Lawrence M. Kelly

Director of Graduate Studies, The New York Botanical Garden

Ph.D., Cornell University
Ithaca, NY (1998)
"Systematic studies in Asarum and Aristolochiaceae"
Expertise: Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort family), Symplocaceae (Sweetleaf family), Saurauia (Actinidiaceae; Kiwi family)

Profile

My research focuses on the evolution and classification of flowering plants, primarily in three different groups: the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae), the sweetleaf family (Symplocaceae), and certain members of the kiwi family (Saurauia, Actinidiaceae). The principal products of my work are phylogenetic hypotheses, taxonomic monographs, and floristic treatments. I am also interested in the flora of Mexico and Central America, and in developing electronic keys for plant identification. My phylogenetic research has centered on relationships within the Aristolochiaceae, and especially the wild gingers (Asarum). I have integrated molecular and morphological data to address relationships in these groups, and used the results to focus on biogeographic and evolutionary questions in the family. My current involvement in floristic projects includes participation in Flora Mesoamericana (Symplocos, Saurauia), Flora of Chiapas (Symplocos), Flora of China (Aristolochiaceae), and the Flora of the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico.

Selected Publications

Kelly, L. M. 1997. A cladistic analysis of Asarum (Aristolochiaceae) and implications for the evolution of herkogamy. Amer. J. Bot. 84: 1752-1765.

Kelly, L. M. 1998. Phylogenetic relationships in Asarum (Aristolochiaceae) based on morphology and ITS sequences. Amer. J. Bot. 85: 1454-1467.

Kelly, L. M. 2001. Taxonomy of Asarum section Asarum (Aristolochiaceae). Syst. Bot. 26: 17-53.

Kelly, L. M. and F. Almeda. 2002. Three new species of Symplocos (Symplocaceae) from Panama and Costa Rica. Novon 12: 369-374.

Kelly, L. M. and F. Gonz·lez. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships in Aristolochiaceae. Syst. Bot. 28: 236-249.

Hwang, S.-M., L. M. Kelly, and M. Gilbert. 2003. Aristolochiaceae. Flora of China 5: 246-269. Sciences Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

Campos V., A., L. M. Kelly, and A. Delgado S. 2004. Bejucos y otras trepadoras de la estaciÛn de BiologÌa Tropical "Los Tuxtlas". Cuadernos 36. Universidad Nacional AutÛnoma de MÈxico.

Wang, Y., P. W. Fritsch, S. Shi, F. Almeda, B. C. Cruz, and L. M. Kelly. 2004. Phylogeny and infrageneric classification of Symplocos (Symplocaceae) inferred from DNA sequence data. Amer. J. Bot. 91: 1901-1914.

Kelly, L. M. and F. Almeda. 2005. Symplocaceae. In: Flora of Chiapas. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences.

Kelly, L. M. and F. Almeda. 2006. Symplocos pachycarpa (Symplocaceae), a new species from southern Mexico. Brittonia 58: 318-321.