Adaptive Evolution of the Australian Flora

The diversity of the Australian flora is generally thought to be a result of adaptive response to environmental change and/or co-evolution with pollinators, dispersers, etc.

There are numerous projects being undertaken to examine these hypotheses using morphological and molecular approaches, as well as studies of reproductive biology.

Major projects

1. Diversity and biology of carnivorous plants in Australia, particularly Byblis (Byblidaceae) and Drosera subgen. Bryastrum (Droseraceae)
2. Ultraviolet floral patterning in Australian flowers in relation to pollination strategies within and between families, genera and species
3. Diversity, biology and the role of hybridisation in Alyogyne (Malvaceae) Relationships, ecology and biology of the SW-WA endemic family Eremosynaceae
4. Evolution, diversity and biology of Australian petaloid monocots, especially Laxmanniaceae, Boryaceae and Hemerocallidaceae
5. Evolution and ecology of the basal monocot family Hydatellaceae
6. Evolution and chemotxaonomy of Cassytha (Lauraceae)
7. The evolution and diversity of Cenozoic fossil floras in southern Australia and New Zealand, covering a wide range of taxa but with particular emphasis on monocots