Cambial variants are alternative forms of secondary growth, which have called the attention of botanists since the 19th century. Cambial variants were initially interpreted as an anomaly and the term "anomalous secondary growth" pervades the literature. At present, we understand that cambial variants are not an anomaly and on the contrary are extremely well-regulated, typically related to the plant phyllotaxy and the level of maturity of the organ (either stem or root). In addition, the transitions from a regular to a variant secondary growth appear in several lineages as phylogenetic conserved, and cambial variants have been in many instances recognized as synapomorphies of families, tribes, and genera. In this project, my group and I combine data from ontogeny and phylogeny to understand temporally how and when cambial variants appeared and what has been their impact in the diversification of groups, using classic plant anatomical methods and phylogenetic comparative methods. Currently we have ongoing projects with Bignoniaceae, Leguminosae (Wisteria), Malvaceae (Byttneria), Malpighiaceae, Nyctaginaceae, and Vitaceae.