THE PLANT PRESS
Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium
New Series - Vol. 24 - No. 1 January-March 2021
Harold Robinson, prominent Smithsonian botanist, dies at 88
arold E. Robinson, Smithsonian Curator Emeritus, use of micromorphology, not extensively employed prior to passed away at the age of 88 on December 17, 2020, his work on the family, and required a large collection like Hafter suffering a major stroke earlier in the week. that in the United States National Herbarium. Robinson was born in 1932 and raised in Winchester, Vir- Robinson was also a specialist on the Dolichopodidae, a ginia. From an early age, he showed an interest in the natural group of flies, with more than 30 publications on this side world and has long balanced a focus on plants with a profound interest. Despite these broad interests in the sunflower family interest in zoology. Robinson carried out his undergraduate and flies, Robinson also kept up with work on the mosses, studies at Ohio University, where he majored in Botany and which was where he got his start in graduate school. He con- minored in Zoology. He then continued at the University of tinued to occasionally study these plants using the same Tennessee, where he earned a Master’s degree with a Botany micromorphological techniques he employed elsewhere, major and Entomology minor. Although his thesis focused on Continued on page 2 flowering plants, he also began working on mosses, which were the focus of his Ph.D. research at Duke University. Robinson graduated from Duke in 1960, again with a Botany major and a During his 49 years at the Zoology minor. After a brief stint at Wofford College, he accepted a position at the Smithsonian Institution in 1962. Smithsonian Institution, Harold During his 49 years as a Curator in the Department of Bot- any, and subsequently as a resident Curator Emeritus, Robinson Robinson published more than was incredibly productive, publishing more than 950 papers. Using comparative morphology, Robinson carried out extensive 950 papers. studies of the largest and most diverse of the plant families (Asteraceae, over 27,000 species). This work capitalized on the
Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium Robinson Continued from page 1 published 50 research papers on bryo- phytes, and continued to curate these plants in the U.S. National Herbarium. In 2010, his work was recognized with the Asa Gray award from the American Society of Plant Taxonomists.
Top: Harold Robinson, 1965. (photo by Smithsonian Institution) Bottom: Harold Robinson and Vicki Funk in October 2019. (photo by Ken Wurdack)
The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 24 - No. 1 Chair of Botany Eric Schuettpelz ([email protected])
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On the cover: Bishopanthus soliceps (Astera- ceae)in Amazonas, Peru. (photo by L.E. Bishop) See page 3 for more information about this species.
Page 2 Wh en Harold Robinson de scribed the monospecific Bishopanthus (Asteraceae) in 1983 (Phytologia 54: 63), he did so after receiving the collection shortly before publishing his review of the tribe Liabeae, and he did so without including an illustration of the species B. soliceps. Fa st-forward to 2013, Robinson with Vicki Fu nk and Alice Tang erini published an article (PhytoKeys 30: 65-73) that included both an illustration by Tangerini (above) and a field photograph of the spec ies by collector L.E. Bi shop (front page). The spec ies has not been found since its original discovery in 1983 in Amazonas, Peru, in the mountains behind Ti ngo at 6,500 ft. Tang erini drew the spec ies by re surrecting the fragments of the de stroyed type in wh ich all plant fragments were cont ained in a fragment folder.
