Plant Diversity & Evolution

We study plants, particularly those that are unusual. We are particularly interested in parasitic plants, which are fascinating organisms that require nutrition and water from host plants. Unlike typical plants, they are partially or entirely incapable of photosynthesis, which makes them dependent on their hosts for survival. Some notable examples include mistletoe, which attaches to trees and extracts nutrients through specialized structures called haustoria. These plants play crucial ecological roles, from affecting host populations to influencing the structure of plant communities. Despite their parasitic nature, they contribute to biodiversity and are of interest in evolution.