Dissertation Research: Morphological and Molecular Systematics of Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae)

0073052 Kellogg本计画将探讨紫菀科紫菀属（Bignoniaceae）的分类、历史与植物地理。紫葳亚科（Bignonieae）是美洲热带地区最大和最重要的木本藤本植物类群，共有47属350种。 在某些地区，它们占物种的20-25%。 它们以其引人注目的观赏花而闻名（如美国的喇叭藤），木材和药用价值。 尽管它们很重要，但紫菀亚科很难识别，部分原因是我们不了解物种之间的关系。 本项目的第一个目标是确定遗传学（即，系谱）的紫葳亚科的形态和DNA数据。 根据这一系统发育，可以对紫菀亚科的分类进行修订，并对紫菀亚科的形态、生态和地理变异模式进行重新评价，从而有助于对紫菀亚科这一新热带森林优势成分的识别。 紫菀族的历史反映了本半球热带地区的历史。 在植物学知识的增长无法跟上多样性丧失的时代，向热带森林的主要组成部分分配资源是一个优先事项。

0073052KelloggThis project will investigate the classification, history, and biogeography of Bignonieae, a group of woody vines in the catalpa family (Bignoniaceae). Bignonieae, with 350 species and 47 genera, is the largest and most important group of woody vines in tropical regions of the Americas. In some areas, they make up 20-25% of the species. They are known for their strikingly ornamental flowers (such as the the trumpet-creeper, which occurs in the U.S.), their timber, and their medicinal value. Despite their importance, Bignonieae are hard to identify, in part because we do not understand the relationships of the species. The first goal of this project is to determine the phylogeny (i.e., genealogy) of Bignonieae using morphological and DNA data. From this phylogeny, the classification of Bignonieae will be revised, and patterns of morphological, ecological and biogeographical variation will be re-evaluated.A better classification of Bignonieae will help in identification of this dominant component of neotropical forests. The history of the Bignonieae mirrors the history of tropical regions in this hemisphere. In an era when the increase in botanical knowledge cannot keep up with loss of diversity, allocation of resources to major components of tropical forests is a priority.