Thesis Title: Phylogeny of infrageneric relationships within Phacelia (Boraginaceae) inferred from chloroplast sequence data.

Abstract - Phacelia Juss. (Boraginaceae, formerly Hydrophyllaceae) is a genus of perennial and annual herbs comprising 210 species, occurring in North America and South America. Species differences have traditionally been based on morphological characters; however, the genus is taxonomically complex and species can be difficult to identify. The last comprehensive revision of Hydrophyllaceae was completed by Brand in 1913, whose recognition of three tribes and 18 genera has been the basis for subsequent revisional work in Phacelia. My thesis infers infrageneric relationships across the entire genus using the chloroplast molecular marker ndhF, and supports a circumscribed subg. Phacelia, expanded subg. Cosmanthus, and placement of subg. Howellanthus outside of Phacelia.

Keywords - Phacelia, Boraginaceae, Hydrophylloideae, botany, evolution, phylogeny, taxonomy, systematics, morphology, ndhF.

Defended - 27 April 2010! I graduated!

And don't worry, I am continuing with Phacelia: Starting PhD program at UC Berkeley, Integrative Biology Fall 2010.

Questions? Inquiries about literature cited or current investigations, please contact Genevieve.

Another photo of the greatest graduation gift ever. 'Robotanist' shoes designed by Jim Linnberg.