De Kok, Rogier P. J.
Job Title
Assistant Keeper, Regional Teams
Department
Herbarium. Library, Art and Archives
Section
Regional Teams
Science Teams:
Joined Kew:
2002Foreign Language(s):
DutchQualifications & Appointments
Doctorandus (MSc), Rijkuniversiteit Leiden, 1993
DPhil, Univ. Oxford, 1998
Board, Flora Malesiana
Council, Systematics Association
Role
Conservation and systematics of South East Asian plants; Verbenaceae and Lamiaceae in particular.
The generic definitions within the South East Asian Verbenaceae/Labiatae are confusing at the moment. The genera are taxonomically complex and many problematic species occur within the region. Redefining generic boundaries and producing floristic treatments for the region is the main focus of current taxonomic research.
The South East Asia team are involved with projects (many funded by Darwin initiative grants) requiring a broad knowledge of the flora of South East Asia and Indochina. Examples include the current projects to produce a Field Guide to the Forest Trees of Southern Thailand and a handbook for the identification of commonly encountered tropical plant families. A recent joint Leiden/Kew initiative produced an interactive key to Malaysian Seed plants which has since been published online.
Additional responsibilities involve leading the SE Asian Team and managing the curation and research within the regional teams.
Projects
- Biodiversity inventory and monitoring to conserve critically threatened lowland forest in Sumatra
- Chemosystematics and biological activity of Lamiaceae
- UK Darwin Initiative Papuan Plant Diversity - COMPLETED 2006
- Digitising the specimens and archive of A.F.G. Kerr, pioneering botanist in Thailand
- Assessing and conserving plant diversity in commercially managed tropical rainforests in Sabah - COMPLETED 2010.
- Taxonomic research on ecologically important plant families in Southeast Asia
- Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Thailand
- Global overview of Lamiaceae and related families
- Interactive Key to the Malesian Seed Plants
- Southeast Asian Floristics: Lamiaceae
- Phylogeny and pollination biology of Westringieae, Lamiaceae - COMPLETED 2008
- Systematics of Lamiaceae subfamily Viticoideae and allies
- The Dye-Plants of Indonesia
Selected Recent Publications
The Malesian Key Group (2010) Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China (Version 2.0, 28 Jul 2010) The Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Leiden and The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
S.T. Marsh, N.A. Brummitt, R.P.J. de Kok & T.M.A. Utteridge (2009) Large–scale patterns of plant diversity and conservation priorities in S.E. Asia. Blumea 54: 103-108
G. L.C. Bramley, F. Forest & R. P.J. de Kok (2009) Troublesome tropical mints: re-examining generic limits in Lamiaceae subfamily Viticoideae. Taxon 58: 500-510
R.P.J. de Kok, G. Rusea & A. Latiff (2009) The genus Teijsmanniodendron Koord. (Lamiaceae). Kew Bulletin 64: 587-625.
de Kok, R.P.J. (2008) The genus Vitex (Labiatae) in the Flora Malesiana region, excluding New Guinea. Kew Bulletin 63: 17-40
Selected Earlier Publications
Orthia, L.A.; Crisp, M.D.; de Kok, R.P.J. (2005) Bush Peas: a rapid radiation with no support for monophyly of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae). Australian Systematic Botany 18: 133-147
de Kok, R.P.J. & West, J.G. (2004). A revision of Pultenaea Sm. (Fabaceae) 3. The eastern species with recurved leaves. Australian Systematic Botany 17: 1-53.
Mabberley, D.J. & de Kok, R.P.J. (2004). Labiatae. In Morat, P.& Mackee, H.S. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances 25. Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle. Paris.
Steane, D.A.; de Kok, R.P.J. & Olmstead, R.G. (2004). Phylogenetic relationships between Clerodendrum (Lamiaceae) and other Ajugoid genera inferred from nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32: 39-45.
de Kok, R.P.J. (2002). Adaptations to grow on Ultra-basic soil, rare or common? A few case studies from New Caledonia. Adansonia 24: 229-238.
