Research

A majority of my research interest is focused on members of the Lycopodophyta, particularly the genus Isoetes and various members of the family Lycopodiaceae. These groups are very poorly studied, despite our long history of interest in them. Both groups contain large numbers of undiscovered and undescribed species and our knowledge of relationships within the groups is little more than guesswork.

My primary concerns are to identify those taxa that have previously gone undescribed, to fully describe and differentiate the various taxa within the groups, and finally to put forth testable hypotheses about their relationships.

To view my research click on the appropriate link below.

The Lycopodium obscurum Complex- Section Obscura

Isoetes morphology

In spite of this very focused, personal interest in the so-called 'fern allies', most of my graduate students have worked on other taxa. Some of the genera that my students have worked on include: Isoetes, Lycopodium, Sphenomeris, Odontosoria, Cercis, Trifolium, Acer, Ernodea, Chiococca, Arisaema, and Trillium. Methods of study have ranged from morphometrics to isozyme analysis to DNA analysis.