Dr Josephine Ward - Research

Current and Recent Research Activities

My research is centred around understanding the evolution of a group of 70-80 mostly endemic species of New Zealand gnaphalioid Compositae, and using this understanding to establish a stable classification. Current focus is on circumscribing genera based on analysis of comparative data from morphology, anatomy, cytology, palynology, reproductive biology and molecular markers.

Other aspects include

• Evaluating evidence of hybridisation, especially between genera
• Experimental hybridisation
• The role of hybridisation in evolution
• Evolutionary convergence
• Species complexes
• Taxonomic revision of Raoulia
• Taxonomic revision of New Zealand Helichrysum
• Taxonomic revision of Ewartia in Australia and New Zealand
• Biogeographic relationships between alpine zone Compositae in New Zealand and Australia