My research focuses on plant evolution from structural and developmental standpoints. I have developed methods for improving morphological characters in evolutionary studies, and have adapted techniques from cognitive psychology to visual learning. Students in my lab also conducted experimental tests of an organic method for controlling invasive species, and the effects of air pollution on Pines. Projects in plant structure include studies of floral development in the Heliconiaceae (with Dr. Chelsea Specht, UC Berkeley), character recognition and description in California Lupines (with Dr. Ellen Simms, UC Berkeley), and ovary structure in the culinary gingers (Zingiberaceae). Projects in visual learning include the publication of Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States: A Field Course on CD by Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, MO. More information is available on my web page.

Please visit my blog Save the Earth.

Kuang, Yan-Feng, and B. K. Kirchoff, Yuan-Jiang Tang, Yuan-Hui Liang, and Jing-Ping Liao. 2008. Palynological characters and their systematic significance in Naucleeae (Cinchonoideae, Rubiaceae). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 151: 123-135

Kirchoff, B. K., D. L. Remington, Lixin Fu, F. Sadri. 2008. A New Type of Image-Based Key. Proceedings of the International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics, 2008. BMEI2008. 1: 825-829. DOI 10.1109/BMEI.2008.301

Chen, S. H., J. P. Liao, M. Z. Luo, and B. K. Kirchoff. Calcium distribution and function during anther development of Torenia fournieri L. Annales Botanici Fennici 45: 195–203.

Huang, Shan-Shan, B. K. Kirchoff and Jing-Ping Liao. 2008. The Capitate and Peltate Glandular Trichomes of Lavandula pinnata L. (Lamiaceae): Histochemistry, Ultrastructure and Secretion. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 135: 155–167.

Baskauf, S. J. and B. K. Kirchoff.  2008. Digital plant images as specimens: Toward standards for photographing living plants. Vulpia 7: 16-30.

Xu, Feng-Xia, and B. K. Kirchoff. 2008. Pollen morphology and ultrastructure of selected species of Magnoliaceae. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 150: 140-153

Kirchoff, B. K. 2008. Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States : A Field Course on CD. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis , MO (ISBN: 978-1-930723-62-7)

Bartlett , M. E, B. K. Kirchoff and C. D. Specht. 2008. Epi-illuminescence microscopy coupled to in situ hybridization and its utility in the study of evolution and development in non-model species. Development Genes and Evolution

Liu, H., Kirchoff, B. K., Wu, G., Liao, J. 2007. Microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis in Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae). Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 134: 335-343. Click here for a reprint in Adobe Acrobat format.

Kirchoff, B. K. 2007. Image Quiz: Using principles of cognitive psychology to teach visual expertise. 2007 UNC Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference Proceedings. I. The Advantage of Building Connections. http://conference.unctlt.org/proceedings/2007Proceedings.htm Click here for a reprint in Adobe Acrobat format.

Kirchoff, B. K., S. J. Richter, and D. L. Remington. 2007. Characters as Groups: A New Approach to Morphological Characters in Phylogenetic Analysis. Taxon 56: 479-492. Click here for a reprint in Adobe Acrobat format