Evolutionary constraints and adaptation shape the size and colour of rain forest fruits and flowers at continental scale

Aim Large‐scale patterns in flower and fruit traits provide crucial insights into selection processes and the evolutionary history of plant lineages. To isolate and identify the role of selective pressures, including different plant–animal interactions and the factors driving trait evolution, we investigated the convergence and divergence between flower and fruit traits in shared environments. Location Australia to Southeast Asia. Time period Eocene (c. 45 Ma) to present. Major taxa studied Woody angiosperm rain forest species (2,248 species, 133 families). Methods Using a continental‐scale data set for all woody angiosperm species in the Australian rain forest (1,816 free‐standing and 432 climbing species), we compared the colour and size of fleshy fruits and flowers in relationship to life‐form (trees/shrubs and vines), species biogeographical histories and origins (Sunda versus Sahul) and bioregional distributions. Results Fleshy fruits in the Australian rain forest are mostly small, with a diversity of colours (