Sarah, an undergraduate student, loads a gel in the Hoot Lab

Work in my field of plant systematics is a little like a good detective novel – I reconstruct evolutionary events that occurred in the past by working with the clues left on earth today. Because evolutionary relationships are often difficult to reconstruct, I use multiple data sets such as DNA sequences, morphology, and palynology (pollen morphology). The data are analysed using sophisticated computer programs, resulting in evolutionary trees that can be used to address such questions as how particular plant characteristics evolved over time or clues as to why a plant group has its current geographical distribution.

An ongoing research project in my laboratory is the study of evolutionary patterns in a large order of flowering plants, the Ranunculales. This group contains such well-known families as the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), barberry family (Berberidaceae) and the poppies (Papaveraceae). Many members of the Ranunculales have medicinal and horticultural uses (delphinium, columbine, monkshood, poppies, bleeding heart, etc.). One family, the moonseed family (Menispermaceae), includes plants with compounds used in poison darts by South American Indians. We are currently working on an NSF funded project to develop extensive morphological and molecular data sets for each family in the Ranunculales, including a fully searchable morphological database.

Another project is concerned with evolutionary patterns and phytogeography of the genus Anemone and closely related genera (family Ranunculaceae). Previous phylogenetic analyses based on restriction site variation and morphology are being supplemented with DNA sequence data and the addition of new species from around the world. These new data will allow an assessment of a possible past Gondwanian geographical distribution for this group of plants, with concurrent implications about the timing and modes of evolution of the earliest flowering plants in general.

I and Carl Taylor (currently at the National Science Foundation), have been collaborating on a comprehensive study of a nonflowering plant family of ancient origins, Isoëtaceae (the quillworts). We have been using molecular data to reconstruct evolutionary trees for the family from a worldwide perspective, but we are also looking at relationships among numerous species of North American Isoëtes. Using molecular data, we have identified the progenitors of numerous polyploid hybrids. Some of the progenitor species found in hybrids are new species; either they have not been collected yet in the wild or they may even be extinct!

All of the above work could not be done without the help of the wonderful undergraduate/graduate students and postdocs who have worked in my laboratory. Thank you all!!