Next generation systematics for Nepenthes Pitcher Plants (Old ID 22790)

Australia & Pacific Science Foundation
Role

Principal Investigator

Description

The carnivorous pitcher plant genus Nepenthes comprises c.160 species distributed throughout the Southeast Asia and Oceania. Species have traditionally been distinguished using morphological characteristics, but many recently described species have been distinguished on the basis of minor differences, whose stability has been questioned. To date, no taxonomically informative molecular phylogeny of Nepenthes has been published. The lack of an objective taxonomic framework has hindered efforts of biologists who seek to study and conserve threatened Nepenthes. This study seeks to eliminate this problem using next generation sequencing methods to construct a robust, informative phylogeny of Nepenthes based on c. 100 species.

Date

01 Jul 2016 - 01 Jan 2020

Project Type

GRANT

Keywords

Phylogeny;Systematics;Nepenthes;Pitcher plant;Next Generation Sequencing;Evolution

Funding Body

Australia & Pacific Science Foundation

Amount

43717

Project Team

Katharina Nargar;Charles Clarke