Monocots II: Commelinids
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS (2001-2005)
- Publication of 144 papers on Commelinid Monocots in international journals
- Publication of World Checklist and bibliography of Arecaceae by R. Govaerts and J.Dransfield
- Publication of a new phylogenetic classification of the palm family in preparation for the new edition of the family monograph, Genera Palmarum
- A high profile first case study of sympatric speciation in plants in the palm genus Howea on Lord Howe Island
- International conferences on Palms and Grasses held jointly by Kew and the Linnean Society in 2005
- World Grass species databases (GrassBase), comprising descriptions and associated nomenclature of 10,800 species published online
- New genera in Arecaceae and Cyperaceae described at Kew with significant implications for the phylogeny of these families
- First two-gene phylogeny of Cyperaceae completed in 2005
KEY ELEMENTS OF FUTURE PLANS (2006 onwards)
- Maintain a leading profile in Commelinid Monocot research through the publication of papers on the taxonomy, phylogenetics and evolution of these plants and presenting the research at future Monocot meetings including Monocots IV/Grasses V in 2008
- Publication of second edition of Genera Palmarum and completion of second edition of Genera Graminum
- Major phylogenetic initiatives, including multi-gene phylogenies of all palm and sedge genera and selected groups within the grasses
- New initiatives in web access to specimen and taxonomic information, for example through the EU-funded EDIT project and further development of the World Grass species databases (GrassBase)