I am an evolutionary biologist studying the processes that give rise to the immense diversity of flowering plants. I use field experiments in combination with natural history observations to approach questions related to speciation at various stages of divergence. My main interests involve the application of natural selection theory in pollination systems, with a focus on floral mimicry, character displacement and reproductive isolation in geophyte and long proboscid fly systems. I teach first-year cell biology, second-year reproductive biology, third-year speciation and coordinate our honours programme.

For more details on the research I do, visit www.floraldivergence.wordpress.com

Current Students (*co-supervisor)

Ruby Davies (MSc - NMU with Anina Coetzee)*

Ntokozo Hlope (MSc)

Recent Publications: 2025

Khoury, K., and Newman, E. 2025 Ecological niche differentiation mediates near-complete premating reproductive isolation within the Gladiolus carneus (Iridaceae) species complex. Annals of Botany – Accepted.

Newman, E., Ellis, A.G. and Anderson, B. 2025 Pollinator and flower morphology interact to influence pollen receipt. American Naturalist. – Accepted.

Johnson, S.D., van Der Niet, Newman, E., Hobbhahn, N., and Anderson, B. 2025 Geographical variation in flower colour of a food-deceptive orchid reflects local pollinator preferences. Annals of Botany. mcaf074

Moir, M., Butler, H., Dold, T., Peter, C. and Newman, E. 2025 A test of the Grant-Stebbins pollinator shift model of floral evolution. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20373

Newman, E., and Johnson, S. D. 2025. Pollinator-mediated isolation maintains coexistence between mimetic Disa orchids. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 38: 190-201

Last Modified: Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:56:07 SAST