The evolution of flower colour

• Published in: Current biology Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. R484 - R488
• Main Authors: Kellenberger, Roman T., Glover, Beverley J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 05-06-2023
• ISSN: 0960-9822; 1879-0445
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.01.055

Flowers are the most commonly seen colourful elements of the natural world, and in this primer we explain the evolution of their spectacular range of colours. To understand flower colour, we first explain what colour is and how a flower can have different colours in the eyes of different observers. We briefly introduce the molecular and biochemical basis of flower colour, which is primarily based on well-characterised pigment synthesis pathways. We then consider the evolution of flower colour over four timescales — its origin and deep evolution, its macroevolution, its microevolution and finally, the recent effects of human behaviour on flower colour and its evolution. Because flower colour is so evolutionarily labile, and at the same time so striking to the human eye, it is an exciting subject for current and future research efforts.
Kellenberger and Glover give an overview of the biochemical basis for floral color, and discuss its origin and evolution.