Our aim is to investigate ecophysiological adaptations to heat and drought in select species and clades of Australian Andropogoneae, with a view to understanding the genetic basis for and control of key adaptations, and the parallel to adaptations in groups such as eucalypts.  

The Andropogoneae (C4 grasses, tropical/subtropical in distribution) includes maize, sugarcane and sorghum, as well as 160 native Australian species spread across 36 genera.  

The Australian genera with most species are Sorghum (22 species), Ischaemum (15 species) and Iseilema (12 species). Themeda (5 species) is notable, particularly because T. trianda (Kangaroo Grass) occurs across >15° C range in mean annual temperature, > 2000 mm range in rainfall, and a variety of soil types.