Francis Nge

Francis is based at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, where he is entrenched in extricating the mysteries of Australian flora. 

Progressing through his undergraduate degree at the University of Western Australia, Francis was inspired by insightful lectures and immersive field experiences, which revealed the amazing unseen world of plants in a megadiverse global biodiversity hotspot. He then went on to follow his research interests in the evolutionary history and diversification dynamics of Australian temperate flora, obtaining a PhD from the University of Adelaide.

One of his most notable achievements was discovering and publishing a study linking a historical climatic event that has played a major role in the diversification of Australian flora. Francis’ involvement at the Gardens spans various projects that look at the systematics and taxonomy of plant groups including Rhamnaceae, Proteaceae, and Myrtaceae, alongside building a global phylogeny of Annonaceae (the largest family of the magnolia order, with over 2,500 species globally, some endemic to Australia).

Francis' primary research interests lie in understanding the factors driving the uneven distribution of biodiversity across the Tree of Life. He is particularly interested in region-specific diversification dynamics and unravelling the origins and evolution of the Australian flora, along with tropical rainforest ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots worldwide. Collaborating with colleagues across Australia and abroad, he delves into the evolution of global biodiversity hotspots and is involved in other studies focusing on the under-explored yet biodiverse southeast Asian region.

Leveraging a varied skill set, his daily routine involves fieldwork, office meetings, examining specimens, and analysing data. He incorporates different approaches across the fields of evolutionary biology, systematics, taxonomy, biogeography, ecology and physiology to dissect fundamental questions in biology. Skills in phylogenomic methods, macroevolutionary and biogeographic models, as well as plant identification all come into play in his role at the Gardens.

Contemplating his favourite plant, Francis opts for a Banksia, for its quintessential Australian nature, its prevalence in southwest Western Australia, and its remarkable adaptations to thrive in nutrient-poor environments.

Francis' work in botany highlights the transformative power of exploration and education, motivating him to decipher the intricate tapestry of Australia's botanical heritage.