Events

WildOnes are meeting jointly with the Michigan Botanical Club (HV Chapter)
on Monday, 15 February (instead of Wednesday).

Title: ?Kissing Cousins and Family Skeletons - The Michigan Flora and
Modern Evolutionary Biology

Abstract
Modern evolutionary biology, with its ability to directly access the
genetic material of plants, has revolutionized our understanding of
the evolution of our flora. This has turned up many interesting facets
about how plants in are flora are related, but also has exasperated
people familiar with the traditional names and arrangements of plants.
We will explore the underlying principles behind the re-working of
plant relationships, plus look at some of the interesting and
sometimes remarkable new facts about plants evolution and
relationships.

Brief Bio:
Anton (Tony) Reznicek: Curator, University of Michigan Herbarium.
Although my interests cover the entire Michigan and Great Lakes region
flora, my research specialties focus on sedges, especially systematics
and evolution of the large and complex genus Carex. My interests here
encompass the New World, and I have a special focus on Mexico at this
point, as well as on the Great Lakes region. My work includes
monographic studies of major groups, sectional classification and
nomenclature, and development of new characters useful in sedge
systematics. I am also interested in the phytogeography of the
northeastern North American flora, concentrating on the Great Lakes
region. My primary interests here are plant migration and
colonization, the origin and persistence of relict plant species and
communities, and the determining factors of species richness in plant
communities. I conduct numerous workshops on plant identification,
especially of sedges. I am also an avid gardener with interests,
including native plants and ecologically sustainable gardening, and I
present numerous lectures on these topics to natural history
societies, garden clubs, and other group.