Page 3 Reflections and memories of Harold Robinson
Harold Robinson left quite an impres- sion on all of those who met him. The De- I first met Harold Robinson in 1977 According to Billie Turner, professor of partment of Botany received many or 1978 when the professor at Duke Uni- Botany and systematist specializing in messages expressing sympathy and con- versity teaching the Bryology class I took Asteraceae, Harold was the architect of a dolences upon his passing. Here are a just invited him to meet our class. Lewis E. crazy scheme to reorder the species-rich a few reflections of our colleague and Anderson, who had been Harold’s disser- Eupatorieae (Asteraceae). As I recall, Bil- friend. tation advisor, was the professor and the lie kept assigning his students projects to class was wonderful, a combination of revise different groups of Eupatorieae Bryophyte taxonomy and field work. We and I always thought it was part of an ef- wandered all over the southeastern U.S. fort by Billie to discredit Harold the up- Back in the 1970s, friend and free- collecting mosses and then identifying start Bryologist turned Synantherologist. lance contract illustrator Mary them in the lab. I cannot recall why Ha- I was not especially interested in Astera- Monsma and I decided to have a sur- rold was visiting Duke, but Lewis set up ceae, so I never became heavily invested prise birthday party for Harold. For the introduction with a few stories. The in the debate, which ultimately Harold some reason we thought it was his 50th first was that he took exception to the won. His application of micromorpho- birthday so we alerted some of the way Harold described a new genus of logical techniques common to Bryology staff that this was planned and held in moss in his honor. Bryoandersonia H. to the study of Asteraceae was rev- NMNH Room W520 where Mary Rob. was described as forming “jula- olutionary and proved illuminating. worked. We had a cake made that ceous” branches, which apparently was a Arriving in DC in early 1992, I be- said, “Happy 50th Birthday”, and had sly dig at Lewis who had been over- came a professional colleague of Harold other foodie items and plates all ar- weight. It took me a long time to appreci- and grew quite fond of him. We, as did ranged on the table. ate that julaceous means resembling an many others, chatted most days and the We had to decide how to have Ha- ament or catkin and is not technically a subjects were all sorts of things Botanical rold come to the room since he synonym for fat. The second story was and otherwise. Yes, some of them were wouldn’t come unless there was a rea- that Harold could be quirky. For some stories about Lewis and others Billie. Ha- son to do so. Harold had placed a reason when a student at Duke he de- rold told me that he remembered his plant in the window next to Mary’s cided not to speak, and according to visit to the class that Lewis taught, but he drawing table and asked Mary to Lewis it was months (or longer) that Ha- did not remember me. He laughed his watch to see if it began to exude latex rold remained silent. well-known Harold laugh when I told and if it did to summon him right After getting a M.A. at the University him Lewis took exception to being called away. Mary reluctantly went to his of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I then julaceous. room to ask him to come to W520 to moved to the University of Texas at Aus- check it. When Harold appeared in – Laurence J. Dorr tin. There I met another side of Harold. the doorway, we all exclaimed “Happy Birthday Harold!”. He realized the plant was a false bribe to have him come and said to Mary, “You, of all people!” and then saw that we had added a year to his age on the birth- day cake so he madly stomped out and went down the hall. We followed him down the hall with the cake in our hands, but he was too annoyed with us to partake in the celebration. We ended up eating it ourselves. – Alice Tangerini
Harold Robinson with NMNH intern Abby Moore, 2003. (photo by Smitsonian Institution) Page 4 I have so many fond memories of Harold coming by to chat in “his” chair about anything and everything - he seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of just about anything we chatted about. I couldn’t help but in- dulge the opportunity to chat with him, pick his brain, and make jokes. When I first started my postdoc and was living in Fairfax, Virginia, I often tried the patience of my fellow carpool mates who would arrive and be wait- ing for me to finish conversing with Harold before leaving. I’ve been working on an NSF grant proposal for the African and Malagasy Vernonieae - a number of which Ha- rold and Vicki had begun to revise. As such I had been corresponding with Harold – particularly on another new genus of Compositae from Madagas- car... but admittedly not as often as I wish. I had hoped to have been able to visit a few times this year to work with Harold on these – with a large collec- tion from Vicki and my 2016 trip to Madagascar and another large collec- tion from Madagascar last December (these are in a box in Carol’s office until the herbarium opens back up from the COVID pandemic). Harold was a great teacher for those who would ask (sometimes with a bit of persistence) and always had a humble answer. His replies were often pref- aced with “well, this is how I see things, but who knows if they’ll stay that way.” – Morgan Gostel
Top: Harold Robinson with Vicki Funk, Taylor Quedensley, Mauricio Bonifacino, and Mauricio Diazgranados. (photo by Smithsonian Institution) Bottom: Asa Gray awardees Vicki Funk, Harold Robinson, and Warren Wagner in 2018. (photo by Carol Kelloff)
