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Abstract

Morphological characters remain fundamental for understanding evolutionary relationships and taxonomic diversity in the grape family (Vitaceae). In this study, we investigated the evolutionary patterns of vegetative, reproductive, fruit, and seed morphological traits using a phylogenetic framework. A total of 26 morphological characters were compiled for 149 species representing the major genera and five tribes of Vitaceae. Character data were obtained from previously published taxonomic literature and global biodiversity databases, including Plants of the World Online (POWO) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Ancestral state reconstruction was conducted using a maximum likelihood approach under an equal-rates (ER) model to infer the evolutionary history of morphological traits across the phylogeny. The results reveal complex evolutionary dynamics for many characters, with several traits exhibiting multiple independent transitions among lineages. Vegetative characters such as growth habit, leaf organization, and tendril morphology show substantial diversification across tribes, whereas reproductive traits, including inflorescence position, floral merosity, and flower sexuality, are comparatively conserved. Fruit and seed characters exhibit pronounced morphological diversity, particularly in chalaza morphology, ventral infold architecture, raphe ridge development, and seed surface sculpture. Phylogenetic signal analysis indicates that certain seed traits, especially seed size class, display strong phylogenetic structure, suggesting evolutionary conservatism within closely related lineages. Overall, our results highlight the evolutionary significance of morphological characters in Vitaceae and emphasize the importance of integrating morphological evidence with phylogenetic frameworks to improve systematic classification and understand character evolution within the family.

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