Despite its size and importance in the western flora, the evolution of the Perennial Endemic North American (PENA) clade of Apiaceae is poorly understood, a fact reflected in the artificiality of its genera. This project will develop molecular-phylogenetic hypotheses of the PENA clade using comprehensive sampling of all known species and infraspecific taxa to serve as a framework to test specific hypotheses on species delimitation and relationships congruent with morphology, ecology, geography, and climate. In diverse and rapidly evolving groups, such the PENA clade, the inability to accurately define species boundaries limits any discussion of a plant’s value, use, ecological relationships or conservation. Our work will utilize molecular, ecological, morphological, and climatic data to clarify the taxonomy and relationships of species within the PENA clade and provide a revised and updated classification for this group. An important part of this project is to develop this website, an online electronic monograph, that will include interactive identification guides, as well as species pages with descriptions, images, distribution maps, and links to specimen data. The identification tools and species-specific environmental and ecological data provided on this website will aid in future research and in the conservation of the many rare species found within this group.

Because this study focuses on a large, diverse plant group in North America, it provides a wide range of prospects for scientific outreach and training across a broad cross section of target audiences. Students of all levels will be involved in this project. Undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds will be recruited to take part in field and laboratory work. Field studies in Idaho will be organized for K-12 students and their teachers, introducing them to the taxonomy, evolution, and ethnobotany of these plants. In addition, although the primary goal of this project is to better delimit the taxonomy and species boundaries of the PENA clade, the completion of this work will allow future studies to investigate patterns and processes of speciation, ecological interactions, community assembly and provide a greater understanding for the diversification of western North American Flora as well as the Biota that rely on that flora.