Research Staff

Peter C. Hoch, Ph.D.
Curator Emeritus
Research

Adjunct Professor
Department of Biology, Washington University
Department of Biology, St. Louis University
Department of Biology, University of Missouri - St. Louis

office phone: + 1 (314) 577-5175
fax: + 1 (314) 577-0820
email: peter.hoch@mobot.org

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
USA

Education
Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis, 1978
B.S., Stanford University, 1972

I am interested in understanding plant evolution on a broad scale, why some species and genera are so successful (sometimes even invasive) and why other closely related taxa are rare or threatened. The plant family Onagraceae is my model system of choice: thanks to the efforts of my mentor Peter Raven and many collaborators, we know a great deal about the taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, cytology, embryology, pollination biology, biogeography, molecular systematics, and many other aspects of this moderate-sized (657 species) family. We now are able to ask sophisticated questions about the evolution of the group, how its genome has evolved, what morphological characters have been key in the diversification of certain groups, and others.

I also have developed a strong interest in understanding the impacts of human-influenced environmental changes, and have established a long-term floral phenology study at the Shaw Nature Reserve (SNR) in eastern Missouri, using as a starting point a dataset on flowering at the site developed by Edgar Anderson in 1937-1942. New equipment will provide detailed climatic monitoring at the SNR, as well as site-specific monitoring in multiple local plant communities. With collaborators and students, we will elucidate and explore impacts of climate-driven phenological change on local community pollination ecology.

Available upon request

Research Emphases
Systematics and evolution of Onagraceae (with W. L. Wagner, P. Raven and others)

Systematics and evolution of Epilobium, especially in North America Phylogenetics and biogeography of Ludwigia (with J. Barber, Shih-Hui Liu, C.I Peng, B. Grewell, L. G. Lohmann, and others) Phylogenomics of Onagraceae (with T. Y. Chiang, P. Raven and others) Evolution of the reproductive biology of Oenothera (with K. Krakos, W. L. Wagner, R. Raguso and others) Floristic accounts of Onagraceae, including Flora of China (publ.), Flora Mesoamericana (publ.), Jepson Manual (publ.) Flora of North America (in prep.), and others (with W. L. Wagner, P. Raven, and others)
Climate-related phenological change and associated impacts on pollination systems in plant communities in eastern Missouri (with N. Miller-Struttmann, K. Krakos, and others) Completion of the printed Flora of Pakistan and associated development of the web-accessible Pakistan Plant Database (with S. I. Ali, A. Ali, and others [Karachi])

