I am a systematist and taxonomist with an interest in the evolution and biogeography of the Australasian flora, monographic studies, development of identification tools and floras and species discovery. My research has focused mainly on the systematics of the family Rutaceae, but I am also conducting research in other families such as Rubiaceae and Stylidiaceae. I use a variety of methodologies including morphology, anatomy and phylogenetic systematics which is now based largely on molecular data.
Current Projects
- Phylogeny and biogeography of Boronia (Rutaceae) (with Margaret Heslewood & Mike Bayly)
- Obligate mutual pollination systems involving Boronia (Rutaceae) and moths of the Heliozelidae (with Liz Millar, Axel Kallies, Doug Hilton & Andy Young)
- Systematics and generic limits within the Phebalium group of genera (Rutaceae) (with Margaret Heslewood & Mike Bayly)
- Phylogeny of the family Rutaceae (with Mark Appelhans, Mike Bayly, Margaret Heslewood, Milton Groppo, Jacquelyn Kallunki, Terry Trinder-Smith, Tony Verboom)
- The Australian Spermacoceae (Rubiaceae: Rubioideae): systematics, evolution and historical biogeography (with Kerry Gibbons)
- Species discovery and documentation in a number of families including Stylidiaceae.
Publication highlights
- Duretto MF, Heslewood MM, Bayly MJ (submitted) Boronia (Rutaceae) is polyphyletic: reinstating Cyanothamnus and the problems associated with inappropriately defined outgroups. Taxon.
- Duretto MF (2019) Zieria fordii and Z. wilhelminae (Rutaceae), two new and restricted Queensland species segregated from the morphologically similar and widespread Z. cytisoides. Telopea 22, 135–140.
- Appelhans MS, Wen J, Duretto MF, Crayn D, Wagner W (2018) Historical biogeography of Melicope (Rutaceae) and its close relatives with a special emphasis on Pacific dispersals. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 56, 576–599.
- Barrett RA, Bayly MJ, Duretto MF, Forster PI, Ladiges PY, Cantrill DJ (2018). Phylogenetic analysis of Zieria (Rutaceae) in Australia and New Caledonia based on nuclear ribosomal DNA shows species polyphyly, divergent paralogues and incongruence with chloroplast DNA. Australian Systematic Botany 32, 16–47.
- Bayly MJ, Duretto MF, Holmes GD, Forster PI, Cantrill DJ, Ladiges PY (2015) Transfer of the New Caledonian genus Boronella to Boronia (Rutaceae) based on analyses of cpDNA and nrDNA. Australian Systematic Botany 28, 111–123.
- Holzmeyer L, Duretto M, Crayn D, Hörandl E, Heslewood M, Jayanthan J, Appelhans MS (2015) Phylogeny of Acronychia (Rutaceae) and first insights into its historical biogeography and the evolution of fruit characters. PLoS ONE 10(8), 1–22. e0136296.
- Barrett RA, Bayly MJ, Duretto MF, Forster PI, Ladiges PY, Cantrill DJ (2015). A chloroplast phylogeny of Zieria (Rutaceae) in Australia and New Caledonia shows widespread incongruence with species-level taxonomy. Australian Systematic Botany 27(6) 427–449.
- Duretto MF, Wilson PG, Ladiges (2013; published online 2017). Boronia (Rutaceae). Flora of Australia 26, 124–282.
- Kubitzki K, Kallunki JA, Duretto MF, Wilson PG (2011). Rutaceae. In K. Kubitzki (Ed). The families and genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. X, pp.277–356. (Springer: Berlin)
- Duretto MF (2009-2011, Ed., & ongoing contributor) Flora of Tasmania online.
Affiliations and committees
2017–July 2019: Chair, New South Wales Threatened Species Scientific Committee
Scientific curatorial responsibilities in NSW Herbarium
Adoxaceae, Adoxaceae, Adoxaceae, Akaniaceae, Alseuosmiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Apocynaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Argophyllaceae, Burseraceae, Calyceraceae, Cannaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Celastraceae, Columelliaceae, Connaraceae, Coriariaceae, Cornaceae, Costaceae, Curtisiaceae, Emblingiaceae, Escalloniaceae, Eucommiaceae, Francoaceae, Garryaceae, Gelsemiaceae, Gentianaceae, Goodeniaceae, Griseliniaceae, Heliconiaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Icacinaceae, Iteaceae, Loasaceae, Loganiaceae, Lowiaceae, Marantaceae, Meliaceae, Menyanthaceae, Montiniaceae, Musaceae, Nyssaceae, Oleaceae, Paracryphiaceae, Pennantiaceae, Peridiscaceae, Phellinaceae, Phyllonomaceae, Phyllonomaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Rhizophoraceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Sabiaceae, Sapindaceae, Sarraceniaceae, Simaroubaceae, Staphyleaceae, Stemonuraceae, Strelitziaceae, Stylidiaceae, Surianaceae, Symplocaceae, Torricelliaceae, Zingiberaceae.