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[Image: Mark A. Schlessman ]

Mark A. Schlessman

Professor of Biology

Olmsted Hall Room 218
Phone: 845-437-7417
Fax 845-437-7315

Contact Mark A. Schlessman

  • Ph.D., Botany, University of Washington
  • M.S., Botany, University of Washington
  • B.A. cum laude, Biology, Colorado College

Research Interests

I am an evolutionary biologist who loves plants. I am especially interested in the ways that plants distribute their stamens and pistils among their flowers in order to specialize more on either the male or the female component of reproductive success. My favorite plants are those in the mostly temperate parsley family and the mostly tropical ginseng family. I've studied these plants (and some others) in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and Northeastern U.S., New Zealand and New Caledonia. I'm also interested in the flora of New Caledonia, the flora of the Vassar Farm, and in rapid-cycling Brassica as a model organism for studies of reproductive ecology.

Teaching Interests

I enjoy teaching introductory biology (BIOL 105, 106), Plant Structure and Diversity (BIOL 208), more specialized advanced courses such as Conservation Biology (BIOL 352), and field-trip courses such as Environmental Science 254 Ethnobotany is one of my academic "hobbies" so I'm happy to advise students who are interested in that field.

Selected Publications

  • Schlessman, M.A. & F.R. Barrie. 2004. Protogyny in Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae:systematic and geographic distributions, associated traits, and evolutionary hypotheses. South African Journal of Botany 70(3).
  • Schlessman, M.A., *N. Underwood, *T. Watkins, *L. M. Graceffa, & *D. Cordray. 2004. Functions of staminate flowers in andromonoecious Pseudocymopterus montanus (Apiaceae, Apioideae). Plant Species Biology 19:1-12.
  • Schlessman, M.A., & *L.M. Graceffa. 2002. Protogyny, pollination and sex expression of andromonoecious Pseudocymopterus montanus (Apiaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences 163(3):409-417.
  • Schlessman, M.A., G. Plunkett, P. P. Lowry, & D.G. Lloyd. 2001. Sexual systems of New Caledonian Araliaceae: A preliminary phylogenetic reappraisal. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 58:221-228.

* student author

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