Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium TheThe PlantPlant PressPress
New Series - Vol. 10 - No. 2 April-June 2007 Botany Profile The Guiana Shield: 20 Years and Counting By Vicki A. Funk he Biological Diversity of the of sand were successively laid down and Likewise faunal studies are in short Guiana Shield (BDG) program cemented during thermal events. The supply so while birds and mammals have Thas operated in the National resulting quartzite and sandstone rocks been studied in a number of places, the Museum of Natural History for over 20 are known today as the Roraima forma- vast majority of the Shield remains years and although the program interacts tion. Some recent work has suggested that under explored. with many departments and bureaus the eastern rocks are the oldest; this across the Smithsonian Institution, it is would make the Pakaraima Mountains of DG is a field-oriented program closely associated with the Department Guyana and the eastern parts of Venezuela that has been operating since of Botany. The goals of BDG are 1) to older than the remainder of the Roraima B1983 (federally funded since document, study, and preserve the bio- formation. 1987). Originally confined to botany diversity of the Guiana Shield, 2) to The area is dotted with tepuis, the and Guyana, the least well-known, most provide the opportunity for excellent steep-walled table mountains prominently biologically diverse of the three scientific research, and, 3) to make featured in photos and films, many of Guianas, the program has since been information generated by these studies which support a unique flora and fauna. expanded to include faunal studies and useful for conservation and education. The easternmost peaks reach heights field work in the other parts of the The Guiana Shield is a distinct geo- around 2,000 meters and include Mt. Shield. From 1986-1998 the BDG logical unit that underlies the northeast- Ayanganna and Mt. Wokomung in Guyana. maintained full-time plant collectors in ern corner of South America and The highest tepui, Sierra de la Neblina, Guyana and each year approximately six includes much of the area east and south exceeds 3,000 meters and is located in major expeditions were organized, and of the Orinoco River and east and north the western part of the Shield on the other expeditions, involving a total of of the Rio Negro and Rio Amazonas. The border of Venezuela and Brazil. Many 20-30 visiting scientists took place. The area includes Bolívar, Amazonas, and other tepuis have summits between 2,000 continued budget cuts of the 1990s Delta Amacuro states in Venezuela; most and 2,400 meters. A large, mid-elevation, made it impossible to continue the of Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana; sandy plateau between 400 and 1,500 practice of full-time field work, and the parts of northern Brazil; and parts of meters, the Gran Sabana, occupies south- program shifted to sending resident southeastern Colombia. The area has eastern Venezuela and adjacent parts of collectors to Guyana for 4-6 months many unusual ecosystems including the Guyana (where it is named the Rupununi each year or having a series of targeted famous tepuis of Sir Arthur Conan Savanna) and Brazil and there are also expeditions. In recent years there have Doyle’s “The Lost World” and the unique variously-sized areas of lowland white- been resident collectors for butterflies “Greenheart” forests of Guyana, all of sand savanna scattered throughout the and moths, ants, birds, and plants. which have high endemicity. Guiana Shield (e.g., Berbice Savannas of In many ways modern day field work The Shield’s igneous-metamorphic Guyana). resembles the legendary trips of old. basement was laid down in several events There are well-known floras for only a For although it is easier on both ends of from 3.6 to 0.8 billion years ago. This few parts of the Guiana Shield, such as the trip (e.g., airplanes) and we collect granitic basement is easily observed in Mount Roraima (Venezuela, Guyana, new types of data (e.g., DNA samples, the many black “hills” of granite that dot Brazil), the Iwokrama-Mabura Hill area GPS coordinates), the major part of the landscape across the Guiana Shield and Kaieteur (Guyana), Tafelberg (Suri- field work is essentially the same as it and is also exposed on some of the nam), and Saül (central French Guiana). was during the time of Humboldt (1799- mountains and massifs. Between 1.6 and Most areas, such as the lowland forests 1804) and Spruce (1849-1864): a lot of 1 billion years ago, sedimentary covers and tepui slopes, are very poorly known. Continued on page 12 Visitors
Wenying Wu, Philipps University, Erik Krause, Emory University; Kevin John Page Cotton, Jeffrey Leon, Sam Germany; Nolana (Solanaceae) (2/28/06- Gress, University of Texas, Arlington; Raker and Bryan Randolph, George 2/27/08). Josh Propp, University of Texas, Austin; Washington University; Medicinal plants Medicinal plants of antiquity (1/8-1/12). of antiquity (1/29-6/30). Hui Ren, South China Botanical Garden; Vitaceae (5/7/06-4/1/07). Daniel Stancik, Charles University, Dylan Burge, Duke University; Recent Czech Republic; Festuca (Poaceae) (1/8- and fossil Paliurus (Rhamnaceae), paleo- Konstantyn Romaschenko, National 2/8). botany of type specimens (2/13-2/16). Academy of Science of Ukranie; Poaceae, Stipeae (11/30/06-5/30/07). Charlotte Riggs, Wesleyan University; Ihsan Al-Shehbaz, Missouri Botanical Plant conservation (1/8-2/20). Garden; Brassicaceae (2/13-2/16). Oscar Vargas, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia; Diplostephium (Asteraceae) Mary Stensvold, National Forest Nick Turland, Missouri Botanical Gar- (12/9/06-1/13/07). Service; North American Botrychium den; Flora of China (2/13-2/16). (Ophioglossaceae) (1/9; 1/12). Ki-Oug Yoo, Kangwon National Univer- Peter Lowry, Missouri Botanical Gar- sity, South Korea; Coryloideae and Doug Ripley, US Air Force retired; den; Araliaceae (2/16). Vitaceae (12/12/06-12/11/07). Image processing (1/10). Steffi Ickert-Bond, University of Alaska, Cody Hinchliff, Washington State Carl Taylor, National Science Founda- Fairbanks; Altingiaceae (2/19-3/1). University; Cyperaceae of Guianas and tion; North American Dryopteris United States (1/1-1/7). (Dryopteridaceae) (1/12). Four Seasons Garden Club, Washing- ton, DC; Tour of Botany greenhouses (2/ Jim Cohen, Cornell University; Litho- Jorge Perez, Universidad Nacional de 24). spermum (Boraginaceae) and related Colombia; Neotropical Prunus (Ro- genera (1/2). saceae) and Colombian Rosaceae (1/21- Lawrence Stritch, United States Depart- 3/23). ment of Agriculture; Endangered Puerto Niki Papavramidou, University of Rican trees (3/1). Thessaloniki, Greece; Greek medicinal Tamara McKimmie, Marcia Sprules plants of antiquity, Historia Plantarum and Leslie Valenza, Earthwatch Institute; John Mitchell and Susan Pell, New collection (1/5-2/28). Medicinal plants of antiquity (1/22-1/26). York Botanical Garden; Anacardiaceae (3/ 1-4/1). Matthew Cimino, Salisbury University; Ling Zhang, Xishuangbanna Tropical Soil sampling of herbarium specimens (1/ Botanic Garden (XTBG), Chinese Lei Xie, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 7). Academy of Sciences; Instant Identifica- Clematis (Ranunculaceae), Circaea and tion System (1/22/07-1/21/08). Fuchsia (Onagraceae) (3/1/07-2/1/09). The Plant Press Mary Byrne, Bureau of Land Manage- Maureen Murphy, University of Mary Washington; Wilkes project (3/5-3/9). New Series - Vol. 10 - No. 2 ment; Seeds of Success Exchange Program (1/23). Chang Liu, Idaho State University; Chair of Botany Lisa