XVI International Botanical Congess

The family displays several architectural models each represented by different life forms, including dwarf trees, shrubs, lianas, perennial and annual herbs. Models are species-specific and often genus-specific. If a genus is polytypic it often shows its polyphyletic origin (Campanula). Seedling patterns and development pathways are of importance and correlate with the type of pollen grains and fruit structure. There are two groups: 1- mostly Asian genera, Campanumoea, Codonopsis, Cyananthus, Leptocodon, Platycodon, also Canarina and Ostrowskia, 2 - of wide distribution including Campanula, and other genera. Preliminary nuclear sequence data support the division of these two groups, which are different in architectural models also. Similarity might be a result of convergent evolution, and can be revealed by ontogenetic studies. Morphological and molecular studies suggest close relationship between the tribes Campanuleae and Phyteumateae, between Azorina and Campanula, support some separation (e.g. Campanulastrum and Gadellia from Campanula, etc.). However, the genus Campanula requires careful treatment from independent data sources before confirming new genera such as Hemisphaera, Neocodon and others.