What is the main takeaway message from the story about the wild sunflower, Helianthus anomalous? Speciation occurs through punctuated equilibrium Evolution occurs in a slow, steady manner. Hybrids may eventually form new species Speciation often occurs by polyploidy Solution 1. Helianthus anomalus species originated in nature from a hybridization of two other sunflowers. The parental flowers, H,. annuus and H.petiolaris, 2. The parental flowers, H annuus is found in clay based soils while H. petiolaris is found in sandier soils. 3. H. anomalus, is able to inhabit such a different and stressful environment due to divergence in parental gene dominance. 4. A rapid transition is suggested by analysis of pollen fertility in the synthetic hybrid lineages. 5. Rapid speciation may be the rule rather than the exception for recombinational species 6. Fertile, stable, hybrid neospecies have been experimentally synthesized in several plant genera 7. These artificial neospecies are semisterile when crossed with their parental species, indicating that reproductive isolation can arise rapidly. 8. Recombinational speciation represents only one of several known or suspected pathways to rapid speciation. 9. Others include allopolyploidy, changes in mating system, fixation of chromosomal rearrangements, and rapid adaptation to new habitats. 10. Features shared by these mechanisms may facilitate rapid speciation. 11. Both allopolyploidy and recombinational speciation involves hybridization, and rates of recombinational speciation are thought to be enhanced by chromosomal rearrangements, ecological divergence, and a shift to a selfing mating system..