Progress 07/15/88 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The current goal of this project is the preparation of Genera Palmarum: Evolution and Classification of Palms. Edition 2 by John Dransfield, Natalie W. Uhl, Conny B. Asmussen, William J. Baker, Madeline M. Harley, and Carl E. Lewis. This book will present chapters on architecture, biogeography, pollen, the fossil record, phylogeny, and the natural history of palms as an introduction to a revised hierarchy and detailed descriptions of each genus. Images are to include some of more than 200 diagnostic plates by the late M. R. Sheehan, which are the property of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium. These plates were assessed and those to be used were scanned by Kent Loeffler (photographer, Plant Pathology, Cornell University) and the scans sent to the publishers at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RBG Kew). For the 182 genera now recognized, seven new plates were prepared in 2006 by artist, Lucy Smith, at Kew. At a meeting of all authors in the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, Cornell
University, June 4-10, 2004, each author's responsibilities were determined and a timetable developed. In spring 2006, progress was reassessed and a goal of Decemer 2006 set for completing the manuscript. At this time chapters are mostly ready; descriptions of genera and images are updated. A final manuscript is being assembled for submission to the Publication Department at RBG Kew. The classification in Uhl and Dransfield (1987) was not based on modern cladistic analyses and did not include molecular data. The following seven genes were analysed for all available taxa: trnL-trnF, rps16, rbcL, matK, 26S and PRK. Trees from the morphological data using 106 characters and from analyses of chloroplast DNA covering 157 taxa representing 147 palms in 140 genera were combined to provide trees including all published and some unpublished data. The trees were assessed and the relationships used to formalize supragenetic groups. The new classification includes six subfamilies, 28 tribes, and
26 subtribes, with 17 as yet unplaced genera. A paper presenting an outline of this new phylogenetic classification of the palms in order to validate the names of newly recognized tribes and subtribes was prepared in 2005 and published early in 2006 to validate new suprageneric taxa propr to the publication of the new edition of the monograph. Ten tribal and six subtribal names were v alidly published for the first time. Included in this paper also is a table comparing generic placements in Genera Palmarum Ed. 1 with those in the new classification.
Impacts
Palms are very important economically being second only to grasses and perhaps legumes among all plant families. Many are very popular ornamentals in tropical and subtropical areas and as houseplants in colder regions. They are especially noteworthy in plant systematics because structurally they exemplify the monocotyledons, one of only two classes of seed plants, and because they are very ancient, with a fossil record extending into the Cretaceous, over 80 million years ago. The occurrence of many palms in remote areas of the tropics and the hardness and spiny armature of some deterred their study until air travel allowed access to the tropics. This new classification based on modern molecular and cladistic methods is greatly needed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Systematic Studies in Palms The current goal of this project is the preparation of Genera Palmarum: Evolution and Classification of Palms. Edition 2 by John Dransfield, Natalie W. Uhl, Conny B. Asmussen, William J. Baker, Madeline M. Harley, and Carl E. Lewis. This book will present chapters on architecture, the fossil record, phylogeny and evolution, and the natural history of palms as an introduction to a new hierarchy and detailed descriptions of each genus. Progress: Images are to include some of more than 200 diagnostic plates by the late M. R. Sheehan, which are the property of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium. These plates were assessed and those to be used are being scanned by Kent Loeffler (photographer, Plant Pathology, Cornell University) and the scans sent to the publishers at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RBG Kew). For the 185 genera now recognized, seven new plates will be needed and are in preparation by artist, Lucy Smith, at Kew. At a meeting of all
authors in the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, June 4-10, 2004, responsibilities for each other were determined and a timetable developed. In November 2005, progress was reassessed and a goal of April 2006 set for completing and submitting the manuscript to the Publication Department at RBG Kew. The classification in Uhl and Dransfield (1987) was not based on modern cladistic analyses and did not include molecular data. The following seven genes are being analysed for all available taxa: trnL-trnF, rps16, rbcL, matK, 26S and PRK. Trees from the morphological data using 106 characters and from analyses of chloroplast DNA covering 157 taxa representing 147 palms in 140 genera were combined to provide trees including all published and some unpublished data. The trees were assessed and the relationships used to formalize supragenetic groups. The new classification includes six subfamilies, 28 tribes, and 26 subtribes, with 11 as yet unplaced genera. A paper presenting
an outline of this new phylogenetic classification of the palms in order to validate the names of newly recognized tribes and subtribes was prepared in 2005 and is in press. Included in this paper is a table comparing generic placements in Genera Palmarum Ed. 1 with those in the new classification.
