Data from: Global biogeography and macroevolutionary patterns of angiosperm inflorescence types

The huge variety of inflorescences plays an important role in the
reproductive success and diversification of flowering plants. However, the
influence of climate on inflorescence diversity at macroecological and
macroevolutionary scales remains poorly understood. In this study we map
the global spatio-temporal pattern of inflorescence types and investigate
the influence of climate on the spatiotemporal patterns of angiosperm
inflorescence diversity. Our results reveal a clear latitudinal trend in
inflorescence types, with indeterminate inflorescence frequency increasing
away from the equator. Pollination mode composition and temperature
variables are strong correlates of the geographic variation in
inflorescence type frequency. We further reveal that lineages with
determinate inflorescence have significantly higher net diversification
rate than those with indeterminate inflorescence. The frequency of
evolutionary transitions from indeterminate to determinate inflorescences
consistently decreased during the Cenozoic. Significantly, the
evolutionary dynamics of inflorescence types during the Cenozoic show
clear latitudinal differences: the proportion of indeterminate
inflorescence at high latitudes increased with time and with the decline
of paleo-temperature, while that at middle to low latitudes decreased.
These results indicate strong climatic forcing on floral dynamics via
influencing inflorescence types and their coevolution with animal
pollination over large biogeographical and macroevolutionary scales.