Research Training Program

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History

PROJECT SUMMARY
1995

Julie Arington
Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky
Vicki Funk, Ph.D
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany
"Tod Stuessy once said 'Taxonomy is dynamic, beautiful, frustrating, end challenging all at the same time. It is demanding philosophically and technically, yet it offers intellectual rewards to the able scholar and scientist.' The RTP has helped us to experience and understand this concept."

Biological Diversity of the Guianas project

This project examined the phylogeny of Cydista miers (Bignoniaceae). This project was originally planned to be a floristic treatment for the Flora of the Guianas, Biodiversity of the Guianas, program. However, the project was enlarged to encompass all species of Cydista and included a phylogenetic study. Because the Bignoniaceae tribe Bignoneae has never been collectively monographed, this study will be part of that effort to do so.

First, a literature search was performed and many items were located such as descriptions, keys, illustrations, and useful characters for this genus. Characters of specimens were then measured from the U.S. National Herbarium. This data was compiled and entered into MacClade and run through PAUP. Using traditional cladistic methods, the most parsimonious cladograms were analyzed based on different characters. In order to choose one, a determination was made as to which characters are less likely to change through time. Also, more specimens need to be examined and more characters need to be found in order to expand and support these results. These characters may be found by doing molecular studies, palynological studies, and ecological studies.