Impacts
Palms are very important economically being second only to grasses and perhaps legumes among all plant families. Many are very popular ornamentals in tropical and subtropical areas and as houseplants in colder regions. They are especially noteworthy in plant systematics because structurally they exemplify the monocotyledons, one of only two classes of seed plants, and because they are very ancient, with a fossil record extending into the Cretaceous, over 80 million years ago. The occurrence of many palms in remote areas of the tropics and the hardness and spiny armature of some deterred their study until air travel allowed access to the tropics. A new classification based on modern molecular and cladistic methods is greatly needed
Publications
- Dransfield J, Uhl NW, Asmussen CW, Baker WJ, Harley MM, Lewis CE. 2006. A new phylogenetic classification of the palm family, Arecaceae. Kew Bulletin: 60(4): 00-00.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
1) Drs. Uhl and Dransfield spent from January 29-February 9th at the Montgomery Botanical Center, 11901 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33156 utlilizing the Center's extensive palm collections and those of neigboring Fairchild Tropical Garden to check descriptions and finalize the morphological data set now encompassing 106 characters. 2) Meeting of All authors: Natalie Uhl, John Dransfield and Drs. Connie Asmussin, William J. Baker, Madeline Harley, and Carl Lewis met at the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, June 4-10, 2005. 3) The classification in Uhl and Dransfield (1987) was not based on modern cladistic analyses and did not include molecular data. During the June 1904 meeting a new phylogenetic classification of the family was developed. The following seven genes are being analysed for all available taxa: trnL-trnF, rps16, rbcL, matK, 26S and PRK. Trees from the morphological data noted above and from analyses of chloroplast DNA covering 157 taxa
representing 147 palms in 140 genera were combined to provide super trees including all published and some unpublished data. The trees were assessed and the relationships used to formalize supragenetic groups. The new classification includes six subfamilies, 28 tribes, and 26 subtribes, with 13 as yet unplaced genera. 4) A general review of the contents of the new book and progress to date in the writing was carried out. 5) Images were planned including an assessment of some 200 diagnostic plates plates by the late M. R. Sheehan, which are the property of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium. For the 190 genera now recognized, seven new plates will be needed and are being prepared by artist, Lucy Smith, at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. 5) A timetable with goals for each author was developed. A complete first draft is to be ready by June 2005. 6) It was decided that two publications will precede the book: the new classification will be sent to press as soon as possible. A special paper on the
morphological data and analyses of that will also be prepublished.
Impacts
Palms are second only to grasses and perhaps legumes in economic importance. They are also especially significant in plant science because structurally they epitomize the monocotyledons, one of the two classes of seed plants, and because they are very ancient, with a fossil record extending into the Cretaceous, some 80 million years ago. Many of them occur only in remote tropical areas and are large and fiercely armed with spines, hence their taxonomy has been late in developing. A new classification based on modern molecular and cladistic methods is greatly needed.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Current effort is committed to revising Genera Palmarum, a classification of palm genera published in 1987. Natalie Uhl, John Dransfield and four new authors: Drs. Connie Asmussin, William J. Baker, Madeline Harley, and Carl Lewis, spent a week in January 2003 at the Montgomery Botanical Center in Miami, outlining and planning the new book, chapter by chapter, and setting a time schedule. A completely new treatment is planned to accommodate the extensive research since 1987 and add molecular data and a phylogeny based on cladistic analyses. Uhl and Dransfield also used the extensive palm collections at MBC to determine characters needed to arrive at a phylogeny of the genera. Uhl and Dransfield will be at MBC from Jan 29th to Feb 11 to continue collecting data there and at Fairchild Tropical Garden. A meeting of all six authors to assess a first draft of the new treatment is scheduled for June 4-11, 2004 at Cornell University.
Impacts
Palms are second only to grasses and perhaps legumes in economic importance. They are also especially significant in plant science because structurally they epitomize the monocotyledons, one of the two classes of seed plants, and because they are very ancient, with a fossil record extending into the Cretaceous, some 80 million years ago.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Work on a new version of Genera Palmarum continued in collaboration with John Dransfield. This work will update our previous (1987) book and will summarize the evolutionary relationships, classification, morphology, and utilization of palms worldwide. Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade through the application of molecular techniques to phylogeny reconstruction. We are updating and improving our classification of the family to reflect these innovations.
Impacts
After grasses, palms comprise the most important family of flowering plants. They are utilized throughout the world for food, fiber, shelter, and horticulture. Our work is critical in providing a predictive framework for the identification and characterization of palms.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Work on a new version of Genera Palmarum continued in collaboration with John Dransfield. This work will update our previous (1987) book and will summarize the evolutionary relationships, classification, morphology, and utilization of palms worldwide. Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade through the application of molecular techniques to phylogeny reconstruction. We are updating and improving our classification of the family to reflect these innovations. After grasses, palms comprise the most important family of flowering plants. They are utilized throughout the world for food, fiber, shelter, and horticulture. Our work is critical in providing a predictive framework for the identification and characterization of palms.