Leno, George Mason University; Myodoraceae (3/9-3/14). Warren L. Wagner ([email protected]) Internship interview (1/23). Yaowu Yuan, University of Washington; Nancy Mulry, Independent researcher; Verbenaceae (3/9-3/14). EDITORIAL STAFF Volunteer interview (1/25). Tom Wendt, University of Texas; Po- Editor lygala (Polygalaceae) (3/12-3/14). Gary Krupnick Monica Reardon, George Mason University; Mexican ethnobotany (1/29). ([email protected]) Continued on page 5 News Contacts MaryAnn Apicelli, Robert Faden, Ellen Farr, Shirley Maina, Rusty Russell, Alice Travel Tangerini, and Elizabeth Zimmer Pedro Acevedo traveled to Raleigh, – 3/28) to conduct library research on the The Plant Press is a quarterly publication provided North Carolina (2/1 – 2/2) to attend the final supplements to Taxonomic Litera- free of charge. If you would like to be added to the dissertation defense of graduate student ture, edition 2 and to use the herbarium. mailing list, please contact Dr. Gary Krupnick at: Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, PO Alexander Krimps at North Carolina State Robert Faden traveled to London, Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, DC University. England (2/23 – 3/24) to conduct 20013-7012, or by E-mail: [email protected]. Laurence Dorr and Dan Nicolson research on African Commelinaceae at traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts (2/ the Royal Botanic Garden Kew. Web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany 20 – 2/28) and to Bronx, New York (3/25 Vicki Funk traveled to Guyana (2/24
Page 2 Plants, Science, and People, Oh My! Editor’s Note
n my research on conservation biology, I utilize and analyze History (page 7). Using botanical and anthropological collec- data from herbarium specimens on a daily basis. Knowing tions, the exhibit tells six stories that describe the manner in Ithe “who, what, where and when” of collected specimens which local cultures from the Southwest United States and allows me to assess the conservation status of many species. Mexico used specific plants more than 100 years ago. This One aspect of the specimens that I often overlook is the “why.” exhibit draws on the research of Rusty Russell’s group, which Many of the specimens in the U.S. National Herbarium was featured in the Plant Press in 2006 (Vol. 9, No. 4). were collected simply because they exist in nature. Yet many of With today’s environmental crisis, not only are we losing these species were collected because they are quite valuable to plant species at an alarming rate, but cultures are quickly humankind. We have your everyday plant species that make life disappearing too. Ethnobotany can provide some of the bearable, like chocolate and vanilla (which recently generated solutions towards sustainable living. This focus was the topic many a smile during a tour of the herbarium for my son’s pre-K of the Ethnobotanical Summit held at the National Tropical class). But the herbarium also houses specimens of plant Botanical Garden in Kaua‘i at the beginning of the year. The species used in cultures far beyond what can be found in a group of ethnobotanists and associated scientists attending the Washington, DC, neighborhood grocery store. Not only are meeting, including our Chair of Botany Warren Wagner, issued these plants valuable in today’s societies, but they have been a statement, “The Kaua‘i Declaration,” about the importance of used for generations and generations. ethnobotany is today’s world, and it is printed here on page 10. In this issue of the Plant Press, we feature several stories In other news, Vicki Funk provides a 20-year review of the about ethnobotany: the study of the relationship between plants Museum’s research program cataloging the biodiversity of and people. Plants have been used by humans since the dawn of South America’s Guiana Shield (front page). The Biological humankind. Ancient texts can tell us quite a bit about which Diversity of the Guiana Shield program has been tremendously plants were used when. On page 8, Alain Touwaide and successful in discovering and describing new species of plants Emanuela Appetiti give us insight into their research on the and animals, identifying important regions for conservation, history of ethnobotany. They study the use of medicinal plants and building and expanding the botanical and zoological collec- in the cultures that flourished around the Mediterranean Sea tions at the University of Guyana. It will be exciting to see the from Antiquity to the 17th century A.D. Current findings in their results of their hard work when the final large checklists are fascinating research program tell us much about when food and published and the database is completed over the next few medicinal plant species were introduced from the New World years. into the Old World. Moving up in time, we have a brief story about a new exhibit which recently opened at the National Museum of Natural Gary Krupnick, Editor
– 3/4) with Carol Kelloff, Cristián specimens throughout the two countries. Botanical Garden. Samper, and Hans Sues to look at field Rusty Russell traveled to Baltimore, Alain Touwaide and Emanuela sites and review the progress of the Maryland (2/2) to conduct library Appetiti traveled throughout Australia (2/ Biological Diversity of the Guiana Shield research at the Maryland Historical 17 – 3/9) to conduct research and make Program; and to Harlingen, Texas (3/26 – Society; to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2/ presentations; and to Miami, Florida (3/ 3/29) to collect ethnobotanical collec- 9) to conduct research on the Wilkes 22 – 3/25) to attend the annual meeting of tions from Mexico. Project at the Academy of Natural the Renaissance Society of America. W. John Kress traveled to Bronx, Sciences; and to Cambridge, Massachu- Warren Wagner traveled to Kaua‘i, New York (1/7 – 1/9) to attend a DNA setts (3/1 – 3/3) to attended the Earth- Hawaii (1/25 – 2/6) to conduct research barcode workshop at the New York watch Conference as co-principal and to serve as moderator for an ethno- Botanical Garden; and to Toronto, Canada investigator on the Plants and People botany summit held at the National (2/5 – 2/6) to meet with DNA barcoding Through the Ages project. Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua‘i; and to collaborators at Guelph University. Stanwyn Shetler traveled to Rich- Miami, Florida (2/23 – 2/28) to make a Gary Krupnick traveled to Irvine, mond, Virginia (3/3) to chair the annual presentation on the McBryde Science California (3/8 – 3/12) to attend a NSF- workshop of the Virginia Native Plant Program for Hawaiian and Pacific plant sponsored workshop “Project Baseline” Society at the University of Richmond. studies at the National Tropical Botanical at the University of California at Irvine. Laurence Skog traveled to Sarasota, Garden board meeting. Mark Littler, Diane Littler, and Florida (1/15 – 1/23; 3/5 – 3/10) to Jun Wen traveled throughout Mada- Barrett Brooks traveled to Carrie Bow conduct research on Gesneriaceae at the gascar (3/19 – 4/12) to conduct field Cay, Belize (3/14 – 3/27) to conduct Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. research on the Vitaceae. taxonomic and ecological research on the Alice Tangerini traveled to San Elizabeth Zimmer traveled to Balti- reef system. Miguel d’Allende, Mexico (3/18 – 3/25) more, Maryland (3/30) to present a Paul Peterson traveled to Peru and to conduct artistic studies on endangered research talk to the Department of Bolivia (2/28 – 4/10) to collect grass plants at the El Charco del Ingenio Biology at Johns Hopkins University.
