Research Assistant Professor, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University
Research Interests
I currently have two major projects underway. The first is on the genus Iris which is comprised of about 300 species mainly from arid, mountainous regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Iris flowers are insect pollinated with sepal and petal ornamentation, nectar and/or floral displays from highly branched inflorescences. Geophytic organs that serve as storage organs and sources for renewal growth have developed from stems, roots and leaves in the genus. Major questions being addressed are: 1) evolutionary relationships within the genus; 2) geographic origin of the genus; 3) biogeographic exchanges between Asia and North America; 4) evolution of geophytic storage structures; and 5) development of sepal crests as pollinator guides.
My second project is on the Loranthaceae, a flowering plant family of 75 genera and more than 1000 species that occur largely in the Southern Hemisphere. Three genera are terrestrial, root-parasitic trees and shrubs, while the remaining genera are aerial branch-parasitic shrubs. The family is considered a "keystone resource" because it is utilized by a wide array of organisms in forest and woodland ecosystems worldwide. Several interrelated questions are being addressed within the family, including: 1) the evolutionary pathway to the aerial-parasitic habit; 2) evolutionary relationships between genera; and 3) evolution of the haustorial system by which the parasite attaches to and procures water and minerals from its host.
These projects are focused on systematics and evolution, are field based and utilize my training in morphology and molecular systematics. Students who work with me should appreciate natural history and understand the scientific process. They should be anxious to use a number of research tools to explore evolutionary questions in systematics and/or morphology.
Degrees
Ph.D. Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 1996 M.S. Biology, Portland State University, 1985 B.S. Biology, Portland State University, 1981
Recent courses taught
Plant Systematics Analytic Techniques in Systematics Plant Morphology Symmetry in Plants Morphology of Fruits Inflorescence Structure
Recent Papers
Weibang, S., Chunyan, H., Gao, L. and C. A. Wilson. 2007. Genetic diversity of the rare Asian plant Trigonobalanus doichangensis (Fagaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 55: 10-17.
Wilson, C. A. and C. L. Calvin. 2006. An origin of aerial branch parasitism in the mistletoe family, Loranthaceae. American Journal of Botany 93: 787-796.
Wilson, C. A. 2006. Patterns of evolution in characters that define Iris subgenera and sections. pp. 425-433. In J.T. Columbus, E.A. Friar, J. M. Porter, L.M. Prince and M. G. Simpson (eds.) Monocots: Comparative Biology and Evolution (excluding Poales), Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA.
Calvin, C. L. and C. A. Wilson. 2006. Comparative morphology of epicortical roots in Old and New World Loranthaceae with reference to root types, origin, growth, branching patterns and potential for clonal growth. Flora 201: 51-64. Wilson, C.A. and C. L. Calvin. 2006. Character divergences and convergences in canopy dwelling Loranthaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 150: 101-114.
Wilson, C. A. 2005. Patterns of evolution in characters that define Iris subgenera and sections. Special Issue: Proceedings of the 3rd International Monocot Conference. Aliso 22: 425-433.
Downey, P. O. and C. A. Wilson. 2004. Muellerina flexialabastra Downy and C.A.Wilson (Loranthaceae), a new species of mistletoe from south-eastern Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 17: 1-5.
Wilson, C. A. 2004. Phylogeny of Iris based on chloroplast matK gene and trnK intron sequence data. Molecuar Phylogenetics and Evolution. Molecuar Phylogenetics and Evolution 33: 402-412. Wilson, C. A. 2003. Phenetic and intervarietal crossing data support the recognition of Iris tenax var. gormanii (Iridaceae), a rare northwest endemic. Madrono 50: 15-20. Wilson, C. A. and C. L. Calvin. 2003. Development, taxonomic significance and ecological role of the cuticular epithelium in the Santalales. IAWA Jounal 24: 129-138. .
Wilson, C. A. 2003. A phylogenetic analysis of Iris series Californicae based on ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Systematic Botany 28: 39-46. Wilson, C. A. 2001. Floral stages, ovule development, and ovule and fruit success in Iris tenax, focusing on var. gormanii, a taxon with low seed set. American Journal of Botany 88: 2221-2231.
Calvin, C. L. and C. A. Wilson. 1998. Comparative morphology of haustorial systems in the African Loranthaceae. In: Polhill, R. and D. Wiens (eds). Mistletoes of Africa. Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, London, UK. pp 17-36. Wilson, C. A. 1998. A cladistic analysis of Iris series Californicae based on morphological data. Systematic Botany 23: 73-88. Wilson, C. A. and C. L. Calvin. 1996. Anatomy of the dwarf mistletoe shoot system. In: F. G. Hawksworth and D. Wiens (eds). Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA, FS, Washington, D.C. pp 95-111.
Calvin, C. L. and C. A. Wilson. 1996. Endophytic system. In: F. G. Hawksworth, and D. Wiens (eds). Dwarf Mistletoes: Biology, Pathology, and Systematics. USDA, FS, Washington, D.C. pp 113-122.
Present and former graduate students
Andrew Wheeler, Ph.D. student Lisa Karst, Ph.D., 2006. Lila Frazer, M.S., 2002 Peter Levasseur, M.S., 2002 Erin Riggs, M.S., 2002 Jeff Beaman, M.S. 2002 Lynda Boyer, M.S., 2000
