Phylogenetics and taxonomic revision of the neotropical genus Drymonia (Gesneriaceae, tribe Episcieae)

该项目将产生一个框架，用于研究来自中美洲和南美洲热带雨林的一个研究较少的植物群中花和水果多样化的迷人例子。大多数目标群（开花植物苦苣苔科的苦苣苔属）的物种很少被收集和不充分了解。许多将被研究的物种从未被拍摄过，至少有10个物种是科学上的新物种。将产生分子数据来评估最近多样化的谱系，以回答有关水果和花朵形态起源的问题。该项目的结果将记录极度濒危生态系统的植物多样性。将在巴拿马、哥斯达黎加、秘鲁和法属圭亚那进行探索性采集考察，这些目标地区在我们对植物多样性的认识方面存在重大差距。培训机会将提供给一名实地和实验室研究的博士候选人和阿拉巴马大学的本科生。来自塔斯卡卢萨市/县学校的教师将接触到各种各样的经验，包括协助热带地区的实地考察。为了保护稀有和濒危物种，以及评估花卉特征，将开发一个现场收集。

This project will produce a framework for studying a fascinating example of flower and fruit diversification in a poorly studied plant group from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Most species in the target group (genus Drymonia in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae) are rarely collected and inadequately known. Many of the species that will be studied have never been photographed and at least ten species are new to science. Molecular data will be generated to assess recently diversified lineages to answer questions on the origins of fruit and flower morphologies.Results from this project will document plant diversity from ecosystems that are critically endangered. Exploratory collecting expeditions will be conducted in Panama, Costa Rica, Peru, and French Guiana where targeted areas represent significant gaps in our knowledge of plant diversity. Training opportunities will be given to one doctoral candidate in field and lab-oriented research and undergraduate students at the University of Alabama. Teachers from the Tuscaloosa City/County Schools will be exposed to a variety of experiences including assisting on field expeditions to the tropics. A live collection will be developed for conservation of rare and endangered species as well as for assessing floral features.