Page 5 I was Harold’s timekeeper while he was still working full time. As with all federal employees, if indi- viduals had more than 240 hours of annual leave employees are encour- aged to use their leave before the end of the calendar year or lose it. I smile about how Harold handled that situation with his time because almost every year he would have ex- cess leave. Harold’s solution – sub- mit his leave request to use up those hours and still come into the office because he just didn’t want to stay home. I guess we were his family. More recently it was Harold’s habit to stop by my office after look- ing in his mailbox. He would always say, “well, I may as well stop by to visit for a minute while I am down here” and sit down in front of my desk to talk. His mind was so sharp as he would discuss American his- tory and the genealogy of his family. If I wasn’t busy, he would spend ten or fifteen minutes with me discus- sing many topics. When the phone rang or if someone would walk in for work related things, he would wander quietly away to return another day. – Mary Ann Apicelli
Top: National Museum of Natural History Director Kirk Johnson thanks Harold Robinson and Vicki Funk for a gift establishing an endowment toward research awards to people studying the Compositae collection, in 2015. (photo by Smithsonian Institution) Middle: Harold Robinson with Raymund Chan. (photo by Carol Kelloff) Bottom: Harold Robinson with Mauricio Bonifacino, Bertil Nordenstam, and Vicki Funk. (photo by Smithsonian Institution)
Page 6 When I first came to the U.S. Na- The most brilliant person I ever tional Herbarium Harold was a fast personally had the chance to meet. friend. He had seemingly endless – Charles Zartman and obscure anecdotes, knowledge, and wisdom, and I had open ears. Our offices were next to each other, and he confessed that there used to This is a huge loss. I only met Ha- will be an important addition to the be a window gap between the two, rold a few times, but he graciously cor- NMNH Diptera collection. but it was filled because there were responded and answered many I remember the amazing collecting complaints of his loud and frequent questions via email. I smile when his stories he told which he recalled in vivid cussing. Not a day was dull with Ha- work on Dolichopodidae is described detail (30-40 years later). I regret not rold next door, and I am grateful for as a “side interest”, given his enormous recording these stories that were full of all that he shared of his knowledge contributions. But it was a side project, personal, historical and biological in- and friendship, not to mention his and a testament to how remarkable he sight. I told him that he should write an unwavering dedication to science was. His work on micro-dolichopo- autobiography, but he just laughed (his and the pursuit of knowledge. He in- dids remains a huge inspiration for characteristic laugh). Selfishly, I hope he spired me to look for truth, to have me. He kept specimens in his office - did. It was an existence well spent. patience and a steady gaze, to work these were of interest to him and thus with purpose, to practice light- – Justin Runyon hearted hijinks, and to indulge in curiosity. – Julia Beros
Harold Robinson and Ken Wurdack at the 2009 Harold Robinson and Mauricio Bonifacino Smithsonian Botanical Symposium during a in May 2008. (photo by Carol Kelloff) reception at the U.S. Botanic Garden. (photo by Leslie Brothers)
Page 7 Robert Ireland (1932–2020) By Robin Everly, Jennifer Doubt, and Linda the position of Curator of Bryophytes at search Botanist Emeritus, who passed Ley the National Museum of Natural Sciences away in December 2020, in Arlington, Vir- Robert “Bob” Root Ireland (1932– (now the Canadian Museum of Nature) in ginia. 2020) was a longtime Research Associate Ottawa, Ontario, which was previously In addition to contributing taxonomic at the U.S. National Herbarium (US), De- held by bryologist Howard Crum. From treatments to major floras such as theMoss partment of Botany, Smithsonian Institu- 1991 to 1994 his title was Research Scien- Flora of Mexico, the Moss Flora of Central tion, in Washington, D.C. He died on tist, Bryophytes. During his tenure at the America, the Moss Flora of China and the December 8, 2020, in Ottawa, Ontario, Ca- Canadian Museum of Nature, Ireland, with Bryophyte Flora of North America, Ireland nada, at the age of 88. Ireland was pre- his active program of field work and many authored or co-authored 85 papers and ceded in death by his wife, Ellen, who died bryological connections—not to mention books, including the Moss Flora of the in 1996, and he is survived by two sons, Ed his strong curatorial focus—expanded the Maritime Provinces. Published in 1982, the and Joe. size of the Bryophyte Herbarium (CANM) clear keys to the species, full generic key, Born in Kingman, Kansas, on Septem- to approximately 250,000 specimens, fo- and comprehensive glossary of this latter ber 25, 1932, Ireland received his B.A. cusing primarily on Canadian bryophytes. work make it a contemporary favorite that (1956) and M.A. (1957) from the Univer- Alongside his own research at the National is highly valued by bryologists. Many of its sity of Kansas. Upon graduating, he was Museum, Ireland supported many students illustrations were republished, with Ire- hired by Conrad V. Morton of the Smith- and enthusiasts in the exploration of bryo- land’s support, in J. Faubert’s three-volume sonian Institution as ‘Herbarium Aid in phytes, inspiring great esteem in the Cana- Flore des Bryophytes du Quebec-Labrador Cryptogams’, and one year later he was dian botanical community for his (2012–2014). promoted to Assistant Curator of Bryo- kindness, professionalism, and expertise. Ireland’s research bibliography can be phytes. He remained at the Smithsonian Ireland was a Research Associate at the found in the Smithsonian Research Online until 1962 when he relocated to Seattle to Missouri Botanical Garden beginning in database
Robert Ireland at work in the herbarium at the Canada Museum of Nature in 1972.
