9520713 Mori This research involves molecular analysis of DNA sequence data to establish evolutionary relationships among members of the tropical plant family Vochysiaceae. Phylogenetic relationships will be reconstructed using chloroplast rbcL and ndhL sequences and scanning electron microscopy will be used to examine the developmental evolution of certain characters (for example, stamens). This plant family is worthy of study because of its topical and disjunct distribution. The significance of the research is one of elucidating the developmental evolution of floral patterns, pollination biology and the biogeographic distribution of members of this family.
