Evolution of monocotyledonous geophytes with special focus on African Ledebouria and close relatives (Asparagaceae) By Cody Howard

Ledebouria is a group of approximately 54 flowering plant species in the Scilloideae (Asparagaceae). The taxonomic uncertainty that characterizes this group can be attributed to its large distribution (sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and India) and the wide morphological variation found among the mostly poorly known species. So far, the majority of research on Ledebouria has focused on species from South Africa, with a few recent studies including taxa from Socotra and India. In order to fully understand this group’s evolutionary history, many more taxa from across the complete distribution of this group need to be included in studies. We are interested in investigating the evolution and historical biogeography of Ledebouria and determining the putative ancestral areas and routes of migration from and within Africa.

We are also looking into possible scenarios as to why this group does not occur in the Mediterranean basin since some closely related taxa have the same distribution but can be found in Mediterranean climates. Ledebouria have been shown to be paraphyletic with Drimiopsis and Resnova but so far analyses have included only a few taxa. We are planning to increase sample sizes to further investigate the relationship between these taxa and their delimitation, hopefully resulting in the identification of clades supported by interesting morphological synapomorphies.

Howard, C.C., Crowl, A.A., Harvey, T.S., Cellinese, N. 2022. Peeling Back the Layers: First Phylogenomic Insights into the Ledebouriinae (Scilloideae, Asparagaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 169: 107430 doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107430

Howard, C.C. and Cellinese, N. 2020. Tunicate bulb size in monocots explained by temperature and phenology. Ecology and Evolution. doi:10.1002/ece3.5996

Howard, C.C., Landis, J.B., Beaulieu, J.M., Cellinese, N. 2020. Geophytism in monocots leads to higher rates of diversification.  New Phytologist 225: 1023-1032

Howard, C.C., Folk, R., Beaulieu, J.M., Cellinese, N. 2019. The monocotyledonous underground: global climatic and phylogenetic patterns of geophyte diversity. American Journal of Botany 106(6): 1–14.

Funds and Awards

2020 UF Department of Biology Best Student Paper Award

2019 Biology Graduate Student Association Service Award 

2019 Botanical Society of America Graduate Student Research Award – $1500

2019 Society of Systematic Biologists Graduate Student Research Award – $2000

2019 UF College of Liberal Arts & Sciences travel award – $475

2019 UF Biology Dept. Michael L. May Research Grant – $300

2018 UF Biology Dept. John Paul Olowo Memorial Fund Research Grant – $300      

2017 Botanical Society of America Travel Award – $2,400

2017 International Botanical Congress Excellent Scholar/Outstanding Student Award – $1,200

2016 American Society of Plant Taxonomists – $750

2016 Mary Sue Ittner Bulb Research Grant (Pacific Bulb Society) – $250

2016 Cactus & Succulent Society of America Research Grant – $2,000

2016 UF Research Abroad for Graduate Students Award – $7,000

2016 UF Biology Dept. David Graduate Fellowship in Botany – $300

2015 Florida Museum of Natural History Travel Award – $1,000

2013 Mary Sue Ittner Bulb Research Grant (Pacific Bulb Society) – $500

2011 Cactus & Succulent Society of America Research Grant – $1,500