Selected Publications Krakos, K. N., J. S. Reece, P. C. Hoch, P. H. Raven, W. L. Wagner, & Huang Pu. 2017. Molecular phylogenetics and origins of self-compatiibility in Oenothera (Onagraceae). Taxon: In press. Liu, S.-H., C. E. Edwards, P. C. Hoch, P. H. Raven, J. C. Barber. 2018. Genome skimming provides new insight into the relationships in Ludwigia section Macrocarpon (Onagraceae), a polyploid complex. Amer. J. Bot. 105 (5): 1—13. Liu, S.-H., P. C. Hoch, P. H. Raven, J. C. Barber. 2017. Multi-locus phylogeny of Ludwigia L. (Onagraceae): insights on infra-generic relationships and the current classification of the genus. Taxon: 66: 1112—1127. Liu, S.-H., C. Edwards, A. Rajeh, Z. Lin, P.H. Raven, P.C. Hoch, & J. C. Barber. 2016. Complete plastome sequence of Ludwigia octovalvis (Onagraceae), a globally distributed wetland plant. Genome Announcements 4(6): 1—2. Hoch, P. C., W. L. Wagner, & P. H. Raven. 2015. The correct name for a section of Ludwigia L. (Onagraceae). PhytoKeys 50: 31—34. Wagner, W.L, P.C. Hoch, & J. L. Zarucchi. 2015. The correct name in Oenothera for Gaura drummondii (Onagraceae). PhytoKeys 50:25—29. Wagner, W. L., K. Krakos, & P. C. Hoch. 2013. Taxonomic changes in Oenothera sections Gaura and Calylophus (Onagraceae). Phytokeys, 28: 61-72. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.28.6143. Wagner, W.L. & P.C. Hoch. 2013. Onagraceae. In: Yatskievych, G., Steyermark’s Flora of Missouri, Volume 3: 509—553. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. Katinas, L., J.V. Crisci, P. Hoch, M.C. Telleria, & M. J. Apodaca. 2013. Trans-oceanic dispersal and evolution of early composites (Asteraceae). Perspect. Pl. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 15: 269—280. Wagner, W. L. & P. C. Hoch. 2013. Onagraceae. In: Heil, K. D., S. L. O'Kane, L. M. Reeves, and A. Clifford, Flora of the Four-Corners Region. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Botanical Garden, vol. 124: 659—677. Hoch, P.C. & B. J. Grewell. 2012. Ludwigia. In: Baldwin, B. G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J. and Wilken, D. H., The Jepson manual: Vascular plants of California. 2^nd Ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, Berkeley, pp.948—949. Hoch, P.C. 2012. Epilobium. In: Baldwin, B. G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J. and Wilken, D. H., The Jepson manual: Vascular plants of California. 2^nd Ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, Berkeley, pp.941—945. Hoch, P.C. 2012. Circaea. In: Baldwin, B. G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J. and Wilken, D. H., The Jepson manual: Vascular plants of California. 2^nd Ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, Berkeley, p.933. Hoch, P.C. 2012. Chamerion. In: Baldwin, B. G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J. & Wilken, D. H., The Jepson manual: Vascular plants of California. 2^nd Ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, Berkeley, pp.930—931. Wagner, W. L. and Hoch, Peter C. 2012. Onagraceae, family description and generic key. In: Baldwin, B. G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J. and Wilken, D. H., The Jepson manual: Vascular plants of California. 2^nd Ed. Berkeley: University of California Press, pp.925-926. Miller, J. S., V. A. Funk, W. L. Wagner, F. Barrie, P. C. Hoch, P. Herendeen. 2011. Outcomes of the 2011 Botanical Nomenclature Section at XVIII International Botanical Congress. PhytoKeys 5: 1—3. Hoch, P. C. (with P. E. Berry, W. L. Wagner & E. Zardini). 2009. Onagraceae. In: Davidse, G. et al. (eds.), Flora Mesoamericana 4(1): 345—359. Univ. Nac. Autónoma de México. Hoch, P. C. & P. H. Raven. 2008. Onagraceae. Pp. 2641—2663, in Zuloaga, F. O., O. Morrone & M. J. Belgrano (eds.), Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares del Cono Sur, Vol. 3. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Botanical Garden 107. Wagner, W. L., P. C. Hoch & P. H. Raven. 2007. Revised classification of the Onagraceae. Syst. Bot. Mongr. 83: 1–240. Chen, C. J., Hoch, P. C., P. H. Raven, D. E. Boufford, & W. L. Wagner. 2007. Onagraceae. Pp. 400–427. in Wu, Z. Y., P. H. Raven, & Hong D. Y. (eds.) Flora of China 13. Science Press, Beijing; Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. Peng, C.-I., C. L. Schmidt, P. C. Hoch & P. H. Raven. 2005. Systematics and evolution of Ludwigia sect. Dantia (Onagraceae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92: 307–359. Funk, V. A., P. C. Hoch, L. A. Prather, & W. L. Wagner. 2005. The importance of vouchers. Taxon 54: 127—129. Skvarla, J. J., J. R. Rowley, P. C. Hoch, & W. F. Chissoe. 2005. Viscin threads on the pollen of Circaea X intermedia Ehrh. (Circaeeae: Onagraceae). Taxon 54: 121—126. Skvarla, J. J., J. R. Rowley, W. F. Chissoe, & P. C. Hoch. 2005. Teratological pollen of Circaea canadensis ssp. canadensis (Onagraceae: Circaeeae). Grana 44: 23—29. Clinebell II, R. R., A. Crowe, D. P. Gregory, & P. C. Hoch. 2004. Pollination ecology of Gaura and Calylophus (Onagraceae, tribe Onagreae) in western Texas, U.S.A. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 91: 369—400. Levin, R. A., W. L. Wagner, P. C. Hoch, W. J. Hahn, A. Rodriguez, D. A. Baum, L. Katinas, E. A. Zimmer & K. J. Sytsma. 2004. Paraphyly in tribe Onagreae: insights into phylogenetic relationships of Onagraceae based on nuclear and chloroplast sequence data. Syst. Bot. 29: 147—164. Katinas, L., J. V. Crisci, W. L. Wagner & P. C. Hoch. 2004. Geographical diversification of tribes Epilobieae, Gongylocarpeae, and Onagreae (Onagraceae) in North America, based on parsimony analysis of endemicity and track compatibility analysis. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 91: 159—185. Hoch, P. C. (Editor). 2004. Proceedings XVI International Botanical Congress, Saint Louis. 155 pp. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. Levin, R. A., W. L. Wagner, P. C. Hoch, M. Nepokroeff, J. C. Pires, E. A. Zimmer & K. J. Sytsma. 2003. Family-level relationships of Onagraceae based on chloroplast rbcL and ndhF data. Amer. J. Bot. 90: 107—115.