Linanthus parryae
Encyclopedia
Linanthus parryae is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family
known by the common name sandblossoms. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from sandy, open habitat types in several regions from the Central Valley to the Sierra Nevada foothills to the Mojave Desert
. This is a petite annual herb producing short stems just a few centimeters tall surrounded by hairy, needle-lobed leaves. The inflorescence
, which often appears to sit directly on the ground tucked amidst the leaves, is a cluster of
funnel-shaped flowers about a centimeter wide. The flower may be white or blue, with some populations made up of both colors. This uncommon phenomenon has made this species a model organism
in studies of genetic variation
.
For many decades a long line of geneticist
s and botanists, including Sewall Wright
, Carl Epling
, and T. G. Dobzhansky
, have studied populations of this flower to determine the factors that influence this polymorphism
. Color frequencies may vary for many reasons, including genetic drift
and pure natural selection
. Wright built his theories on genetic drift using data he collected on this flower in the Mojave Desert. More recent studies place greater emphasis on the effects of natural selection on color frequency.
Polemoniaceae
Polemoniaceae are a family of about 25 genera with 270-400 species of annual and perennial plants, native to the Northern Hemisphere and South America, with the center of diversity in western North America, especially in California.Only one genus is found in Europe, and two in Asia, where they...
known by the common name sandblossoms. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known from sandy, open habitat types in several regions from the Central Valley to the Sierra Nevada foothills to the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. This is a petite annual herb producing short stems just a few centimeters tall surrounded by hairy, needle-lobed leaves. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, which often appears to sit directly on the ground tucked amidst the leaves, is a cluster of
funnel-shaped flowers about a centimeter wide. The flower may be white or blue, with some populations made up of both colors. This uncommon phenomenon has made this species a model organism
Model organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
in studies of genetic variation
Genetic variation
Genetic variation, variation in alleles of genes, occurs both within and among populations. Genetic variation is important because it provides the “raw material” for natural selection. Genetic variation is brought about by mutation, a change in a chemical structure of a gene. Polyploidy is an...
.
For many decades a long line of geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
s and botanists, including Sewall Wright
Sewall Wright
Sewall Green Wright was an American geneticist known for his influential work on evolutionary theory and also for his work on path analysis. With R. A. Fisher and J.B.S. Haldane, he was a founder of theoretical population genetics. He is the discoverer of the inbreeding coefficient and of...
, Carl Epling
Carl Epling
Carl Clawson Epling was an American botanist who is best known for being the major authority on the Lamiaceae of the Americas from the 1920s to the 1960s. In his later years he also developed an interest in genetics. After obtaining his Ph.D...
, and T. G. Dobzhansky
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Theodosius Grygorovych Dobzhansky ForMemRS was a prominent geneticist and evolutionary biologist, and a central figure in the field of evolutionary biology for his work in shaping the unifying modern evolutionary synthesis...
, have studied populations of this flower to determine the factors that influence this polymorphism
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
. Color frequencies may vary for many reasons, including genetic drift
Genetic drift
Genetic drift or allelic drift is the change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random sampling.The alleles in the offspring are a sample of those in the parents, and chance has a role in determining whether a given individual survives and reproduces...
and pure natural selection
Natural selection
Natural selection is the nonrandom process by which biologic traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution....
. Wright built his theories on genetic drift using data he collected on this flower in the Mojave Desert. More recent studies place greater emphasis on the effects of natural selection on color frequency.