Page 3 was the completion of the account of the Rob Soreng gave a talk entitled “On the Staff genus Cyanotis for the Flora of Tropical Steppes of Kyrgyzstan,” to the Botanical East Africa, and he succeeded. In addition Society of Washington in November, and Research & to the usual problems of working with the Bureau of Land Management office in Activities dried specimens of this family (poorly DC in January, about his collecting trip to preserved flowers and lack of capsules the Tien Shan mountain range in August of and seeds), the flowers, capsules and 2006. In February, Emanuela Appetiti traveled seeds of this genus, even when available, throughout Australia. In Sydney, she have few taxonomically useful characters Awards & worked with Alex Barlow on Aboriginal for species differentiation. In contrast, Awards & territorial issues, including the alimentary the underground parts of Cyanotis Grants and therapeutic uses of plants. In Uluru, species are very significant, yet they are she conducted fieldwork on medicinal often left in the ground by collectors. Vinita Gowda, graduate student of W. plants used by the local Aboriginal com- Species of Cyanotis tend to be under- John Kress, received a $500 Heliconia munities. In Alice Springs, she visited the collected in part because their succulent Society International grant for her pro- Desert Park where she spent the day with leaves are difficult to dry. Faden also posal titled “Nectar study of two native the local Aboriginal Curator for Medici- worked on Commelinaceae for a Flora of Caribbean heliconias (Heliconia: Heli- nal Plants. At the Center for Arid Zone Angola checklist that is being prepared in coniaceae) pollinated by sexually dimor- Research of the CSIRO she met with the Lisbon (LISC). Herbarium specimens phic Purple-throated Carib Humming- librarian and the Program Officer. She were checked at Kew and the Natural birds.” Gowda will be working in the field visited the Olive Pinks Botanic Garden History Museum for records of Angolan from 9 March to 4 April in St.Kitts, and did fieldwork at Stanley Chasm. plants. Dominica and St.Vincent to continue her Appetiti delivered a lecture “Medicinal research on Caribbean Heliconia- On 17 January, Gary Krupnick presented Plants in Antiquity – Ethnobotany of the hummingbird adaptive interactions. Old World,” at the Queensland Herbarium a talk about plant conservation and gave a located at the Botanic Garden Mt Coot- tour of the U.S. National Herbarium to a The Smithsonian Institution Women’s tha, Brisbane. With Alain Touwaide, she group of first-year undergraduate fellows Committee (SIWC) has provided funding visited the Marks Hirschfeld Museum of visiting from Elon University, North to Rusty Russell for continued work on Medical History of the Medical School Carolina. the plant collections of the United States of the University of Queensland, and the On 8 – 11 March, Krupnick attended Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 (the Australia Zoo and hospital created by the the “Project Baseline” organizing Wilkes collection). These funds late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. workshop at the University of California ($34,400) will support continued pro- Touwaide delivered four lectures in at Irvine. Project Baseline is a nation- cessing of the collections, research to Australia in February. In Sydney, he pre- wide collaborative effort to gather, freeze enhance specimen data, and the develop- sented “Venoms and Poisons in Antiquity” and store seed from contemporary plant ment of a web presentation on the Botany at the Research Seminar of the Depart- populations to study evolutionary genet- website. ment of Classics, University of Sydney; ics and global warming. “What Did Ancient Greeks Know About On 20 March, Krupnick gave a pre- Renal Diseases?” at the New South Wales sentation on “Vanishing Pollinators” to Renal Group; and “Being Cured and the second- and third-grade classes of Treated in Classical Antiquity,” for the Burning Tree Elementary School in annual Ben Haneman Memorial Lecture Bethesda, Maryland. held at the New South Wales State Library Dan Nicolson led his spring wild-flower sponsored jointly by the Library and the trip to Bear Island (along the Potomac New South Wales Society for the History River) on 31 March, for the Botanical of Medicine. In Brisbane, he made a Society of Washington. presentation at the Medical School of the University of Queensland on “Epidemiol- On March 3, Stanwyn Shetler chaired New Faces ogy of Antiquity.” the Annual Workshop of the Virginia On 15 March, Touwaide delivered a Native Plant Society at the University of Jorge A. Pérez-Zabala (Herbario talk “The Modern Middle Ages: Manu- Richmond, Richmond, Virginia. The topic MEDEL, Universidad Nacional de scripts and Diseases, from West to East” was: “Discovering Virginia, 1607-2007: Colombia, Sede Medellín) was a Cuatre- at Georgetown University, College of Bushwhackers, Botanists, and Pioneers.” casas Travel Award Fellow at the U.S. Arts and Sciences, Medieval Studies About 100 persons attended. This is one National Herbarium from 21 January until Program. of the ways in which the society is con- 23 March. During his 7-week visit he tributing to Virginia’s year-long celebra- focused on studying the collections of Robert Faden worked on African Com- tion of the 400th anniversary of the Rosaceae deposited in U.S. National melinaceae at the Royal Botanic Gardens founding of Jamestown. Herbarium. He examined almost 700 Kew 23 February to 24 March. His goal specimens of Neotropical Prunus and
Page 4 Announcement of orchid-potting demonstrations, asking experts how to grow orchids at home, an the Cuatrecasas orchid murder mystery storytelling and more. Nearly 5,000 visitors participated. Fellowship Award Alice Tangerini participated by doing The Smithsonian Institution’s Depart- demonstrations of orchid drawing. Tat- ment of Botany announces the Cuatre- toos of Tangerini’s orchid images were casas Fellowship Award. This annual com- printed for the visiting children. Beth petition will usually result in 1-2 awards, Page, Annie Ceccaraini, Barbara Faust, each one not to exceed US$3000. The and others from the Horticultural Ser- award is to support work in the spirit of vices Division planned the many activities the research of the late José Cuatrecasas, with the assistance of Hal Banks in the a long time associate of the U.S. National NMNH Office of Guest Services. Herbarium. Priority will be given to scientists from Latin America or from elsewhere who work on tropical plants. Funds are to be used to study specimens Visitors housed in the U.S. National Herbarium. Continued from page 2 To apply for the award, please submit a short curriculum vitae, a proposal and two Ashlei Cooke, William and Mary Col- letters of support; it is suggested, but not lege; Jessica Hull and Amy Storbakken, required, that one of the letters be from a Earthwatch Institute; Christine Regan, scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. University of Delaware; Cris Salas, Cuatrecasas Travel Award Fellow Proposals should not exceed two pages in Eastern Kentucky University; Carolyn Jorge A. Pérez-Zabala. length and should include the following: Porrata, University of Texas; Pacific around of 1,000 specimens of Rosaceae name and address of applicant, date sub- Islands ethnobotany (3/12-3/16). of Colombia and adjacent countries. This mitted, specific objective of trip, overall research visit gave him a better view of research project, date of trip, and budget. Elizabeth Finn, Antioch University; these groups as he worked toward his Complete applications should be sent via Edward Palmer project (3/12-3/23). e-mail, fax, or airmail to Dr. V.A. Funk, ultimate goals of preparing a taxonomic Anderson Oliveira, State University of Department of Botany Smithsonian Insti- treatment of Prunus for the Flora Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Invasive plants of tution, PO Box 37012, NMNH MRC 166, Neotropica project (hopefully a Ph.D. Brazil (3/13-3/16). project) and preparing the catalogue of Washington DC 20013-7012 USA; fax: Colombian Rosaceae. 202-786-2563; e-mail: [email protected]. E- Chris Puttock, Hawaiian Native Plant mail is preferred and you should receive a Conservation Alliance; Hawaiian Acan- In January, Ling Zhang began a one-year reply confirming that we have received thaceae (3/14). Smithsonian postdoctoral fellowship your application. Applications should under the sponsorship of W. John Kress. arrive no later than 1 June 2007 and Scott Hoover, New England Botanical She is working on the development of an applicants will be notified of the commit- Conservatory; Harry Wiriadinata, Her- electronic field guide, or Image Identifi- tee decision no later than 15 June 2007. barium Bogoriense, Indonesia; Indonesia cation System (IIS), that will make it Anyone wishing to make a contribu- Plant Program (3/16). possible for botanists to determine the tion to the José Cuatrecasas Award Fund Antonia Posada, Universidad de Antio- identity of specimens through automated should send a check to the Chairman of quia Colombia; Molecular techniques (3/ visual search. Zhang proposes to move the Department of Botany. 16-3/18). beyond the current data sets to address a more challenging domain: the tropical Meg Warren, Earthwatch Institute; “Live woody flora of Barro Colorado Island, the Celebrating from the Field” Program (3/23). rainforest preserve of the Smithsonian Orchids Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Antonio De Natale, University of Na- Zhang is an associate professor within the On 3 March, the Smithsonian Insti- ples, Italy; Diplostephium (Asteraceae) Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Animal tution’s Horticulture Services Division (3/26). Interaction Research Group at the and the U.S. Botanic Garden sponsored a Emily Caven and Matt Cimino, Salis- Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden family festival at the National Museum of bury University; Southeast Asian desert (XTBG), the Chinese Academy of Natural History in conjunction with the plants (3/26-3/28). Sciences (CAS). She received her Ph.D. exhibition, Orchids: Take a Walk on the from Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Wild Side. Visitors enjoyed an array of Brenda Murdock, Judy Schmidt and CAS in June 2006. Her doctoral thesis activities for the whole family including Peggie Wormington, Earthwatch Insti- was “Biosystematics and Evolutionary coloring botanical prints, taking a tute; Medicinal plants of antiquity (3/26- Ecology of Taccaceae.” scavenger hunt with binoculars, watching 3/30).
