Dr Bat Vorontsova

Research Leader

Department

Team

Specialism

Africa, classification, ecology, grass, grassland, Madagascar, monocot, monography, Poaceae, Poales, savanna, taxonomy, tropics

Biography

I study grasses and everything about them, with a particular focus on tropical African diversity and poorly known lineages, their evolutionary history, and the history of tropical grasslands and savannas. I use herbarium based alpha taxonomy to enrich our understanding of ecosystems and their function. My main research direction is a full taxonomic treatment of Poaceae for the Flora of Madagascar, a long term project incorporating a range of ecological, phylogenetic, ethnobotanical, and horticultural work. I am also interested in the history and development of classifications and in botanical nomenclature and bibliography. I look after GrassBase and develop it to bring together global taxonomic knowledge across all Poaceae and to build it into a broad research utility. If it is about grasses, I would like to hear about it.

Qualifications and appointments

PhD, Open University, sponsored by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2008
MA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 2003
BA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 2000
Book Reviews Editor of the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 2011 onwards
Systematics Association Council 2010 onwards
Editor of Phytotaxa 2009 onwards
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London

Selected publications

Nanjarisoa, O.P., Besnard, G., Ralimanana, H., Jeannoda, V. & Vorontsova, M.S. (2017)

Grass survey of the Itremo Massif records endemic central highland grasses.

Madagascar Conservation & Development, 12

Vorontsova, M.S., Clark, L.G., Dransfield, J., Govaerts, R., Baker, W.J. (2016)

World Checklist of Bamboos and Rattans.

International Network of Bamboo and Rattan & Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 454 pp

Vorontsova, M.S., Besnard, G., Forest, F., Malakasi, P., Moat, J., Clayton, W.D., Ficinski, P., Savva, G.M., Nanjarisoa, O.P., Razanatsoa, J., Randriatsara, F.O., Kimeu, J.M., Luke, W.R.Q., Kayombo, C. & Linder H.P. (2016)