© Luo Chen
With nearly 6,000 species, Melastomataceae is one of the 10 largest flowering plant families, yet it remains relatively understudied. Many genera still lack phylogenetic sampling and therefore have not been revised in a phylogenetic framework. By collaborating with researchers worldwide, we aim to fill these gaps by expanding taxon sampling through fieldwork and herbarium collections and by applying NGS approaches. Our work focuses mainly on Old World lineages, particularly those endemic/abundant in the Afrotropics and Southeast Asia, such as Sonerileae and Melastomateae.
Beyond systematics and phylogenetics, we also seek to understand the family’s current biogeographic patterns and extraordinary diversity. Our study includes both lineage-focused projects, such as exploring the drivers of Sunda–Sahul floristic exchange with Dissochaeteae, and family-wide studies, such as investigating the traits that have promoted diversification across Melastomataceae.
Recent Publications
Chen, L., Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Quakenbush, P., Liu, Y., Michelangeli, F.A., Morales-Briones, D.F., Kadereit, G. (in press). Integrative Utilization of Genomic Resources for Improved Phylogenetic Resolution in Sonerileae (Melastomataceae). American Journal of Botany.
Zhu, W., Chen, L., van der Burgt, X.M., Haba, P.M., Garaeva, D., Lau, P., Morales-Briones, D.F., Veranso-Libalah, M.C. (2025). Rediscovery and Phylogenomic Placement of Feliciadamia stenocarpa (Feliciadamieae, Melastomataceae): Assessing Gene Tree Discordance. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society boaf047 https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boaf047
Chen, L., van der Burgt, X., Haba, P., Kadereit, G. and Veranso-Libalah, M.C. (2025). Phylogenomics of African Melastomateae (Melastomataceae): Revisiting generic relationships, placement of three enigmatic taxa and description of two new genera. Taxon. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13349
Quakenbush, J.P., Chen, L., Penneys D.S., Barkman, T.J., Liu, Y., Yakandawala, D., Veranso-Libalah, M.C., Kadereit. G. (2025). Systematics of the fleshy-fruited Sonerileae (Melastomataceae). Taxon 74: 39-65. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13286
Chen, L., Kadereit, G., Veranso-Libalah, M. C. (2023) Combining Angiosperm353 and Sanger data provides support for the reinstatement of the genus Myrianthemum (Melastomataceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 203 (2), 123-133. https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boad024
Project members
| Name | Tel | Room | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadereit, Gudrun | G.Kadereit@biologie.uni-muenchen.de | +49 89 1786 1257 | 124 | Vice-Dean, Professor |
| Chen, Luo | Luo.Chen@biologie.uni-muenchen.de | +49 89 17861 250 | 25 | Post-doctoral researcher |
| Mack, Johannes Maximilian | J.Mack@campus.lmu.de | +49 89 1786 280 | 27 | Master's student |
| Wieringa, Linde Nozomi | Linde.Wieringa@evobio.eu | +49 89 17861 285 | 229b | PhD candidate |
Collaborators
- Dr. Abdulrokhman Kartonegoro (BRIN, Indonesia)
- Dr. Darin S. Penneys (University of North Carolina Wilmington, USA)
- Dr. Deepthi Yakandawala (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka)
- Dr. Fabián A. Michelangeli (New York Botanical Garden, USA)
- Dr. J. Peter Quakenbush (Grand Valley State University, USA)
- Dr. Lucas C. Majure (Florida Museum of Natural History, USA)
- Dr. Marie Claire Veranso-Liballah (Senckenberg Society for Nature Research, Germany)
- Dr. Monique Romeiro-Brito (Florida Museum of Natural History, USA)
- Dr. Nico Cellinese (Florida Museum of Natural History, USA)
- Dr. Robert Douglas Stone (California Native Plant Society, USA)
- Dr. Ying Liu (Sun Yat-sen University, China)