Posluszny

Email: uposlusz@uoguelph.ca

Office: SCIE 4447
Ext: 52745
Lab: SCIE 4405-6
Ext: 53802

Education

B.Sc. McGill University
Ph.D. McGill University

Research

The work in my lab concentrates on comparative morphology and development as related to the systematics and evolution of two large and important groups: 1. aquatic monocotyledons (Alismatidae) and 2. the grape family (Vitaceae). A particular focus has been the development of flowers that has allowed us to consider the functional questions related to reproductive biology. This work and the varied techniques used in my lab has been recognized as quite unique...certainly within the Canadian botanical community.

Some of the ongoing work in my Plant Morphology Lab is described briefly below.

  1. The Botany of Seagrasses. (in collaboration with Dr. P. B. Tomlinson, Harvard University and Dr. Paul Cox, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii)

    This is a long-term project that will culminate in a comprehensive monograph on the morphology,anatomy and reproductive biology of marine monocots.

  2. A Comparative and developmental study of the Vitaceae. (in collaboration with Dr. Jean Gerrath, University of Northern Iowa)

    The family Vitaceae is primarily known for the commercial wine and table grapes but there has never been a complete and comprehensive study done of this large and important family of temperate and tropical lianas.

Selected Publications

Book Chapters and Reviews

Posluszny, U., W. A. Charlton, and D. H. Lex. 2000. Modularity in Helobial flowers. Monocots: Systematics and Evolution. Eds. K. L. Wilson and D. A. Morrison. (CSIRO: Melbourne).

This paper proposes a mechanism for evolution in the aquatic Monocotyledons. Several processes including modularity and sterilized inflorescences are discussed.

Research Papers

Gerrath, Jean M., T. Wilson and Usher Posluszny. 2004. Morphological and anatomical development in the Vitaceae VII. Rhoicissus digitata. Can. J. Bot. (In Press).

Rhoicissus digitata is a member of the vitaceae that has been used for decades as a horticultural houseplant. It's native to southern Africa and has been a key species in our series on the vitaceae providing crucial information on vegetative and floral development in the family and clues as to the relationships with presumptive sister groups.

Posluszny, U. and P. Barry Tomlinson. 2003. Aspects of inflorescence and floral development in the putative basal angiosperm Amborella trichopoda (Amborellaceae). Can. J. Bot. 81: 28-39.

This paper looks at one of the most controversial plants today, believed to be the basal most angiosperm extant...the plant from which all other angiosperms have originated. This study is the first fully devlopmental study done on the flower and inflorescence of this very important species.

Wilson, Trevor and Usher Posluszny. 2003. Complex tendril branching in two species of Parthenocissus: Implications for the vitaceous shoot. Can. J. Bot.: 81: 587-597.

The architecture of the vitaceous shoot is still poorly understood. This study provides an insight into the development of the tendril in Parthenocissus which is the most comprehensive study of this structure ever undertaken and has clarified the architecture of the tendril.

Wilson, Trevor and Usher Posluszny. 2003. Novel variation in the floral development of two species of Parthenocissus. Can. J. Bot 81: 738-748.

This is the first study of the comparative floral development in two species of Parthenocissus and has provided novel insights in to the complexity of floral development in the vitaceae.

Teaching

My goal for teaching is to promote interest in plants through the study of their role in history and society. I teach two undergraduate courses (Plants, Biology and People [BOT*2000] plus Plants and Human Use [BOT*1200]) and two graduate courses (Topics in Flowering Plant Morphology [BOT*6501] and Theoretical Plant Biology [BOT*6404]).

In my undergraduate courses, I use plants evident in everyday-life to develop a deeper appreciation of their important role in human history and the biological basis for this importance. In my graduate courses, I help students to develop skills of critical thinking and effective communication by examining controversial topics of both theoretical and applied interest.

Graduate Students

Timmons, Susan (M.Sc.)
Zitnak, Tim (M.Sc.)

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