Page 5 US Acquires Islands. According to the Index Herbari- week of fun and artistry. One of the orum – Collectors volume, Elmer objectives of the trip was to visit a local Nebraska Collection: collected around 12,000 numbers in the botanical garden to photograph and sketch Philippines (1903-1917) and US received endangered cactus species. Tangerini had Who Says You Can’t 4,200. He died in a prison camp in Manila made arrangements for the artists to take Go Home Again? during WWII. Additional collectors a two-hour tour of El Charco del Ingenio In the summer of 2004 Robert Kaul include a few specimens by Clements, Botanical Garden located on the outskirts from the University of Nebraska con- Wenzel, Merrill and some others. of San Miguel. tacted Vicki Funk to see if the US The final totals were 923 duplicate Giving the tour was Mario Mendoza, National Herbarium would be willing to sheets to be sent to PE (Beijing) to help horticulturist for the garden. Mendoza accept specimens from China and the balance our trade deficit, and 3,370 to be focused on endangered cactus species Philippines that had been sent to Charles held for exchange to PNH (Manila). The that are listed on a national list of endan- Bessey. The Nebraska herbarium had remaining 5,317 specimens have been gered plants of Mexico and on the IUCN decided to concentrate on the Midwest stamped and filed into the US National Red List of Threatened Species. After the and wanted to find an appropriate home Herbarium except for most of the 700 or tour the artists photographed, sketched for these collections. With Rusty so types which are waiting to be databased and painted the cactus species. The artists Russell’s agreement and the Biological and imaged. The Department is grateful to took many photographs in order to Diversity of the Guiana Shield Program the staff at US who worked on some of continue their work back in the United (BDG) taking care of the specimens, she their favorite families and to Funk and States. Mendoza also introduced the DC accepted the offer and 9,610 mounted Kelloff for their coordinating skills. BDG artists to local San Miguel botanical specimens arrived over the next several contractors Marilyn Hansel, Sara Alex- artists who indicated they would like to months. Funk then had to decide which ander, and John Dodge stamped sheets, collaborate in the future on teaching specimens would stay at US, and which checked the herbarium for duplicates, and classes in botanical art at El Charco. specimens would be shipped to other filed specimens. This project was a group The artists who participated in the trip herbaria. effort by the Department and the her- were students and teachers of a certificate Nearly all of the specimens were barium has benefited from it. program in botanical art at the Corcoran identified. Carol Kelloff arranged all the School of Art; Tangerini represented the specimens by family, and the largest Drawing Plants in Smithsonian Institution. The artists groups were the ferns, Moraceae, Euphor- Mexico illustrated the cactus species for possible biaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae, inclusion in a traveling show titled, and Meliaceae. Other families had fewer Alice Tangerini was part of a group “Losing Paradise, Endangered Plant specimens—for instance specimens of of 12 botanical artists from the Washing- Species Here and Around the World,” to the Compositae filled only three bins of a ton, DC, area who traveled to San Miguel be presented by the American Society of herbarium cabinet. d’Allende, Mexico, 18-25 March, for a Botanical Artists (ASBA). The exhibit is Many specimens will remain at US. Using the Compositae as an example, 60- 70% will remain, with five specimens being types. Most of the material in the Compositae was originally from the “Canton Christian College Herbarium” (now Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, also formerly Lingnan University) and was collected by C.O. Levine (1887- 1928). Prior to this donation, US had only about half of Levine’s collections. The Index Herbariorum – Collectors volume says that Levine collected mainly in Kwangtung (now known as Guangdong, 1916-1928). They list A (Arnold Arbore- tum) as having 3,500 specimens and that CANT (South China Agricultural Univer- sity, Guangzhou) may have the original; US is not listed as having any specimens. A web search turned up only one mention of Levine papers (at Harvard) and these need to be checked. The donation also had many collections by A.D.E. Elmer (1870- 1842), mostly from the Philippine Alice Tangerini draws a cactus at El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden. (Photo by Marcia DeWitt) Page 6 scheduled to open in May 2008. It is hoped that the paintings of these endan- gered plants will help bring awareness to the public of the need to preserve these rare species. How Did the World’s Largest Flowers Evolve? Species of Rafflesiaceae possess the world’s largest flowers (up to 1-meter in diameter in Rafflesia arnoldii), yet their precise evolutionary relationships have been elusive as the plants are holopara- sites and highly modified for this life history. These Southeast Asian plants are embedded inside their hosts, Tetrastigma species (vines in the grape family, Vita- ceae), and rarely put forth their massive bizarre flowers that stink of rotting flesh to attract pollinating flies. Phylogenetic placement of these parasites has proven Rafflesia, one of the three genera of Rafflesiaceae, was named by Robert Brown difficult because of the highly modified for Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), a British colonial administrator morphology and anomalous molecular in Sumatra and later founder of Singapore. The type species Rafflesia arnoldii evolution, including increased rates of commemorates physician and naturalist Joseph Arnold (1782-1818) who died of change and the loss of the chloroplast malaria on the 1818 collecting trip with Raffles during which time the time the genes usually used for constructing plant plant was discovered in Bengkulu, Sumatra. The taxon was published in “An phylogenies. account of a new genus of plants, named Rafflesia” read on 30 June 1820 and A recent cover story in Science, published in the Transactions of the Linnean Society in 1821. The original “Floral gigantism in Rafflesiaceae” by description was copiously illustrated with drawings by famed botanical artist Kenneth Wurdack and a team led by Franz Bauer, in part based on unfinished life drawings done by Arnold. The hand Charles Davis of Harvard University, has colored plate 15, etched by James Basire, is shown here. This plate is part of the presented the precise phylogenetic place- extensive rare book collection in the NMNH Cullman Library that also incorpo- ment of Rafflesiaceae. They analyzed 8 rates the rare books formerly held in the Department of Botany. (Courtesy of genes and ca. 11,500 base-pairs of DNA Smithsonian Institution Libraries, Washington, DC) sequence data and surprisingly found Rafflesiaceae grouped with Euphorbia- will open new doors to thinking about the these collections, the bi-lingual exhibit ceae, Wurdack’s specialty family. evolution of both Rafflesiaceae, as well tells six stories that describe the manner Since most euphorbs have tiny flowers as, my own group the Euphorbiaceae.” in which local cultures used specific (sometimes reduced to a single stamen as plants more than 100 years ago. It also in the spurges, Euphorbia), the authors New Ethnobotany chronicles the work of Edward Palmer, were then able to estimate floral size whose collections of both plants and increases. Their estimates indicated a ca. Exhibit at NMNH cultural objects have contributed signifi- 73-fold increase in flower diameter had In February, with guests from the cantly to the study of ethnobotany in to occur on the stem lineage of Rafflesi- Cultural Institute of Mexico and the North America. aceae. This floral gigantism is one of the Smithsonian Institution Latino Center in “most dramatic cases of size evolution attendance, Cristián Samper unveiled reported for eukaryotes.” This study is an the new North Lobby Research Case in extension of previous work Davis and the National Museum of Natural History. Wurdack published in Science (305: 569, Entitled “Ethnobotany of the Southwest 30 July 2004; and see the Plant Press United States and Mexico,” this new 7(4), Oct-Dec 2004) which showed that exhibit results from three years of work Rafflesiaceae have obtained genes from by Rusty Russell, Bill Merrill and Jamie their hosts by horizontal gene transfer. As Whitacre to organize and prepare the Wurdack noted, “These are bizarre plants data from more than 30,000 Botany and where anything is possible, but I never Anthropology specimens, personal expected them to land at my feet. This journals, and archives materials. Using
