In the Laboratory of Taxonomy, Systematics, and Conservation of Vascular Plants, we study the diversity of the plant world, using integrated taxonomic methods that include herbarium studies (link to the herbarium website), morphometric, karyological, genomic, and reproductive biology investigations. We focus primarily on critical groups of the Italian flora, such as the genera Hieracium (Asteraceae) and Festuca (Poaceae), aiming to improve our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between species, their distribution, and their biogeography, through phylogenomic tools and morphological approaches.
We also conduct floristic studies at regional and national levels, and in tropical areas (East Africa). The knowledge gained through taxonomic, systematic, and floristic surveys supports the assessment of plant conservation status and the understanding of current threats. This is the first step in implementing targeted conservation strategies, including ex situ (e.g., germplasm banks) and in situ (e.g., translocations) conservation efforts, in collaboration with land management agencies or entities operating within protected areas.
Supervisor: Prof. Simone Orsenigo (simone.orsenigo@unipv.it)
Collaborators: Giacomo Baldesi (PhD student), Daniela Calzoni (scholarship recipient), Giulia Ginelli (research fellow)