ACORUS CALAMUS L. IN FOCUS: AN INTEGRATIVE BOTANICAL REVIEW OF TAXONOMY, MORPHOLOGICAL PLASTICITY, AND HABITAT-DRIVEN EVOLUTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/nxq1d116Keywords:
Acorus calamus L., taxonomy, morphological plasticity, wetland ecology, habitat-driven evolution, phenotypic variation, integrative botanyAbstract
Acorus calamus L. is a very intriguing botanical, ecological and evolutionary perennial wetland monocot. Although having a long and rich history of medicinal and cultural use, there is a relative lack of comprehensive integrative analysis of its taxonomy, morphological variability and ecological adaptation. The review is a synthesis of literature both classical and modern to discuss the taxonomic position of A. calamus, morphology, and the degree of phenotypic plasticity that is manifested in the various wetland environments. The importance of habitat heterogeneity, hydrological gradients, and ecological pressures in the morphological diversification and possible evolutionary pathways (cytotypic variation and habitat-induced differentiation) are placed. The review provides the contribution of environmental factors to the adaptive strategies in A. calamus by looking at the integration of taxonomic, morphological, and ecological perspectives. The conservation issues are also discussed in the paper and areas of future research directions are identified which are necessary to gain understanding of the evolutionary ecology of wetland plants.
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