Page 8 Fake flowers, real news: a new plant-fungus association in Guyana
Fungi exploit their environment and interact with plants in a myriad of complex and sometimes devastating ways – from symbiotic associations in lichens, endo- phytes, and mycorrhizae, to wood decayers and parasites causing crop diseases. One of their most remarkable and rare life-history strategies is floral mimicry, where a para- sitic fungus induces flower-like structures. These “false flowers” or pseudoflowers usually are infected leaves that mimic the look, smell, and rewards (a sugary fungal exudate) of real flowers to attract insects which then disperse the fungal spores to other plants for new infections and to ef- fect outcrossing. The best-known systems involve rust fungi and diverse hosts, in- cluding Puccinea + Boechera (Brassica- ceae), Uromyces + Euphorbia (Euphor- biaceae), and Molinilia + Vaccinium (Eri- caceae). In a pair of recent papers (Laraba et al., Mycologia 112: 39–51, 2020; Laraba et al., Xyris surinamensis inflorescences comparing similar flowers Fungal Genet. Biol. 144: 103466, 2020), (left) and fungal pseudoflowers (right). (image by Ken Wurdack) Smithsonian Department of Botany scien- tist Ken Wurdack and mycological col- been sparingly noted in the Xyris system- such as: How did this complex mimicry laborators at the U.S. Department of atics literature and incidentally collected evolve and how is it maintained despite af- Agriculture and Purdue University de- with plant specimens. Wurdack surveyed fecting host fertility? Why is it so host-spe- scribe a novel neotropical plant-fungus as- Xyris specimens in the U.S. National Her- cific? How does a disease that affects plant sociation between yellow-eyed grasses barium (US as well as MO and NY) and fertility coexist with its host? The studies of (Xyris spp.; Xyridaceae) and a new pseudo- discovered pseudoflowers on 20 historical Laraba et al. are testament to new surprises flower-producing species of parasitic fun- collections dating back to 1919, which en- coming from basic tropical biodiversity re- gus. This research was begun during compassed only four Xyris species (of 250+ search. BDG-sponsored (Biological Diversity of worldwide) in the Guiana Shield region of the Guiana Shield Program) fieldwork by Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. Wurdack, who in 2006 encountered an In the research of Laraba et al., a fun- odd fungus on inflorescences ofXyris suri- gus was cultured from the Xyris pseudo- namensis in the savannas above Kaieteur flowers that the authors newly describe as Falls in the Pakaraima Mountains of west- Fusarium xyrophilum I. Laraba, K. Wur- ern Guyana. Wurdack’s field studies were dack, Aime & O’Donnell, and use molecu- expanded during plant collecting expedi- lar phylogenetic analyses to discover its tions in 2010 and 2012 (see The Plant Press closest relatives are surprisingly from Af- 14(1): 1, 9–11, 2011; 16(1): 8–10, 2013) rica. The fungus was further characterized that explored other savannas in this region using modern methods to determine its of the Guiana Shield known for tepuis genome, sexual reproductive mode, and (table-top mountains) and high biodiver- secondary metabolites. Those results paint sity. The savannas typically form on thin, a detailed picture of the life history of a sandy soils over sandstone rock outcrops parasitic fungus that forms unique pseu- in the uplands (300–900 m) between doflowers made entirely of fungal tissue, mountain peaks, and are rich in endemic can infect all parts of its Xyris host, can Xyridaceae. The fungus mimics the flowers manipulate host growth through the pro- duction of phytohormones, can produce of Xyris with yellow-orange petaloid fungal Savanna along the Kako River in the Pa- mycotoxins for defense, and can produce tissue that slowly grows to envelope an in- karaima Mountains of Guyana with mixed pigments and volatiles that are known to florescence, and apparently fools visiting Xyris species and fungal pseudoflowers on attract insects. Many evolutionary and small bees which otherwise seek to collect X. surinamensis (indicated with arrows). ecological questions remain unanswered, pollen. These fungal pseudoflowers had (photo by Ken Wurdack)