Page 7 History of Botany and Ethnobotany of the Ancient Mediterranean World In 2002, Alain Touwaide and Emanuela contemporary researchers would wish. To Appetiti joined the Department as Re- compensate for this limitation, a comple- search Associate and Scientific Collabo- mentary program was launched on rator, respectively, to launch a research Renaissance herbals. Supported by the program dealing with the history of Earthwatch Institute, research was botany, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacol- conducted from 2003 to 2006 at the ogy of the ancient Mediterranean world. National Library of Rome and in 2006 at The main focus of the program consisted the Library of Padua, in the most ancient of preparing a Flora of Classical Antiq- Renaissance botanic garden. The research uity for which they have been collecting consisted of making a census of the material for more than 30 years. One herbals and of their content, reproducing aspect of their research—the therapeutic plant representations in a digital form, and uses of plants—was funded in 2002 by analyzing all of the material from a the National Center for Complementary historical and a botanical viewpoint. All and Alternative Medicine of the National gathered material will be searchable on a Institutes of Health. The Medicinal Smithsonian Institution Libraries Web Plants of Antiquity program aims at site, which is currently in development. making the ancient documentation—duly In spite of their apparent diversity, all translated into English and analyzed— of these programs have the same objec- available to botanists, pharmacologists tive: bringing light to the documentation and historians through Web site presenta- of botanical knowledge of the Old World tions. from Antiquity to the Renaissance, and Touwaide’s research of manuscript However rich they might be, ancient adding new data to the knowledge of 296 of the State Library of Lucca, Italy, texts need to be complemented by other plants and their uses before the develop- which was recently published, shows sources as they are not as explicit as ment of modern botany, particularly from how ancient texts about the uses of Linnaeus on. The research program plants were transmitted. (Photo by complements current botanical research Emanuela Appetiti). by explaining its origin, including Latin terminology. Furthermore, by analyzing revision of historical plant introductions. the history of botany in the different No less interesting are the statistics cultures that flourished around the on the plants used therapeutically in Mediterranean, the research program Antiquity. The number of different plant follows the continuous transmission of names appearing in the 62 treatises knowledge from the most remote ascribed to Hippocrates (5th - 4th century antiquity to the birth of modern science. B.C.), the so-called Father of Medicine, The research program has already reaches 380 units. It would be wrong, reached several significant conclusions. however, to conclude that ancient Greek Among others, Datura stramonium, physicians used all these plants in the supposedly introduced into the Old World same way. Half of the ca. 3,500 formulas from the New World, seems to be de- for the preparation of medicines in this scribed in a chapter of the most important series of writings are made of only 44 manual on medicinal plants of Antiquity, plants. Furthermore, none of these 44 De materia medica by Dioscorides, from different species are rare or particularly the first century A.D. Similarly, archeo- difficult to find. They include, among logical explorations have led to the dis- others, hellebore, leek, lineseed, garlic covery of a mosaic with a representation and, to quote but a few, pomegranate, beet of a basket full of fruits, one of which or cabbage. This means that the medicinal looks like a pineapple. A scientist from a Datura, from “Trattato della historia, resources of ancient physicians were the Pompeii archeological site recently iden- natura, et virtu delle Droghe Medicin- plants at hand, growing in the backyard of tified pineapple fiber in a fabric from the ali, & altri Semplici rarissimi, che their patients. city buried under the ashes of Vesuvius in vengono portati dalle Indie Orientali A final example comes from the study 79 A.D. It is generally agreed that pine- in Europa ...” by Cristóbal Acosta. In of a Latin book on medicinal plants hand- apple was introduced into the Old World Venetia, Presso à Francesco Ziletti, written in the 10th century probably in after the 1492 discovery of the New 1585. (Courtesy of Smithsonian Insti- Southern Italy and now preserved at the World. Such findings will impose the tution Libraries, Washington, DC) State Library of Lucca in Italy. The
Page 8 conduct personal research that will lead to the writing of an end-of-term paper. A similar agreement will make it possible for visiting students from the University of Victoria in Canada to receive an intensive training in the history of botany, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology of the ancient Mediterranean world. University scholars from all over the world come to complete their education and to conduct research. Niki Papavrami- dou from Greece recently spent two months in the Department. Two scientists from China will soon visit to study the influence of Greek medicine on Chinese medicine and to compare the uses of plants in ancient Greek medicine to contemporary traditional Chinese medicine. Scholars may also come to consult the many resources gathered in the Historia Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti (front) with George Washington Univer- Plantarum Collection (more than 12,000 sity students (L to R): John Cotton, Jeff Leon, Sam Raker, and Bryan Randolph. books devoted to the subject). Interns (Photo by Marjorie Knowles) joining the program in the summer will conduct personal research and will be Touwaides show that the book was in a including the National Library of Rome, trained in the methods of the history of chain of information that transmitted the Service of Antiquites of Pompeii, the botany, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacol- ancient botanical knowledge from Anti- Herbarium of Istanbul University, the ogy developed by the Touwaides over the quity (Greece and Rome) to the West. Goulandris Museum of Natural History in past years. Contrary to a widely diffused opinion, the Athens, the Istituto Filosofico per gli book was not written by monks who Studi Filosofici of Naples, Italy, and the deteriorated the texts contained in it, but Department of Natural and Complemen- probably by physicians who updated the tary Medicine at the Southern Cross information from a medical viewpoint and University in Australia. made it compatible with the culture and Research progress has been possible society of that time. thanks to the collaboration of a large The Touwaides do not limit their number of individuals and institutions. investigations to ancient material, but also Earthwatch Volunteers and Smithsonian work with specimens in the US National Institution Behind-the-scenes Program Herbarium. They have located and volunteers have helped process and digitized plant specimens from the digitize the materials. Many volunteers Mediterranean to compare ancient plant are now familiar with ancient botanical representations to actual plants. Such knowledge and are currently performing a activity is not only theoretical, but has a wide range of tasks contributing to the practical value: it complements the final goals of the program. These tasks knowledge of plant species by means of include locating specimens in the U.S. pre-Linnaean data, and it provides useful National Herbarium, developing computer information for new therapeutic applica- applications necessary to process the tions. sheer quantity of data and studying the Such multifaceted research relies on a pharmacological applications of plants. wide variety of sources, from ancient This research program is also devoted texts and books to archeological material. to the formation of the next generation of Thus it requires a cross-disciplinary scientists. An agreement has recently A Greek specimen of Centaurea laure- association with scholars from ancient been signed with the Department of otica from the US National Herbarium, history to high-tech pharmacology. The Classics at The George Washington collected in 1886 in the region sur- Touwaides have created and continue to University, making it possible for rounding Athens by Georg Heldreich, develop a net of research centers and students to study the history of ancient a German botanist who specialized in laboratories throughout the world, botany. Undergraduate students will the study of Greek ethnobotany.