Impacts
Our work is critical in providing a predictive framework for the identification and characterization of palms.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Current goals of this project are two: 1) a revision of "Genera Palmarum" to provide both an electronic and a hard copy; 2) completion of a paper on leaf anatomy of the palms of New Caledonia including 16 genera and 37 species. During January of 2000 Dr. Natalie Uhl and Dr. John Dransfield of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew met at the Montgomery Botanical Center to develop a morphological character list for "Genera Palmarum." A list of 110 characters for 190 species representing all genera in the family was completed and is being scored. A developmental study with Dr. Anders Barfod of the unusual flowers of Aphandra natalia (Phytelephantoideae) was also finished during the year.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Uhl, N.W. 2000. Review of: The Palms of New Caledonia by D. R. Hodel and J.-C. Pintaud. Palms 44: 100-102.
- Barfod, A. S. and N. W. Uhl. 2000. In press. Floral Development of Aphandra natalia (Arecaceae). American Journal of Botany 88: 00 - 00.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
The goals of this project are to develop a phylogeny for the genera of palms and to revise the classification accordingly. Two studies were completed in 1999. The changes in Genera Palmarum during the past decade were assessed and floral development of the recently described genus Aphandra was described and compared with that previously done for the related genus Phytelephas. Progress was also made toward a morphology data set for all 189 genera of palms. For this purpose Dr.N. W. Uhl spent January 7-21 with Dr. John Dransfield of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew at the Montgomery Botanical Center in Miami to use the living collections at the Center and at nearby Fairchild Tropical Garden. In June 1999 the International Palm Society made Dr. Uhl the first recipient of The Dent Smith Memorial Award for Outstanding Work in Palms.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Barfod, A.S. & N.W. Uhl. Floral Development in Aphandra (Arecaceae). 1999 Submitted to American Journal of Botany.
- Uhl, N.W, & J. Dransfield. 1999. Genera Palmarum after Ten Years. In A. Henderson & F. Borchsenius, eds. Evolution, Variation, and Classification of Palms. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 83: 245-253.
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Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
An invited paper, "Genera Palmarum after Ten Years," was presented at a three day conference, Evolution, Variation, and Classification of Palms, June 18-20, 1997, sponsored by the New York Botanical Garden and the Center for Tropical Biodiversity, Aarhus University, and Copenhagen University.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Uhl, Natalie W. and John Dransfield. Genera Palmarum after Ten Years. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 83: 00-00. (In press).
- Dransfield, John and Natalie W. Uhl. Palmae. In: K. Kubitski (Ed.) Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Springer Verlag (In press).
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Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95
Outputs
Systematic studies at a generic level were continued with the goals of developing a phylogeny and improving the classification of the palms, economically one of the most valuable families of seed plants. A set of 100 characters from morphology, anatomy, and development was formed for cladistic analyses of all genera. Analyses of Cloroplast DNA restriction site characters were also carried out. Some new insights on the circumscription and relationships of the subfamilies have resulted. We have resolved Nypoideae as separate from all other palms. Subfamily Calamoideae is resolved as a second separate lineage. The remaining four subfamilies form a third clade. Two, the Coryphoideae and Phytelephantoideae, are shown to be monophyletic. The research has further indicated new groupings within the Coryphoideae, and suggest that the Ceroxyloideae is polyphyletic. The data are being incorporated in a revision of "Genera Palmarum.".
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Uhl, N.W., J. Dransfield, J.I. Davis, M.A. Luckow, K.S. Hansen, and J.J. Doyle (1995). In: P.J. Rudall, P.J. Cribb, D.F. Cutler & C.J. Humphries (Editors). Monocotyledons: systematics and evolution. pp. 623-661. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
Research is continuing toward the development of a phylogeny of palms and of improved classifications at a generic and higher levels. Cladistic analyses of morphological and Chloroplast DNA restriction site variation among 59 genera and 67 species,representing all subfamilies and tribes in the family, have provided new insights as to structure and relationships of the subfamilies. Three separate lineages were identified. Nypoideae is resolved as a separate line; and subfamily Calamoideae is also a monophyletic group, distinct from all other palms. The remaining four subfamilies are together in a third lineage. The Coryphoideae, including the Borasseae and Phoeniceae form a monophyletic group, supporting the circumscription of the subfamily. Unprecedented lineages are resolved in the third tribe, the Corypheae, which is the focus of a more detailed analysis. Further studies combining morphological and molecular data are also under way for subfamilies Ceroxyloideae and
Phytelephantoideae. These studies are incorporating recent discoveries in Madagascar, including members of the Ceroxyleae, a tribe of special interest because of its Gondwanic distribution. Data on morphological characters is being assembled for cladistic analysis to include all genera of palms. During the coming year this research and other recent information will be included in a revision of Genera Palmarum.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- UHL, N.W., J. DRANSFIELD, J.I.DAVIS, M.A. LUCKOW, K.S. HANSEN, AND J.J. DOYLE. 1995. Phylogenetic Relationships among Palms: Cladistic Analyses of Morphological and Chloroplast DNA Restriction Site Variation. In: P.J. Rudall, P.J. Cribb, D.
