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Systematics and Conservation Genetics of Asparagales

Lanaria sp., Infloresence/Flower head about 2 mm wide.

Studies of phylogenetic systematics and conservation genetics of Asparagales (the asparagoid lilies) are an ongoing focus of monocot work at Kew. This project incorporates all asparagoid families except Orchidaceae, which are covered by another of the cross-departmental science teams (Monocots III: Orchidaceae).

The order Asparagales was first established in its current form by Dahlgren and his co-workers (Dahlgren, Clifford and Yeo 1985: The families of the monocotyledons), partly based on the shared presence of black, phytomelaniferous seeds. The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG II, 2003) clarified which families belong to this order and their inter-relationships. Much of the research on which this classification was based was carried out at Kew. Following publication of the proceedings of the first international conference on monocots Monocotyledons: systematics and evolution (edited by Rudall, Cribb, Cutler and Humphries published by RBG Kew in 1995), many peer-reviewed papers on Asparagales have been produced, including several in journals of CIF>2. These include both molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses, covering both the entire order and individual families (e.g. Alliaceae, Asphodelaceae, Iridaceae). They provide a phylogenetic framework for studies of character evolution (including flower, pollen and genome evolution) within Asparagales.

Ongoing projected research output averages one publication per year. Investigations continue in collaboration with groups in the USA and Europe, with the aim of obtaining a phylogenetic tree for Asparagales with stronger support. Current work includes phylogenetic studies in Alliaceae s.l. (including Agapanthaceae and Amaryllidaceae), Asparagaceae s.l. (including Agavaceae, Anthericaceae and Hyacinthaceae inter alia) and Iridaceae, population-level studies (e.g. on endemic Ornithogalum spp. in the Iberian Peninsula) and species delimitation (e.g. in Gladiolus).

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