Systematics

Systematics comprises two main research themes, the global inventory of species - taxonomy - and building the evolutionary tree – phylogenetics. Writing monographs of key taxa that combine descriptive taxonomy with analytical methods has played a central role in our contribution to these research goals. Our approach builds on a rich history of traditional herbarium and field-based taxonomy in Oxford combined with new methods and sources of data to elucidate evolutionary history.

Monographs & Revisions

Monographs of Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) by Robert Scotland, John Wood and colleagues and Lupinus (Leguminosae) by Colin Hughes and associates are the main focus of current taxonomic research in the Department. Recent taxonomic accounts of other groups include: various groups of Acanthaceae (Bolivia, Justicia and Thomandersia), Salvia (Lamiaceae), Leucaena (Leguminosae), Tecoma (Bignoniaceae) and Aglaia (Meliaceae).

Field Collections & New Taxa

Recent fieldwork has concentrated in the Andes (especially Bolivia and Peru), the Caribbean (Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago) and West Africa (Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone), much of it as part of wider botanical training and research projects funded by the Darwin Initiative. Notable recent discoveries and new taxa arising from this work have included a large set of new endemic plant species from Bolivia, new legumes from the Marañon Valley in Peru including the new genus Maraniona, as well as new species from West Africa.

Phylogenetics & Macroevolution

Our research also embraces theoretical and empirical work on systematic methods, phylogenetics and macroevolution. Recent work using empirical data and simulation studies has investigated the utility of morphological and molecular data for tree building and novel methods to develop DNA sequence loci for species-level phylogenetic studies of plants. Taxonomic and monographic research has been pivotal in underpinning and stimulating a number of studies in macroevolution, macroecology and plant development, including work on frequency distributions of taxonomic diversity (hollow curves), species discovery patterns, evolution of leaves, Neotropical species diversification, crop domestication and hybridization. Empirical data sets and phylogenies for Strobilanthes, Acanthaceae, Thomandersia, Lupinus, and Leucaena are available.

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