Page 9 America’s crop cousins are numerous, imperiled, and more needed than ever Wild cranberries have a sanctuary in tural Research Service (USDA ARS), Na- limitations such as water availability West Virginia and wild peppers have a tional Laboratory for Genetic Resources worsen,” Khoury said. “But unless we take protected area on Arizona’s border with Preservation. urgent action to better safeguard these Mexico. But many hundreds of other crop Wild relatives of crops are the ancestors native plants, many will probably dis- wild relatives native to the United States – and other closely related plant species of appear.” including those related to apples, hops, the staples on our dinner tables. Having Wild plants are constantly under pres- grapes, pumpkins and sunflowers, to men- evolved to survive climate extremes, with- sure as their natural habitats are disturbed tion but a few – do not have designated stand pests and diseases, and to thrive in a or destroyed, and as invasive species and conservation areas or, even when war- wide variety of environmental conditions, climate change make their native homes ranted, protected status. these plants have characteristics that scien- more difficult to thrive in. Many crop wild The plight of America’s crop wild rel- tists can use to breed hardier, more pro- relatives, such as wild peppers, are also atives is an overlooked subtheme in the era ductive crops. Many native species have harvested by people, presenting a unique of human-driven biodiversity loss. A new already yielded great value, for instance, challenge for conservationists to ensure study in Proceedings of the National wild sunflowers, which provide up to $400 both that locals have access to plants of Academy of Sciences
Page 10 highly threatened include a salt-tolerant and Colorado State University, and co-lead wild relatives, which occur not only in the sunflower native to a few locations in New author. “We’ve compared this information wilderness but also in local parks, neigh- Mexico and Texas, a wild pumpkin occur- with the locations of the thousands of nat- borhoods, and peoples’ back yards. “Bota- ring only in south-central Florida, and a ural protected areas in the U.S. to show- nical gardens and other organizations wild rice inhabiting one small stretch of case where habitat conservation of these interested in crop wild relatives could play the San Marcos River in Texas. species is currently occurring and where a pivotal role in introducing these plants to “The USDA ARS has prioritized col- the gaps in protection need to be filled.” people, communicating their value and lecting and safeguarding crop wild relative Protecting and making sure that these plight, and better connecting the concepts species within the United States. Our proj- useful plants are available to present and of food security, agricultural livelihoods ect helps provide the information needed future generations requires not only con- and services provided by nature for the to make this happen,” said Stephanie servation action but also raising awareness. public,” Khoury said. Greene, a USDA ARS Supervisory Plant Hobbyists, gardeners, and nature lovers of Physiologist and study co-author. “Along all ages can get in on the action. A good with conservation practitioners in botani- way to start is with a visit to one of the cal gardens, land management agencies, countries’ hundreds of botanical gardens, and other interested organizations, USDA which in combination boast some 120 mil- ARS scientists will be taking these findings lion visitors in the U.S. during a typical forward to collect these important genetic year. resources.” Botanical gardens are ramping up their The work ahead is substantial. Scien- efforts to inform the public about crop tists need to collect plants in the field, in- crease the capacity of conservation ForestGEO celebrates 30th anniversary facilities to care for the species for the long As 2020 came to a close, the Forest with a diameter at breast height or DBH term, and study the plants so that infor- Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) (the standard for measuring trees) equal to mation on their potential to support agri- marked three decades as a global research or greater than 1 cm in plots that are typi- culture is widely available. Dauntingly, this network with a landmark new paper pub- cally between 15 and 50 hectares. In ad- is needed against a backdrop of declining lished in Biological Conservation, “Forest- dition to contextualizing the growth and numbers of field botanists and other prac- GEO: Understanding forest diversity and evolution of the network, the new paper titioners who are essential to this work. dynamics through a global observatory authored by Stuart Davies and an inter- “Reliable information is needed to network.” The article describes the net- national team of 156 co-authors synthe- minimize gaps in the conservation of crop work’s history, methodology, contributions sizes key metrics from each plot in a wild relatives, which ultimately benefit all to forest science, future directions, and data-dense table that identifies each site’s of society,” said Anne Frances, Lead Bota- need for ongoing financial support. area, first census year, tree count, species nist at NatureServe and co-author of the What began as a single plot with a count, Fisher’s alpha, census count, el- research. “Completing and regularly up- powerful new methodology grew into a