Inflorescences are the specialized branching structures that bear flowers. They are incredibly diverse in their branching patterns. Despite their importance, inflorescences remain poorly understood, with only a few types—such as the head of Asteraceae and the raceme of Brassicaceae—receiving detailed study.

Our goal is to understand the evolutionary transitions and homology of inflorescence types. We are particularly interested in umbels, a form in which flowers arise from a single point. We use Brodiaea as a model system to investigate these transitions.

The family Phrymaceae is home to the monkeyflower clades, including Erythranthe and Diplacus (formerly Mimulus). Species within this group have long been used in studies of evolution and ecology and, more recently, as models for developmental genetics. A major appeal of this group lies in its remarkable species diversity and the presence of multiple species complexes. However, this diversity—combined with frequent hybridization—makes Phrymaceae (as of September 2026 Orobanchaceae) a challenging group to study from a macroevolutionary perspective.

Our goal is to build on previous phylogenetic work in Phrymaceae to infer a robust, time-calibrated tree for the family and key species complexes. This phylogeny will serve as a foundation for comparative developmental studies and offer insights into the diversification of lineages across North America.

A central goal of our work is to make inferences about the past—specifically, when and where traits and lineages originated. Since we cannot directly observe these historical events, we rely on models to reconstruct evolutionary history. To use these models effectively, we must understand their strengths and limitations. Our approach emphasizes the use of simulation-based studies to "test-run" models and evaluate their accuracy and reliability before applying them to empirical data. At the moment we are particularily intrested in extinction