Page 9 Ethnobotany: A Declaration from Kaua‘i Warren Wagner joined a group of 43 important in and of itself, since we have Our collective management of the world’s people from ethnobotany and associated so much more to learn from these resources is unsustainable at present. disciplines in an Ethnobotanical Summit cultures as living societies rather than Rapidly rising population levels, the at the National Tropical Botanical Garden from descriptions and images of those runaway growth of individual consump- in Kaua‘i on 27-30 January 2007. Consid- societies that might be left behind once tion, the continued use of inappropriate ering the grave environmental crisis they have disappeared forever. Further, we technologies and the erosion of tradi- facing the world today, the loss of biodi- believe that cultures have a right to exist tional knowledge are progressively versity and the loss of culture, the group and that we should respect and facilitate limiting the options for the future, and the decided to issue a statement to stress the that right to the extent that it is feasible. kind of world that our descendants will importance of ethnobotany for providing This capacity to innovate has been inhabit. The application of ethnobotany is some of the solutions towards more expressed in creative ways by different a possible way of breaking free of our sustainable living. groups of people faced with varied passive approach to the world and dealing The initial draft of the resulting environmental and social challenges; we with this seemingly overwhelming set of ‘Kaua‘i Declaration’ is being shared here must attempt to understand those ways for challenges in a positive way. to bring it to a wider audience. The final our individual and common benefit. Such vital environmental resources as declaration text, along with a white paper, Combining concepts derived from the the air we breathe, the quality of the water will be submitted for publication soon. disciplines of anthropology, linguistics, we drink, the topsoil upon which our agriculture, archaeology, biochemistry, agriculture depends, the relatively stable genetics, horticulture, ecology, conserva- global climate we have enjoyed until The Kaua‘i Declaration tion biology, and botany, the field of eth- recently, and the global stock of biodiver- Ethnobotany is the study of the inter- nobotany holds extraordinary promise for sity are all being degraded rapidly. Con- actions and relationships between plants helping us build a better future. currently, the diversity of human cultures and people over time and space. This Sustainability is defined as the use of is being eroded rapidly everywhere. For includes the uses, knowledge, beliefs, resources at a rate slower than that at example, hundreds of the approximately management systems, classification which they are being created. Building remaining 7,000 languages are being lost systems and language that both modern sustainability depends not only on our use each decade and it is likely that over 50% and traditional cultures have for plants and of the environment, but also on cultural, will be lost in the next 50 years. Yet each their associated terrestrial and aquatic political, and economic considerations. of these represents a distinct philosophi- ecosystems. If plants did not exist, human life would not be possible. All members of the human family depend on plants for their survival in myriad different ways. Today we also depend on them for many of our opportunities to improve the quality of human life in the future. Plants are fundamental to the functioning of all human societies and to the operation of all ecosystems. Along with the photosyn- thetic bacteria and algae, plants are re- sponsible for the formation of almost all of the energy that we consume. In terms of the energy from biomass that we are so actively seeking to develop now, they also provide the hope for energy supplies in the future. Yet despite their central impor- tance, plants are often poorly appreciated. Ethnobotany, along with the related disciplines of ethnobiology and ethno- ecology are of central importance for understanding and improving the sustain- ability of our relationships with the living world. The greatest resource that people Randy Thaman, an expert in Pacific Island biogeography and ethnobotany, from have is their ability to innovate, and that the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, presents the results of one of the ability is shared with all groups of humans conference breakout-groups on Indigenous Pacific island perspectives on who live or have lived on the Earth. We priorities for ethnobotany. The other break-out groups (not shown) included also stress here that we consider the global ethnobotanical hotspots and the role that botanical gardens and universi- survival of individual human cultures ties should play in ethnobotany. (Photo by Janet Leopold)
Page 10 Tamara Ticktin, Thomas Urban, Peter Van Dyke, Warren Wagner, W. Arthur Whis- tler, Charles R. Wichman Jr., Hau’oli Wichman, Kawika Winter, James Wise- man, Michael Wysong, Brian Yamamoto.
DNA Exhibit Opens at U.S. Botanic Garden A new exhibit, DNA Identification of Plants—Reading the Hidden Barcode, has opened at the U.S. Botanic Garden exploring how DNA from plants can be used to develop a rapid and accurate method of species identification. Co- sponsored by the NMNH Department of Botany, Nature’s Barcodes is on display at the USBG Conservatory through June 10. Local Hawaiian cultural practitioner Sabra Kauka speaks to summit partici- In devising a natural barcode, scien- pants about the importance of wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera) as a source of tists study an organism’s unique DNA fibers to Pacific Islanders. (Photo by Janet Leopold) sequences, which can be easily extracted from tissue samples and then analyzed. cal and pragmatic approach to the organi- member and citizen of it.” Conceivably, this could be done for every zation of our lives which means we are Ethnobotany can strengthen our links species on the planet. The new exhibit losing our cultural heritage at a rate that to the natural world. It is of central tracks the progress of an ongoing joint will seriously diminish our opportunities importance for understanding the collec- project to develop such genetic “bar- to achieve sustainability in the future. tive experience of humankind in a series codes” for plants, as well as barcode To reverse these trends, we need to of exceedingly diverse environments and “readers.” The project uses medicinal respect the wisdom of the diverse using those experiences to meet the plants as a pilot study, also co-sponsored approaches to nature that exist in every challenges that we face. It makes it by the Botanic Garden and NMNH. society. This knowledge is central to the possible for us to learn from the past and preservation of the integrity of the from the diverse approaches to plants cultures that possess it, and important for represented by the different human Botanical Partners us all to understand, record, and, when cultures that exist today. Ethnobotany is at appropriate and helpful, apply in other once a vital key to preserving the diversity Lecture Series situations. The capacity to innovate and to of plants as well as to understanding and Jane Smart, Head of the Species share lessons learned is a quintessential interpreting the knowledge by which we Programme at IUCN, continued the human characteristic, and one that we are, and will be, enabled to deal with them Botanical Partners Lecture Series by have a special need to exercise well in the effectively and sustainably throughout the presenting “Plants in Danger: What Do challenging times that face us now. world. Thus ethnobotany is the science We Know “ on 18 January at the United The strong links between biological of survival. States Botanic Garden (USBG) Conserva- and cultural diversity uniquely position Participants in the workshop who tory. The Botanical Partners Lecture ethnobotany to help us craft effective endorsed the declaration: Kamaui Aiona, Series is a collaboration between the local solutions to many of the global Michael J. Balick, Bradley C. Bennett, Department and USBG, designed to bring issues that confront us as a species. Some Kim Bridges, David A. Burney, Lida together the Washington scientific com- of the most challenging of these issues Pigott Burney, Robert A. Bye, Liloa Dunn, munity interested in botanical studies. are food security, deforestation, pollu- Eve Emshwiller, Mary Eubanks, Trish Invited speakers have been chosen to tion, the maintenance of human health, the Flaster, David L. Lentz, Edelmira Linares, attract participants from a broad spectrum quality of human life, and resource David H. Lorence, Will McClatchey, of the local community who are inter- depletion of all kinds. The concepts and Heather McMillen, Mark Merlin, James ested in the botanical sciences. Informal practices of ethnobotany accord well with S. Miller, Daniel E. Moerman, Ghillean T. receptions after the talks were hosted to the “land ethic” of the great conservation- Prance, Anne E. Prance, Diane Ragone, promote discussion and exchange of ist Aldo Leopold, which he describes as John H. Rashford, Pat Raven, Peter H. ideas. If you have suggestions for future changing “the role of Homo sapiens from Raven, J. R. Stepp, Namulau’ulu G. Tavana, speakers, please contact Gary Krupnick at conqueror of the land-community to plain Randy Thaman, Michael B. Thomas, [email protected].
