Horticulture & Related FieldsRyan Rey

Delineation of the “galactia Volubilis Group” in Southeastern Florida

This projects seeks to demystify the taxonomy of the "Galactia volubilis group" (including the species concepts for Galactia floridana, Galactia smallii, Galactia pinetorum,Galactia austrofloridensis, Galactia grisebachii, Galactia purshii, and Galactia volubilis). Known populations are to be visited and morphologically assessed with tissue samples taken for DNA analysis and germplasm collected to be grown in the greenhouse facilities at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden so as to rule out morphological differences as a result of environmental factors. Samples collected in the field will be DNA barcoded as per Sanger Sequencing. If new concepts are revealed (whether “splitting” or “lumping” current species concepts), we will provide typification(s), morphological description(s), and updated conservation statuses as needed.