Plant Speciation

Plant speciation is the process where populations of a plant species gradually develop differences over time, eventually becoming separate species. This often happens when groups of plants are isolated from each other—by physical barriers like mountains or rivers, or through changes in environment or pollinators. Over generations, these isolated groups experience distinct genetic changes, leading to differences in characteristics like shape, color, or reproductive methods. When these differences become significant enough that the groups can no longer interbreed and produce fertile offspring, they are recognized as new, separate species.