REVSYS Collaborative Research: Untangling the Passionflower Vines: Phylogeny, Species Diversification, and Character Evolution in Passiflora Subg. Decaloba (Passifloraceae)

西番莲代表了一个多样化的群体，超过560种葡萄藤和树木，主要分布在中美洲和南美洲。这些植物以热带西番莲的来源而闻名，但也因其美丽而复杂的花朵而被广泛种植。西番莲似乎是一个最近进化的谱系，经历了快速的物种多样化。许多物种在形态、地理分布和保护状况方面知之甚少，特别是在最大的西番莲谱系Decaloba亚属中，有235多种。本研究将利用DNA序列数据、扫描电子显微镜以及对新鲜和保存标本的观察，综合现代和传统的方法来解决这些问题。实地工作将有助于收集有关物种分布的新材料和文件。该项目将产生对Decaloba所有物种的修订，并将提供一个现代进化框架，在该框架内解决有关花形进化、授粉综合征、花发育和谱系的生物地理历史的问题。这项研究将在一个特别有魅力的植物群中解决重要的生物学和进化问题。本科生和研究生将参与研究。基恩州立学院和哈里斯-斯托州立大学的本科生将特别受益于这项研究，这两所大学主要招收科学领域代表性不足的群体。圣安娜牧场植物园的夏季工作坊将有来自当地社区的学生参与。实地考察将在墨西哥、中美洲和南美洲的美国科学家和同事之间建立国际合作。这个项目的所有结果将在密苏里植物园的网站上公布。

Passiflora represents a diverse group of more than 560 species of vines and trees primarily found in Central and South America. These plants are best known as the source of tropical passionfruit, but are also widely cultivated for their beautiful, complex flowers. Passionflowers appear to be a recently-evolved lineage that has experienced rapid species diversification. Many species are poorly understood with regard to morphology, geographical distribution, and conservation status, especially in the largest lineage of passionflowers, subgenus Decaloba, with 235+ species. This study will synthesize modern and traditional approaches to address these problems, using DNA sequence data, scanning electron microscopy, and observation of fresh and preserved specimens. Field work will enable collection of fresh material and documentation of species distributions. This project will yield a revision of all species in Decaloba, and will provide a modern evolutionary framework within which to address questions about the evolution of floral shape, pollination syndromes, floral development, and the biogeographical history of the lineage. This study will address important biological and evolutionary questions in an especially charismatic group of plants. Undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the research. Undergraduates at Keene State College and Harris-Stowe State University, institutions that primarily enroll underrepresented groups in the sciences, will especially benefit from involvement in this study. Summer workshops at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will involve students from the local community. Field expeditions will build international collaborations among U.S. scientists and colleagues in Mexico, Central America, and South America. All results of this project will be available through a website hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden.