Speaker

Dr. Matthew Pace

Assistant Curator, William and Lynda Steere Herbarium

PROFILE
As Assistant Curator to the Herbarium, I serve two complementary roles: 1) Herbarium management and curation, and 2) Conduct original systematic research focusing on the megadiverse orchid family.

My duties as an herbarium manager include curation of the collections to reflect advances in systematic understanding, facilitate the use of the Herbarium, giving tours of the herbarium to a vast number of different groups, and grant writing to support digitization and curatorial efforts.

My research interests focus on the Orchidaceae: their evolution, relationships, morphology, taxonomy, and biogeography. My research incorporates field, molecular, and herbarium approaches to understand speciation and biodiversity, test patterns of apparent hybridization, clarify biogeographic history, and identify the conservation needs of New World Orchidaceae. Current genera of focus include Spiranthes (ca. 35 spp.), Pelexia (ca. 65 spp.), Cyclopogon (ca. 70 spp.), Platanthera (ca. 200 spp.), Microchilus (ca. 145 spp.), and Lepanthes (ca. 1000 spp.), and subtribe Goodyerinae (ca. 710 spp.).

Field research and collecting has covered much of eastern North America. I have a particular interest in Florida and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. I also eagerly collaborate with citizen scientists in the finding and monitoring of orchid populations, and the gathering of material.

Speaker

Dr. Kate Armstrong

Assistant Curator, Institute of Systematic Botany

PROFILE
My research is focused on documenting the flora of northern Myanmar and more broadly on investigating patterns of floristic diversification throughout tropical Asia. Currently, I am managing botanical inventory programs in two areas of Myanmar’s Northern Forest Complex – in Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary and in Hkakaborazi National Park/Hponganrazi Wildlife Sanctuary – with the aim of recording all the vascular plant species (an estimated 6,000) in the region and developing identification tools in the form of species checklists, field guides and taxonomic accounts for the Flora of Myanmar. These specimen data also form the basis for mapping the region’s forest ecosystems and will underpin conservation management plans.

I am also interested in using specimen data in combination with molecular phylogentic, ecological, distributional, geological and climatological data to test biogeographic hypotheses and investigate the diversification of floras through time. My focus for this research has primarily been the Sapotaceae – the family of tropical trees that give us chewing gum and shea butter.