Project description:Our results provide a foundation for comparative gene expression studies between eudicots and basal angiosperms. We identified whorl-specific gene expression patterns in Eschscholzia, and examined the floral expression of several gene families, such as MADS-box, bHLH and MYB. Interestingly, most homologs of genes important for flower development, except for MADS-box genes, show different expression patterns between Eschscholzia and Arabidopsis. Our comparative transcriptomics study highlights the unique evolutionary position of Eschscholzia compared with basal angiosperms and core eudicots.