Systematics, taxonomy and evolution of the nettle family, Urticaceae

Building a new classification and discovering the drivers of diversification at the generic and species level.

Nettles

The Urticaceae comprise 50 genera and about 2,500 species of herbs, shrubs and trees. Controversy exists over the inclusion of the Cecropiaceae.

Current research is delivering a revised classification and linear sequence which will be used to test hypotheses about the drivers of diversification, in particular with respect to wind-polination and karst.

Objectives

  • New classification and linear sequence of the Urticaceae.
  • Flora of Cuba Urticaceae treatment.
  • Flora of Thailand Urticaceae treatment.
  • Role of karst in driving Urticaceae species richness.
  • The role of female flora morphology in Urticaceae diversification.
Project Leader

Alex Monro

  • Classification and linear sequence of the Urticacea published.
  • Dated ultrametric phylogeny established.
  • Flora of Cuba taxonomic treatment for the Urticaeae.
  • Phylogeny and revised classification of Elatostema sensu latu.
  • Establishment of Urticaceae floral diagrams.

International

  • Guangxi Institute of Botany-Guilin Botanical Garden
  • Natural History Museum of Denmark-University of Copenhagen
  • Normal University of Taiwan
  • Universidade do Centro-Oeste, Brazil
  • National Botanic Garden of Cuba

UK

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh

Monro, A.K., Wilmot-Dear, C.M. & Friis, I (2015)

Urticaceae

In: Flora Mesoamericana Volume 2 Part 3, Chapter: Urticaceae, Publisher: Universidad Autónoma de México, Missouri Botanical Garden, The Natural History Museum (London), Editors: G. Davidse, M. Sousa S., S. Knapp, F. Chiang, pp.116-174

Wu, Z.-Y., Monro, A.K., Milne, R.I., Wang, H., Yi, T.-S., Liu, J. & Li, D.-Z. (2013)

Molecular phylogeny of the nettle family (Urticaceae) inferred from multiple loci of three genomes and extensive generic sampling

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69:814-827. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.06.022

Wilmot-Dear, C.M., Friis, I. & Monro, A.K., C. M. (2014)

Pouzolzia saxophila sp.

Monro, A.K. (2010) Urticaceae. In: Milliken, W., Klitgaard, B., Baracat, A. & Hind, N. (eds)

Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics

33: 354–357 DOI: 10.1111/njb.00675

Wei,Y.-G., Monro, A.K. & Wang, W.-T. (2013)

Additions to the Flora of China: three new species of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from Guangxi

Phytotaxa 147 (1): 1–12