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Progress 01/01/91 to 12/30/91
Outputs
The Palmae, a tropical family of 202 genera, is second only to the grasses in economic importance. It is also of primary interest in studies of seed plant evolution because of its long fossil record and morphological diversity. The large size and remote tropical habitats of many palms have made their study and classification difficult. cpDNA restriction site analysis and cladistic studies involving the molecular data, morphology, and anatomy are being carried out to improve the classification and determine the interrelationships of the genera of palms and of the family with other monocotyledons. During 1991, molecular and morphological data sets were completed for Subfamily I, the Coryphoidease, and subjected to cladistic analyses which have provided important taxonomic and evolutionary information about this basic and least specialized group of palms. Molecular data was obtained for two other subfamilies. The large single copy region of the genome was analyzed
for the 11 genera of Subfamily IV, the Ceroxyloideae, and for six species representing all three genera of Subfamily VI, the Phytelephantoideae. Restriction site analysis of the entire chloroplast genome was also completed for eleven representative genera to seek the interrelationships of all six subfamilies. Data analysis and preparation of papers on these studies is in progress.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- NO PUBLICATIONS REPORTED THIS PERIOD.
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Progress 01/01/90 to 12/30/90
Outputs
The Palmae, a tropical family of 202 genera, is second only to the grasses in economic importance. It is also of primary interest in studies of seed plant evolution because of its long fossil record and morphological diversity. The large size and remote tropical habitats of many palms have made their study and classification difficult. cpDNA restriction site analysis and cladistic studies involving the molecular data, morphology, and anatomy are being carried out to improve the classification and determine the interrelationships of the genera of palms and of the fmaily with other monocotyledons. During 1990, research concentrated on the genera of Subfamily I, the Coryphoideae, a group considered least specialized and basic within the family. For the molecular analyses all available coryphoid genera 36 of the 39, and four genera to represent other subfamilies were studied. The large single copy region of the choloplast genome was cut with nine restriction enzymes and
hybridized with Oncidium clavatum probes. One hundred and thirty-one site mutations have been identified and analyzed cladistically. Comparision of this new data with phylogenetic analyses of morphological and antomical characters has indicated new groupings of genera within this important subfamily. Progress was also made in cladistic studies to determine the interrelationships of the six families and in monographic work on the large neotropical genus Chamaedorea.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 01/01/89 to 12/30/89
Outputs
The Palmae is economically second in importance to the grass and possibly legumefamilies; it is also of paramount interest botanically because of its remarkable diversity and long fossil record. Its members have been poorly known because of the large size and remote habitats of many. Systematic studies using new techniques are aimed toward improving the classification and understanding of the 202 genera. Progress was made in three areas: 1) a survey of chloroplast DNA throughout the family; 2) cladistic analyses of the genera of palms; and 3) monographic work on the genus Chamaedorea. Total DNA has been extracted from thirty-three genera out of the 39 making up subfamily Coryphoideae, the least specialized and putative basic group in the family. Twelve restriction enzymes were used to survey for cpDNA variation; mapping of restriction sites is well underway and is showing groupings of genera. Cladistic analyses based on 39 anatomical and morphological characters have
been done for subfamiles Coryphoideae, Calamoideae, Ceroxyloideae, and Phytelephantoideae. Results for Coryphoideae are being compared with new data from the DNA analyses and will lead to revisions of the classification and a better understanding of the relationships of palms and monocotyledons. A new treatment of the subgenera of the large and important genus, Chamaedorea, has been prepared and several new species have been described.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- UHL, N.W. and AYERS, T. J. 1989. Carpoxylon macrospermum (Palmae, Arecoideae, Areceae, Incertae Sedis) and its Relationships. Amer. J. Bot. 76(6): 741.
- DOWE, J. L. and UHL, N. W. 1989. Carpoxylon macrospermum. Principes 33 (2): 68-73.
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