biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

PLANT SYSTEMATICS
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Research Interests
All organisms have a name. It is the job of Systematists to
recognise, describe and name organisms. The discipline of
systematics, therefore, provides the foundation upon which all
biology is built.
In the Plant Systematics Laboratory, our research is concerned
with the recognition and documentation of patterns of
variation in time and space within all elements of the Australian
flora. To achieve these goals we use a variety of data-sources
ranging from fossils, geographic distributions, plant morphology
and anatomy to nucleotide sequences. Once the patterns of
variation have been established, we explore the processes that
have led to, or currently maintain, these patterns. Explanations
might include investigating the evolution of pollination
syndromes, determining and dating the responses of plant
groups to the to historical and contemporary earth history of
the Australian plate, or formulating appropriate conservation
strategies for rare or vulnerable native plants.
Honours projects
Generally, an Honours project with the Plant Systematics
Laboratory involves a mix of laboratory work and fieldwork.
Supervision for Honours students is provided primarily from
Associate Professor
Murray Henwood
Room 308, Heydon-
Laurence Building A08
T: (02) 9351 3262
E: murray.henwood@
sydney.edu.au
within the Plant Systematics Laboratory, but co-supervision with other members of the School
of Biological Sciences or staff of the National Herbarium of New South Wales is encouraged.