Biodiversity Interests

The microscopic structure of plants in its beautiful patterning and meaningful diversity are my source of inspiration. More specifically my research is focussed on the role that climate has played in the diversification of wood structure during the last 100 million years of woody plant evolution. The structure of wood provides a key to our understanding of the functioning and survival of trees, which in turn are crucial for our human existence and well-being.

Selected publications

Pieter Baas, E. Wheeler, and M. Chase. 2000. Dicotyledonous wood anatomy and the
APG system of angiosperm classification. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 134: 3-17.

Pieter Baas, and E. A. Wheeler. 1996. Parallelism and reversibility in xylem
evolution. IAWA Journal 17: 351-364.

Pieter Baas, P.M. Esser, M.E.T. van der Westen, and M. Zandee. 1988. Wood anatomy
of the Oleaceae. IAWA Bull. n.s. 9: 103-182.

Pieter Baas (ed.). 1982. New Perspectives in Wood Anatomy. Nijhoff/Junk, The
Hague. 252 pp.

Pieter Baas. 1973. The wood anatomical range in Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) and its
ecological and phylognetic significance. Blumea 20: 161-192.