Patricia Lu-Irving
Page last updated Aug 2009
Graduate student, Botany
Department of Biology, The University of Washington
Phone: 206 616-7156
Office: 408 Hitchcock Hall

Mailing address:
Box 355325, Department of Biology
The University of Washington
Seattle WA 98195

E-mail

Curriculum Vitae

This research is supported by the National Science Foundation.
Aloysia citriodora
'Lemon verbena', medicinal herb

Research focus: molecular systematics of the Lantana-Lippia complex (Verbenaceae).

This group of plants represents the largest radiation within the Verbenaceae. Principal genera include Aloysia Palau (~40 species), Lippia L. (~200 species), and Lantana L. (~150 species).
Lantana camara
Important tropical weed
Lippia javanica
African medicinal herb
I am currently collecting molecular data in order to infer a species level phylogeny of the complex, which will form the foundation of further investigation into historical biogeography and character evolution.

Thank you to the Society of Systematic Biologists and the Botanical Society of America for graduate student research awards in 2009.