My research focuses on wood and timber in the context of systematics and conservation, often with collaborators worldwide. I specialise in the anatomy and identification of hardwoods and softwoods, especially Leguminosae, Malpighiales and species listed under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species. All internationally traded timbers and wood products are covered by EU Timber Regulations. These include well known woods often with very broad geographical distributions such as oaks (Quercus), mahoganies (Swietenia, Khaya, Entandrophragma etc), rosewoods (Dalbergia) and ebonies (Diospyros), and these among others are the focus of my attention. I collaborate with colleagues at North Carolina State University on Inside Wood, an interactive wood identification database, and identify fragmentary plant material for user groups such as archaeologists, palaeontologists, antique dealers, customs and police. Some of my studies address specific problems of conservation, including sustainable utilization of fuelwoods in arid regions and urban development, such as the influence of urban trees on nearby buildings.