Molecular Systematics of Epilobieae (Onagraceae: Myrtales)

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Onagraceae is one of the most thoroughly studied families among the flowering plants. The family has the potential to serve as a model for the study of adaptive radiation. However, a rigorous, detailed phylogeny is required to provide a foundation for additional work on radiation within the family. Traditional characters have failed to resolve adequately the evolutionary pattern wtihin Onagraceae. The PI proposes to use cpDNA restriction site variation and sequence analyses of nuclear rDNA to explore phylogeny within the tribe Epilobeae and to sequence rbcL from cpDNA to examine intertribal phylogenetic relationships within the family as a whole. He will also use these and other methods to fix Onagraceae within the larger order Myrtales. Finally, the inferred phylogeny will be used to assess character evolution within the family. The proposed research should permit the reexamination of the systematics of the family as well as morphological and physiological evolution that will permit additional levels of syntheses concerning adaptation and evolution.