Taxonomic Studies of Neotropical Plant Families
Caryocar pallidum fruits provide valuable food for rural communities
This long-term project focuses on the continuing development of taxonomic knowledge of selected plant families important in Amazonia. Work includes research on the taxonomy of the Chrysobalanaceae (worldwide); Lecythidaceae (worldwide); Caryocaraceae, Dichapetalaceae and Proteaceae (Neotropical only).
Major recent outputs from this project include an account of the Proteaceae for Flora Neotropica (accepted for publication November 2005), and a two-volume world monograph of the Chrysobalanaceae for Species Plantarum (published in 2003).
Current commitments include the following:
· Monograph of Foetidia (Lecythidaceae, Madagascar), to be completed December 2006.
· Completion of accounts of Chrysobalanaceae, Dichapetalaceae and Caryocaraceae for Flora Mesoamericana, to be completed in 2006.
· Account of Proteaceae for Flora of the Guianas and Flora of Goiás & Tocantins.
· Revision and establishment of a Lecythidaceae website with Scott Mori (NY), to be completed December 2008.
Project Team
Project Leader: Prance, Ghillean
Herbarium
Ghillean Prance, Cynthia Sothers (Chrysobalanaceae only)
Project Partners and Collaborators
Taiwan
Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Taipei (Lecythidaceae Molecular Studies)
USA
New York Botanical Garden (Lecythidaceae)
Funders
Funded personally by G. Prance from Cosmos Prize funds