evation, mean annual temperature, and dating our understanding of which plants global network collaborating to examine mean annual precipitation. This table are at highest risk of extinction is essential the drivers of forest dynamics. Every five highlights the diversity of the ForestGEO to prioritize and guide conservation ac- years ForestGEO field crews at all 71 re- plots, and it offers a platform from which tion. This study takes a giant leap towards search sites map, measure, tag with a to consider future cross-site analyses. providing this essential information.” number, and identify to species every stem Establishing new protected areas for the species, especially in rapidly urbaniz- ing areas of the country, will be a huge challenge. Alternatively, taking advantage of existing protected areas and other open spaces where the plants grow can provide easier wins. In many places, simply ensur- ing land managers are aware of crop wild relatives on their lands would make great progress toward their conservation. In some areas of the country, the authors ac- knowledge, these wild plants are barely recognized, and may even be mistaken for weeds or invasive species. “By evaluating 600 species across the The Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) is a global network of forest research country we were able to identify geo- sites and scientists dedicated to the study of tropical, temperate, and boreal forest graphic hotspots of crop wild relative di- function and diversity. The multi-institutional network comprises 71 forest research versity,” said Daniel Carver of USDA ARS sites across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
Page 11 Researchers find new grass species in Maloti-Drakensberg area in southern Africa Adapted from an article written by Leonie Bolleurs, University of the Free State, South Africa In their search to learn more about the impact of humans and climate change on grasses in the Drakensberg Mountain Cen- tre (DMC), one of the most studied moun- tain systems in the region, a group of scientists found a new grass species, which they named Festuca drakensbergensis Sylvester, Soreng & M.Sylvester [PhytoKeys 162: 50–54, f. 1, 2. 2020] (common name unknown; herein could be designated the ‘Drakensberg Alpine Fescue’). The Maloti- Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is a transnational property spanning the bor- der between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. The team who is working on the proj- ect includes Vincent R. Clark, Head of the Anthony Mapaura (doctoral student, left) and Rob Soreng in the Afroalpine grassland Afromontane Research Unit at the Univer- of Tiffindell, below Ben McDuhui, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. (photo by sity of the Free State (UFS), Steven P. Mitsy Sylvester) Sylvester from the Nanjing Forestry Uni- Washington, DC., along with Mitsy high-elevation ecosystems as harbors of versity in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, and Sylvester and Caroline Mashau (Ph.D. unique biodiversity that require focused Robert J. Soreng from the Department of student). conservation efforts. Botany at the Smithsonian Institution in The species, discovered in February Although grasses are a dominant and March 2020, was found during exten- species that control the ecosystem function sive fieldwork by the Sylvesters and Soreng in the Afroalpine grasslands, they are the and herbarium research across the 40,000 least known of all plant species found in km2 Maloti-Drakensberg area. The DMC these ecosystems. Up until now there has has a very high endemic plant diversity, been a lack of focused research on Afroal- says Clark (fieldwork vouchers at NU, pine grasses in southern Africa. PRE, US, and more to be distributed). “We provide a taxonomic reappraisal of “It is the only mountain system in the Festuca caprina Nees complex that will [continental] Africa south of Mt. Kiliman- aid future ecological and biogeographical jaro with an alpine component,” Clark research in the DMC and allow us to better adds. The DMC has a montane sub-center understand the complexities of these eco- (below 2800 m) and an alpine sub-center systems and how to conserve and manage (2800 to 3482 m). them,” says Sylvester. Sylvester says the species was easily According to Clark, the new species recognizable during their fieldwork being contributes to the grazing and rangeland found fairly common throughout the value of the Maloti-Drakensberg. “It also Afroalpine landscape. Although at that has functional value in terms of maintain- point they only knew it to be a distinct ing ecosystem integrity and associated taxon, they realized that the species was water production landscape value in the new to science when they tried to identify area,” he says. it and compared it with other closely re- “The species seems fairly robust to lated Festuca taxa. pressures from grazing and burning, being Besides this discovery, the team also re- found in both heavily grazed areas and instated two varieties of Festuca caprina semi-pristine areas, and may prove a use- and rediscovered the overlooked F. exaris- ful species as part of a seed mix of native Festuca drakensbergensis in an Afrolpine tata E.B.Alexeev, all of them endemic to grasses for reseeding degraded Afroalpine grassland field at Tiffindell, Drakensberg the DMC. Sylvester believes that these dis- slopes and ski slopes,” mentions Sylvester Mountains. (photo by Rob Soreng) coveries highlight the importance of these regarding the benefits of this indigenous
