Macroevolutionary patterns of ultraviolet floral pigmentation explained by geography and associated bioclimatic factors

Selection driven by biotic interactions can generate variation in floral traits. Abiotic selection, however, also contributes to floral diversity, especially with respect to patterns of pigmentation. Combining comparative studies of floral pigmentation and geography can reveal the bioclimatic factors that may drive macroevolutionary patterns of floral color. We create a molecular phylogeny and measure ultraviolet (UV) floral pattern for 177 species in the Potentilleae tribe (Rosaceae). Species are similar in flower shape and visible color but vary in UV floral pattern. We use comparative approaches to determine whether UV pigmentation variation is associated with geography and/or bioclimatic features (UV‐B, precipitation, temperature). Floral UV pattern was present in half of the species, while others were uniformly UV‐absorbing. Phylogenetic signal was detected for presence/absence of pattern, but among patterned species, quantitative variation in UV‐absorbing area was evolutionarily labile. Uniformly UV‐absorbing species tended to experience higher UV‐B irradiance. Patterned species occurring at higher altitudes had larger UV‐absorbing petal areas, corresponding with low temperature and high UV exposure. This analysis expands our understanding of the covariation of UV‐B irradiance and UV floral pigmentation from within species to that among species, and supports the view that abiotic selection is associated with floral diversification among species.