Missouri Botanical Garden

My research interests center on describing and understanding plant diversity through systematics and evolutionary studies, with a particular focus on the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), a group largely restricted to the American tropics. I use DNA analyses to explore species relationships and study morphological traits to uncover patterns of adaptive evolution. Additionally, I am dedicated to creating tools for species identification, including field guides and innovative identification methods, to make plant knowledge more accessible. My work also involves floristic projects in underexplored regions of Latin America, combining field expeditions and herbarium research to document and expand our understanding of their plant diversity.

My research interests involve the systematics, floristics and ecology of the family Araceae (philodendron family). Despite the great horticultural interest in the philodendron family and its importance as a major component of many tropical forests, the taxonomy of Araceae is extremely poorly known and the family still contains a high proportion of undescribed species. Thus, work at this stage consists primarily of recognizing and describing new species, writing descriptions and identification keys for tropical floras, and intensively studying certain groups.

I am interested in understanding plant evolution on a broad scale, why some species and genera are so successful (sometimes even invasive) and why other closely related taxa are rare or threatened. The plant family Onagraceae is my model system of choice—thanks to the efforts of my mentor Peter Raven and collaborators, we know a great deal about the taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, cytology, embryology, pollination biology, biogeography, molecular systematics, and other aspects of this family. We now are able to ask sophisticated questions about the evolution of the group.

The William L. Brown Center (WLBC) is dedicated to the study of useful plants, understanding the relationships between humans, plants, and their environment, the conservation of plant species, and the preservation of traditional knowledge for the benefit of future generations.

Research focus:: Phylogeny and systematics of selected groups of ferns and lycophytes