Page 12 ecosystems to different grazing and burn- ing regimes that is being run in collabo- ration with Clark and Soreng, and M. Sylvester and C. Mashau. “While our research has uncovered in- teresting novelties and provided a greater understanding of the taxonomy of grasses from high elevation Maloti-Drakensberg, there is still much to be done with regards to taxonomic research of cool-season grasses in southern Africa,” says Sylvester. Clark supports this notion and states that there is a major need for a better ho- listic understanding of the alpine zone in the Maloti-Drakensberg, given immediate pressures from over-grazing, land-use transformation, invasive species, and cli- Steven Sylvester (left) and Rob Soreng in theDrakensberg Mountains, Afroalpine grassland, mate change. Tugela Plateau with a view of Devil’s toothpick, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa. (photo “This is because the Maloti-Drakens- by anonymous tourist using Rob Soreng’s camera) berg is the most important water tower in southern Africa, providing water for some species to the region. Drakensberg than what was documented 30 million people in three countries. As The species is very common in Lesotho at PRE (The National Herbarium, SANBI, the Maloti-Drakensberg is dominated by in Bokong Nature Reserve, Sehlabathebe Pretoria) before research was cut short due natural grasslands, understanding grass di- National Park, and Sani Pass, and at Tiffin- to the COVID-19 pandemic. versity and ecological behavior is a pri- dell and AfriSki ski resorts. Soreng believes According to Sylvester, this taxonomic mary need in the face of immediate human the species is likely to have a wider distri- research feeds into a large-scale ecological impacts and global change,” he says. bution range across the Maloti- study looking at the response of Afro alpine Discovering the hidden pollinators of Platanthera A massive community science project In order to understand how the using interval photography to capture rare members of Platanthera evolved and diver- and unknown pollinator relationships ac- sified in North America, orchid scientists ross North America has been launched by must come to know their pollinators. With scientists at Texas A&U University, with this information, researchers will not only guidance from the North American Or- be able to unravel how they came to be, chid Conservation Center (NAOCC), but will also be able to predict where they Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natu- might be now and how they might adjust ral History, and the New York Botanical to climatic and geographic changes in the Garden. The goal of the project is to dis- future. cover and more deeply understand the This project needs your help. We are evolutionary history and trajectory of one asking the dedicated and passionate or- of the most speciose groups on North chid, pollinator, and naturalist com- American orchids, Platanthera. The key to munities to go out and document their unlocking its secrets lies in part in finding observations. A strategy for pollinator ob- its pollinators. servation has been devised using interval As it stands, little is known about polli- photography and everyday digital cameras, nator relationships in North American or- in the hopes that with enough participants chids, and Platanthera is no exception. Of around the continent, even the most elu- the approximately 200 species of North sive relationships can be captured. The American orchids, just over 100 have pub- pilot study will hopefully be launched this lished records of pollination. Discoveries field season. If you are interested in partic- of orchid pollinators are important: most ipating, feel free to reach out directly or flowering plants need pollinators. Polli- visit the project website for more infor- Platanthera huronensis in Little Cotton- nators mediate reproduction, gene flow, mation. Contact Lydia Morley at Lydia. wood Canyon, Salt Lake City Utah. (photo dispersal, and in some cases even specia- [email protected], or visit the project by Lydia Morley) tion. website at https://platantherapollinators. wordpress.com/.
