Many plants are capable of hybridizing between species and even genera.
Hybridization can cause increases in genetic diversity, create novel gene combinations, transfer adaptations from one taxon to another, break down or build up reproductive barriers, and create wholly new taxa. There is little doubt that hybridization between plants, especially when followed by geographic or reproductive isolation, represents enormous evolutionary potential and has been responsible for the evolution of a large number of species. The ecological and evolutionary dynamics of gene exchange are the subjects of my research. Restrictions to gene flow between taxa can occur at two levels. Publications Zimmerman, M., E.S. Nagy and L. Galloway.