The CURLY LEAF (CLF) gene, which shows homology with the Drosophila Pc-G gene Enhancer of zeste (E(z)), also regulates the expression of homeotic genes. In higher plants three classes of floral homeotic function exist, which act combinatorially to specify the identity of the four concentric whorls of the flower. CLF is required to repress the c function homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG) in leaves, inflorescence stems and in outer floral whorls. Unlike the animal Pc-G genes, which act on many targets, the Arabidopsis CLF gene acts mainly on AG. To test whether CLF homologues have a similar function in other plants, or have other targets, CLF homologues were isolated and characterised from Antirrhinum majus, a distant relative of Arabidopsis. Two genes were identified and named ANTIRRHINUM CURLY LEAF 1 and 2 (ANTCLF1 and 2); both encode proteins that show greater similarity to CLF than any other plant Pc-G protein on databases. Because ANTCLF1 and 2 were more similar to one another than to CLF, it is likely that the genes arose from a recent gene duplication. Both genes are expressed within the meristem and primordia of vegetative and floral tissue consistent with a role during both vegetative and floral development. The strong similarity in sequence and expression suggests that the two genes may be functionally redundant. To determine their biological function, forward and reverse genetic screens were conducted to identify mutations that disrupt the genes, these proved unsuccessful. Pc-G genes are thought to repress their targets in a heritable fashion. To investigate whether the Arabidopsis Pc-G gene CLF is required persistently to maintain AG repression, its time of action was investigated. A transgenic line with steroid inducible CLF+ activity was used to determine the development time of CLF silencing.