The Eastern Arc is a chain of mountains in Tanzania and Kenya that are home to over 536 endemic plant and 100 endemic animal species. Many of these endemic species are found in just one or two mountain blocs, underscoring their rarity. With over 40 taxa (species and subspecies) endemic to the EAM—more than any other plant genus—Impatiens (Balsaminaceae), is an ideal plant group to explore the evolution of EAM endemism. The aim of this project is to understand the processes underlying the current diversity and distribution of EAM Impatiens. I will use the phylogeny to identify shifts in the rate of diversification and determine whether these shifts correspond to the origin of novel floral or ecological traits. Working with field and herbarium collections, we will work on extracting DNA, preparing samples for sequencing, analyzing data, and constructing a phylogeny for the Impatiens genus with a focus on Tanzanian species.  technique and microsatellites, to help us address many of these questions.