewardiella form pseudoperianths and shoot calyptrae, but that Fossombronia and Austrofossombronia form a developmentally distinct, analogous structure, here termed a caulocalyx. Preliminary molecular data suggest that Petalophyllum is basal in the suborder and that Fossombronia is derived.