Joyce Gloria Onyenedum
Assistant Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Biology Section

I am broadly interested in understanding the evolution of development of plant movement from the perspective of plant vasculature architecture. Our lab seeks to link fine-scale mechanisms to large-scale macroevolutionary patterns to address the fundamental question: how do plants move? To achieve this, we use an integrative approach, leveraging tools and techniques from molecular systematics, phylogenetic comparative methods, developmental biology, and cell biology.
See also:
Interests
Plant systematics and phylogeny
Evolution of development of plant anatomy and morphology
Plant vasculature
Recent Research
With respect to my recent research, my focus has been to elucidate the evolution of development of complex vascular patterns found in the stems of wood vines, which are hypothesized to facilitate their unique abilities to twist and turn throughout the forest canopy without breaking. Most recently, I have been investigating how secondary cell wall modifications which lead to the production of tension wood and gelatinous fibers contributes to the ability of a woody vine to bend. You can read about my research in the NYTimes: How Woody Vines Do the Twist
Select Journal Articles
(Prior to 2021, published as J.G. Chery)
View profile and publications on Google Scholar.
- Pace MR, Gerolamo CS, Onyenedum JG, Terrazas T, Veronica MP, Cunha Neto IC, and V Angyalossy. 2022.The wood anatomy of Sapindales: diversity and evolution of wood characters. Brazilian Journal of Botany.
- Onyenedum JG and MR Pace. 2021. The role of ontogeny in wood diversity and evolution, American Journal of Botany 108: 2331-2355.
- Chery JG, Glos RAE, and CT Anderson. 2021. Do woody vines use gelatinous fibers to climb? New Phytologist 233: 126-133.
- Jud NA, Allen SE, Nelson CW, Bastos CL, and JG Chery 2021. Climbing since the early Miocene: The fossil record of Paullinieae (Sapindaceae). PLoS ONE 16: e0248369.
- Chery JG*, Cunha Neto IC*, Pace MR, Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Specht, CD, and CJ Rothfels. 2020. Wood anatomy of the neotropical liana lineage, Paullinia L. (Sapindaceae). Journal of the International Association of Wood Anatomists. 41: 278-300.
- Chery JG, Pace MR, Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Specht CD, and CJ Rothfels. 2020. Modifications during Early Plant Development Promote the Evolution of Nature's Most Complex Woods. Current Biology 30: 237-44.
- Chery JG, Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Rothfels CJ, and CD Specht. 2019. Phylogeny of Paullinia L. (Paullinieae: Sapindaceae), a diverse genus of lianas with dynamic fruit evolution. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 140: 106577
Contact Information
410B Mann Library Building
Ithaca, NY 14853
jgc235 [at] cornell.edu
More information
- Onyenedum Lab website
- Meet our faculty: Joyce G. Chery
- Read about Joyce in the NYTimes: How Woody Vines Do the Twist
Graduate Field
- Plant Biology
Education
- Doctorate
University of California, Berkeley
2019
- Bachelor of Sciences
Cornell University
2013
- Onyenedum Lab website
Joyce Gloria in the news
News
Researchers studying statistics applications in systems biology and next-generation wireless technology are among the nine Cornell faculty members who’ve received National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Awards.
- Biological and Environmental Engineering
- School of Integrative Plant Science
- Plant Biology Section

News
The new species, named Ampelorhiza heteroxylon, belongs to a diverse group of tropical lianas called Paullinieae, within the soapberry family (Sapindaceae). More than 475 species of Paullinieae live in the tropics today. Researchers identified...
- School of Integrative Plant Science
- Plant Biology Section
- Biology