Phylogenetics and Systematics of Cactaceae

In the lab, we focus on a variety of groups of Cactaceae, especially focusing on subfamily Opuntioideae (prickly pears and relatives) and cacti of the Greater Antilles. By reconstructing phylogenetic relationships in these groups, we can provide more robust hypotheses for some of the fundamental questions about their biogeographic history, morphological evolution and speciation. Cytogenetic and morphological analyses of cacti also is paramount to understanding species delimitation in this taxonomically complex group. This work is carried out in collaboration with numerous researchers throughout the Americas. Click below to find out more about this project. 

Systematics Cactaceae

Desert Botanical Garden Living collections

Chloroplast genome evolution in Cactaceae

In collaboration with Marty Wojciechowski (ASU) and Michael Sanderson (UofA), we have been working on an NSF-funded project (DEB 1735604) aimed at determining chloroplast genome structural evolution in the Cactaceae, a clade that shows ample structural rearrangements and gene loss in the plastid genome. This also includes loss of one copy of the inverted repeat, pseudogenization of specific genes, as well as major inversions of the plastome. 

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Systematics of Greater Antillean Melastomataceae

In the lab, we focus on tribe Miconieae (Miconia) in the Greater Antilles, a group that has dispersed into the Antilles at least 5 times and which has formed several large radiations on the islands. One large clade, the Caribbean clade of ca. 155 species is morphologically very diverse and is the primary focus of our work, which began as part of a large collaborative Planetary Biodiversity Inventory grant with F. Michelangeli, W.S. Judd and collaborators. 

Miconia lima, Sierra de Bahoruco, DR

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Systematics Miconieae

PBI Miconieae

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Floristics in the Greater Antilles
​and SE US

In the Majure lab, we are dedicated to understanding the floral composition of poorly studied areas, with a special emphasis on the southeastern United States and the Greater Antilles. This betters our understanding of species' current distributions and often yields species new to science. 

Flora of Ordway-Swisher Bio Station

Morne Formon, Parque National Pic Macaya, Haiti

Flora of pic macaya

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Systematics of Dichanthelium (Panicoideae, Poaceae)

Dichanthelium is a genus of panicoid grasses that is most diverse in eastern North America, although the clade occurs throughout the Americas and even into Hawaii, where a radiation of four species occurs. It is considered one of the most taxonomically complicated groups of grasses, and different treatments may recognize vastly different numbers of species. In collaboration with the Neubig lab (SIU) and others, we are taking a phylogenetic approach to clarify species and clade relationships in the group. Much work is needed on species complexes in this group, including morphological, phylogenetic and cytogenetic research. 

Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Iowa, US

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Phylogenomics of Melastomataceae

The Majure Lab, in collaboration with the Cellinese Lab, Walter Judd and Fabian Michelangeli (NYBG) were recently funded by the National Science Foundation (DEB-SBS #2002270) to reconstruct a global phylogeny of the hyper diverse family Melastomataceae. 

Miconia spanantha, Cordillera Central, DR

Sierra Martín García, Dominican Republic

Chunky River (headwaters of the Pascagoula River), Central Mississippi

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