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Biology of Isoetales, a colloquium in honor of Dr. W. Carl Taylor

Vasco, Alejandra [1], Watkins, James E. [2], Moran, Robbin C. [3].

Biology of Isoëtales, a colloquium in honor of Dr. W. Carl Taylor.

Isoëtes, commonly known as the quillworts, is a widely distributed lycophyte genus of about 250 species occurring in diverse habitats. Extant Isoëtes are mostly small aquatic to semi-aquatic with reduced cormose stems. Isoëtes is the only extant genus of the Isoëtales. The heterosporous, ligulate lineage that it belongs to has a rich fossil record, and paleobotany studies suggest that related plants dominated the Late Carboniferous coal swamps. This colloquium will be dedicated to Dr. William Carl Taylor (Smithsonian, retired). Its main objective is to highlight recent research relating to Carl's contributions to the study of Isoëtes, and to survey past and current research on this lineage. When Carl began his studies, it was believed that Isoëtes did not hybridize and there was no polyploidy in the genus. Carl realized, however, that hybridization and polyploidy were important evolutionary mechanisms in the genus. His studies paved the way for other Isoëtologists to study these phenomena. When Carl began his career, about 50 species of Isoëtes were recognized. Today, that number stands at about 250. Much of the reason for this increase is the impetus Carl gave to the field. Carl also promoted systematic botany as a program officer at the US National Science Foundation. He has written a book of the ferns and lycophytes of Arkansas and authored many papers on Isoëtes.


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1 - Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas, 76107, USA
2 - Colgate University, Department of Biology, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, New York, 13346, USA
3 - The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York, 10458, USA

Keywords:
Lycophytes
Isoëtes
Evolution.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: C05, Biology of Isoetales, a colloquium in honor of W. Carl Taylor
Location: 101/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: C05SUM
Abstract ID:25
Candidate for Awards:None


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