Polypodium vulgare (L.) is currently known as a broadly distributed Eurasian fern, that is the type species for the larger Polypodiaceae family that has a rich taxonomic history of taxa that have been refined into several distinct genera, species and hybrids over time. For my dissertation work I used SORTER to understand the evolution of P. vulgare across Eurasia.

Polypodium vulgare is an allotetraploid hybrid, meaning it has two genome copies derived from two distinct diploid progenitor species. My work revealed that P. vulgare across Europe and Asia share the circum-boreal parent species P. sibiricum, but have alternative parents represented by P. glycyrrhiza in Europe and South Africa and by P. fauriei in Japan and Eastern continental Asia, clearly showing that these are two distinct species with different geographic distributions.

Extracted compounds found in P. vulgare are studied and used across a broad range of pharmacological, cosmetic, and agrochemical applications. It's crucial for these industries to have a clear understanding of the evolutionary lineages and genomes comprising their products, as this genetic variation will most likely generate different chemical profiles due to the evolution of divergent metabolic pathways.

Additionally this work gives us insight into the naturalized populations of P. vulgare in South Africa, that due to their shared genomes with European collections, suggest a shared ancestry based on colonial history. In New Zealand, P. vulgare is a non-native invasive species that is overtaking local ecosystems and replacing native species. Understanding the origins and genomic composition of invasive species can provide insight into the best ways to manage its spread and identify key ecological niches that should be prioritized for conservation efforts.