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Systematics of Neotropical Acacia (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)

Acacia brandegeana. Photo: G.P. Lewis.

There are 159 species of neotropical Acacia and c. 49 infraspecific taxa. Subgenus Aculeiferum comprises approx. 99 species with 34 varieties and subgenus Acacia 60 species and 17 varieties. Acacia is often associated with drylands and secondary vegetation; numerous species are elements of tropical evergreen forest, particularly the members of subgenus Aculeiferum which is the least known subgenus. An ongoing collaboration with Latin American colleagues and students aims to advance our understanding of the systematics of the neotropical species (e.g., Neotropical species of Acacia (Leguminosae; Mimosoideae) –a synopsis and checklist, which includes conservation assessments for all species, is in press). Acacieae (Mimosaceae) in Guerrero (25 species), is to be published in 2006. A paper on the floral development in three species of Acacia (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) is to be submitted in 2006; the tribe Acacieae (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) in Bolivia is to be submitted before the end of 2007. A survey of free amino acids in Acacia seeds is to be undertaken in 2007, and a PhD thesis on the molecular biology of myrmecophyllous species and close generic relatives is to be completed by the end of 2008.

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