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.
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
- 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