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Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
Rainer W. Bussmann, Ph.D.

Director William L. Brown Center and William L. Brown Curator of Economic Botany
Missouri Botanical Garden
Plant Biology Program
Office Phone: 314-935-6788
Lab Phone:
Other Phone: 314-577-9503
FAX: 314-577-0800
Box: 1137
Lab Address: P.O. Box 299
Email: rainer.bussmann@mobot.org
Website: http://wlbcenter.org/staff_bussmann.htm
Keywords: agricultural origins; ecology; Ethnobotany; medicinal plants; paleoethnobotany; plant biology
Research Abstract:
My lab is currently focusing on the following research topics:
-- Taxonomy of medicinal plants and under-used crops
-- Phytochemical composition and efficacy of traditional medicines
-- Carrying capacity, stability and sustainable use-potential of tropical cloud forests
-- International law in relation to intellectual property rights, ecology and environment vegetation community ecology of tropical and temperate mountain forest, grassland and alpine systems
-- Regeneration and succession processes after natural and anthropogenic impact (particularly fire- and landslide ecology, colonization processes, germination and establishment)
-- Ecology and ecophysiology of the tropical alpine timberline

Selected Publications:
Restrepo C, Walker LR, Shiels AB, Bussmann RW, Claessens L, Fisch S, Lozano P, Negi G, Paolini L, Poveda G, Ramos-Scharrón C, Richter M and Velázquez E. Landsliding and its multi-scale influence on mountainscapes. BioScience (In Press).

Bussmann RW and Sharon D. Markets, Healers, Vendors, Collectors, – the sustainability of medicinal plant use in Northern Peru. Mountain Research and Development (In Press).

Bussmann RW and Sharon D. Naming a phantom – the quest to find the identity of Ulluchu, an unidentified ceremonial plant of the Moche culture in Northern Peru. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2009 5(8). http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/5/1/8

Bussmann RW, Téllez C and Glenn A. Plukenetia huayllabambana (Euphorbiaceae) – a new useful species from the Upper Amazon of Peru. Nordic Journal of Botany 2009.

Bussmann RW and Sharon D. Shadows of the colonial past – diverging plant use in Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2009 5(4). http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/5/1/4

Last Updated: 07/21/2009