Page 11 program for 23 local high school girls their parents, teachers, and Smithsonian Discovery of Rare that took place 8-9 March. The goal of the Women’s Committee members. Nancy Hawaiian Species program was to highlight the many back- Newkirk of the Smithsonian Women’s grounds, academic paths, and roles of Committee, and Carole Baldwin of A recent discovery of an extremely females in science at the National Fishes, then introduced the film Galápa- rare new plant species in Hawaii was Museum of Natural History, for students gos 3D to the attendees, and Baldwin took made in the context of a collaborative interested in pursuing science in college questions afterward. effort between the Department and the and as a career. The program was coordi- Over 40 female staff from Research National Tropical Botanical Garden nated by Mollie Oremland and Amy and Collections were involved in the (NTBG) to discover, describe, and Bolton of Guest Services and funded event. Maria Faust, Vicki Funk, Carol understand plant diversity of the Pacific primarily through a Smithsonian’s Kelloff, Ida Lopez and Alice Tangerini Islands. This effort is critical at this time Women’s Committee grant, with addi- represented Botany. Elizabeth Zimmer to conserving the diversity of island tional support for food provided by Coca- represented the Laboratories of Analyti- ecosystems. Known from only four Cola. cal Biology (L.A.B.) individuals, the plant species, Labordia Cristián Samper welcomed the lorenciana, is among ca. 120 other students to the program and provided an extremely rare Hawaiian species that are overview of the Museum and his scien- Profile limited to less than 50 individuals. It is tific background. Students then spent two Continued from page 1 currently being cultivated for conserva- days behind-the-scenes of the Museum time is spent walking, paddling a canoe, tion at NTBG. learning about the work done here. Small cutting trail, dragging supplies in and out Labordia lorenciana is described and groups of 2-3 students were matched with of boats and setting up camp in the rain illustrated from the Hawaiian Island of scientist “sponsors” to learn about their and heat or rain and cold—all of this in Kaua’i. This new species, named for work, based on student interests. Students order to collect and preserve biological David H. Lorence, Director of Science at also participated in hands-on activities, specimens so that we can understand and NTBG, who has made many valuable demonstrations, and tours at NMNH and conserve diversity. contributions to Pacific botany and to the at Smithsonian’s Museum Support Center From the start of the BDG, all collec- study of the large tropical family Rubia- (MSC) with additional female staff tions were databased and geo-referenced. ceae (coffee family), most closely members. Several staff members partici- This decision has been central to the resembles the O’ahu endemic species, pated in a panel discussion about the many program and is true for all types of Labordia kaalae. The new species is pathways to a career in science, intro- organisms collected. Furthermore, described in a paper published in System- duced by Associate Director for External beginning in the early 1990s, the BDG atic Botany by Warren Wagner and two Affairs and Public Programs, Elizabeth began to database specimens held by the colleagues. Duggal. At the conclusion of the first day National Museum of Natural History and Labordia (Loganiaceae: Gentianales) of the program, a reception was held in most this work has been completed. The is one of 31 currently recognized vascular the theater lobby for student participants, result is a great legacy of data that we plant genera completely restricted to the Hawaiian Islands. It is closely related to the Pacific genus Geniostoma. Labordia comprises 16 species, with 11 species being single-island endemics and the remaining five species occurring on several islands. Three species and two varieties are currently listed as Federally Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Recent field research by Ken Wood of NTBG within the northwestern canyon region of Kaua‘i (i.e., Kawai‘iki Valley), has documented another new species known from only a few remaining individ- uals and critically in need of protection.
