Evolution of floral form: electrostatic forces, pollination, and adaptive compromise

Do floral size and shape affect the electrostatic properties of flowers? Do electrostatic properties affect the delivery of pollen to, and capture from, pollinators? The first detailed analysis of how variation in floral form may affect electrostatically ‘assisted’ pollination is provided by Vaknin et al . (2001) in this issue (see pp. 301–306). They used an experimental approach to study this question by examining the electrostatic pollination of model flowers of different sizes and shapes. This study not only illustrates a new way to analyse floral form and function experimentally, but also demonstrates the potential importance of a largely unrecognized selective force that may significantly influence the evolution of floral form.