Future Female Scientists Program The National Museum of Natural History’s Office of Guest Services sponsored the first Smithsonian Future Female Scientists Program, a two-day Paloue sp. nov. from the Pakaraima Mountains. (Photo by Karen Redden)
Page 12 have only recently begun to analyze. In addition to collecting and research, the BDG Program has helped build the infrastructure necessary for housing Guyana’s own natural history collections via the construction and enlargement of the “Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity” located on the campus of the University of Guyana; funded by the Royal Bank of Canada and USAID. BDG has also helped in the training of students and scientists both in the US and Guyana, assisting them in their research, and establishing or maintaining their collec- tions. The Centre has organized training classes for Amerindian guides, provided lectures to the public, taught short intense taxonomy classes on various groups, helped organize the first international scientific meeting held in Guyana in re- cent memory, and started its own journal. With a few exceptions, such as cities along the Río Orinoco (Venezuela), the Kaieteur Falls, Guyana, in the Guiana Shield. (Photo by Carol Kelloff) Rupununi savanna (Guyana), and the are designated as parks are often only the Study of Biological Diversity coastal areas of the Guianas, the Guiana “paper” parks, and lack the infrastructure (CSBD), at the University of Guyana (paid Shield has benefited from its isolation and financial backing necessary for effec- for by the Royal Bank of Canada and a and low population density, and much of tive protection. Each of the five countries USAID grant). The herbarium was moved the vegetation is still relatively undis- of the Guiana Shield has a different into the new addition and is now fully turbed by human activities. Unfortunately, administrative structure and official functional. The zoology collections have the pace of disturbance has accelerated language(s), and there are a number of been re-organized and are waiting addi- because of logging by Asian and local border disputes. The borders are generally tional shelving to finish their expansion. companies, gold and diamond mining by porous to drug, gold, and wildlife traffick- The biggest remaining problems are that Canadian and local outfits, oil drilling, ing, and there are serious political and the library needs to be moved into the bauxite mining, dams for hydroelectric environmental issues in regards to the new space and the small hut next to the power, wildlife trade, burning, grazing, native peoples of the region. All of these Centre needs to be renovated into a drying and agriculture. If these trends continue, problems will have to be dealt with in room for plants. The Centre currently the Guiana Shield will lose its place as order to design and maintain a viable houses 45,000 collections of plants, ca. part of one of the three remaining reserve system for the Guiana Shield. 10,000 animals, and ca. 22,000 insects. “tropical wilderness” areas in the world The efforts of the BDG program are The symposium “The Biodiversity of (Conservation International). important as a major part of the process Guyana: A Global Perspective for the Efforts to conserve this unique region of gaining an understanding of the flora Future” was held in Georgetown, Guyana vary according to country: Venezuela has and fauna so that informed decisions can from 7 – 10 October 2001. It was co- set up seven national parks, 29 natural be made on critical areas with a high hosted by BDG and the University of monuments, and two biosphere reserves priority for conservation, and so data can Guyana (UG). For many years, institu- covering 142,280 km² which comprises be collected from areas that may ulti- tions and research organizations in almost 31% of the Shield that lies in mately be degraded. Also, because this Guyana and around the world, including Venezuela and about 15% of the country. region was long neglected by biologists, the Smithsonian Institution, have been Guyana has only one major national park, it is often an area of “missing informa- working in Guyana collecting plant and the expanded Kaieteur National Park (627 tion” for many biological analyses. The animal data, discussing conservation km² or about 3% of the country). Surinam BDG program is designed to provide strategies, and evaluating areas for has 12 conservation areas encompassing specimens and data to address biodiver- preservation. In 1999 the CSBD and its 20,000 km²; 12% of the country. French sity questions across many groups. The collaborators decided that the time had Guiana has no designated protected areas assembled information is being used to arrived to evaluate the level of our but there are 18 proposed sites that total produce checklists, vegetation maps, knowledge of the biodiversity of Guyana 6,710 km² and make up 7.5%. However, floristic and faunistic studies as well as to and to use those data to address question an indication on the map of a park or address the more theoretical aspects of such as “What do we know about the reserve does not mean that the area will spatial biodiversity models. diversity of various groups of organisms actually be protected. As with many By far the most important activity was in Guyana?”, “How does the diversity countries, areas in the Guiana Shield that building and expanding of the Centre for Continued on page 14
Page 13 Profile from the Guiana Shield will be listed. and provides some copies
Page 14 175-180. In K. Kubitzki. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. VIII. Springer Verlaf, Berlin. Ireland, R.R., G. Bellolio, R. Rodriguez and J. Larrain. 2006. Studies on the moss flora of the Bio-Bio Region of Chile. Trop. Bryol. 28: 64-81. Strong, M.T. 2006. Rhynchospora guaramacalensis, una nueva especie de Rhynchospora sección Paniculatae (Cy- peraceae) de Venezuela. Acta Bot. Venez. 29(2): 207-210. Strong, M.T. 2006. Scleria tropicalis (Cyperaceae), a new species from north- ern Andean South America. Harvard Pap. Bot. 11(2): 199-201. Touwaide, A. 2006. Botany, pp. 117-118. In Medieval Islamic Civilization. An Encyclopedia. Touwaide, A. 2006. Horticulture, pp. Vicki Funk, Cristián Samper, and Hans Sues do their best jacana immitation 328-330. In Medieval Islamic Civiliza- while visiting Karanambu, Guyana, in February 2007. (Photo by Carol Kelloff) tion. An Encyclopedia. the Global Change money many years studies both within the Institution and Touwaide, A. 2007. Byzantine hospitals ago). Also, the Program could not run throughout the world, by building infra- manuals (Iatrosophia) as a source for the without the help of Carol Kelloff, the structure in the host countries, and by study of therapeutics, pp. 147-173. In B. Assistant Director of BDG. On the down providing training for university students Bowers, ed. The Medieval Hospital and side, Tom Hollowell, Data Manager for and Amerindians. I think it is something Medical Practice (AVISTA Studies in the nine years, left in November 2005 and the we can all be proud of and I thank every- History of Medieval Technology, Science program has not been able to replace him. one who has helped along the way. and Art, volume 3). Ashgate, Aldershot. His departure has slowed our ability to synthesize the data. Publications Wen, J. 2007. Leeaceae, pp. 221-225. In In 2005 BDG was reviewed by an K. Kubitzki, ed. Families and Genera of external committee. The report was posi- Davis, C.C., M. Latvis, D.L. Nickrent, Vascular Plants, vol. 9. Springer, Berlin. tive and was approved by the Office of the K.J. Wurdack and D.A. Baum. 2007. Wen, J. 2007. Vitaceae, pp. 467-479. In: Director and the Associate Director for Floral gigantism in Rafflesiaceae. Science K. Kubitzki, ed. Families and Genera of Science. There were several important 315(5820): 1812. Vascular Plants, vol. 9. Springer, Berlin. recommendations including finishing the database, putting the data online, and Faust, M.A. 2006. Creation of the sub- Wood, K.R., W.L. Wagner and T.J. finishing the synthetic work. They also genus Testeria Faust subgen. nov. Proto- Motley. 2007. Labordia lorenciana recommended soon ending the BDG peridinium Bergh from the SW Atlantic (Loganiaceae), a new critically endan- program and they suggested a competition Ocean: Protoperidinium novella sp. nov. gered species from Kaua‘i, Hawaiian so that the funds could be used to work in and Protoperidinium concinna sp. nov. Islands with comments on its conserva- another area of the world or on another Dinophyceae. Phycologia 45: 1-9. tion. Syst. Bot. 32: 195-199. group in the same area. Further study of Feuillet, C. and J.M. MacDougal. 2007. Zhou, S.-L., T. Funamoto, P.-H. Huang and this topic is underway. Passifloraceae, pp. 270-281. In K. Ku- Finally, it is my belief that the BDG J. Wen. 2006. Discovery of Abelia bitzki, ed. The Families and Genera of spathulata (Caprifoliaceae) in eastern program fulfills the goals of the Smithso- Vascular Plants, vol. IX. Springer, Berlin. nian Institution by gathering new informa- China. Acta Phytotaxon. Sin. 44: 467- tion and distributing it to those who use it Funk, V.A., R. Chan and A. Holland. 2007. 470. to produce checklists, floras and faunas Cymbonotus (Compositae: Arctotideae, Zhu, Y.-P., J. Wen and Z.-Y. Zhang. 2006. of a relatively unknown area, by supplying Arctotidinae): an endemic Australian Evolutionary relationships and diversifi- data for the identification and preserva- genus embedded in a southern African cation of Stachyuraceae based on se- tion of biologically diverse areas for clade. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 153: 1-8. quences of four chloroplast regions and conservation activities, by providing Funk, V.A., H. Robinson and M.O. nuclear ribosomal ITS region. Taxon 55: specimens that are used in systematic Dillon. 2007. Liabeae (Asteraceae), pp. 931-940.
Page 15 Art by Alice Tangerini
Graffenrieda irwinii Wurdack
Known only from Kaieteur Falls, Guyana, Graffenrieda irwinii is a white-flowered shrub with yellow stamens. Graffenrieda has a species-density center in the Roraima- formation tepuis, with seven Guianan species confined to north- western Guyana. Alice Tangerini illustrated G. irwinii for John Wurdack’s treatment of Melastomataceae for the Flora of the Guianas (1993).
Department of Botany PO Box 37012 NMNH, MRC-166 Washington DC 20013-7012
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