Page 13 Molecular techniques in focus: common misconceptions about tissue preservation for DNA
By Gabe Johnson Countless Ph.D. research botanists sin- cerely believe such misconceptions as: eth- anol immediately destroys DNA in leaf tissue collections, leaves in both fresh and spent silica gel are equally dry, desiccated tissues rehydrate in absolute ethanol, and that EDTA inhibits all deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity. Ethanol treatment of plant tissue for molecular studies is espe- cially misunderstood by researchers in re- cent times, even though it can be a useful tool to improve DNA preservation for mo- lecular studies. In this Information Age with the ability to sequence and process trillions of nucleotides of data in a single study, the capacity to isolate high quality DNAs must advance to utilize these new technologies to their fullest potential. Greater DNA quality and quantity are re- quired for many of these next-generation sequencing methods than were necessary for traditional PCR-based Sanger methods. Obtaining sequenceable DNAs from a more complete taxonomic sampling will require an equally diverse set of DNA ex- traction tools, including ethanol preserva- tion and pretreatment. Biological tissues typically undergo a “treatment” such as freezing or drying Tissue from a collard leaf, Brassica oleracea L., is preserved in 96% ethanol to preserve prior to DNA extraction. The degree to DNA. (A) Since vascular tissue contains much less DNA per unit area, the large veins 2 which this treatment preserves the nucleic are removed. (B) Leaf lamina is quickly torn into ~1 cm pieces by hand. The ruler to acid content of the leaf depends on the the right is in cm. (C) Leaf fragments very easily fit into the mouth of a 50 mL conical needs of the researcher and the logistical vial. (D) The name of the plant and collection information is written in pencil on card limitations of the field work. Such treat- stock and inserted into the vial; pencil writing does not dissolve away in ethanol. (E) ments can be as simple as allowing har- To prevent excessive evaporation or accidental spills, the cap is sealed with parafilm. vested leaves to dry in ambient conditions (F) The outside of the plastic vial is labeled with a special solvent resistant permanent (usually with poor results) or the use of marker. (G) Leaf fragments sink into the ethanol and chlorophyll leaches from tissues, one of an array of desiccants, solvents, leaving an off-white color. If the leaf fragments float and remain green after a couple buffers, or cryogens (see Funk et al., Bio- hours, cut tissue into even smaller pieces. Adding isopropanol to the ethanol can also diversity Data J. 5: e11625; 2017). While a help. (photos by Gabe Johnson) diversity of tissue treatment methods has been used to preserve DNA (i.e., Hamilton tracted directly using fresh or frozen tis- logical stress response that initiates many et al., Anal. Biochem. 49: 48-57; 1972), by sues. cellular processes related to senescence: the mid 1990’s silica gel desiccation was Just as DNA in herbarium specimens is wound formation, polyphenol oxidation, the default method for plant systematics better preserved for some lineages more and apoptosis. These cellular changes can studies (Chase et al., Taxon 40: 215-220; than others, better DNA is extracted from rapidly degrade the DNA through pro- 1991). This preservation method has many silica dried tissues for certain taxa more grammed exonuclease activity and oxi- virtues by being simple, inexpensive, non- than others. Tissue preservation media, dative stress from reactive chemical toxic, and satisfactory for most major line- dry or liquid, have a dual purpose: to pro- species used in wound defense. ages of plants from algae to angiosperms, tect the DNA within the tissue and to pre- It is a common misconception that de- as well as fungi. However, the resulting pare the tissue for homogenization and hydration can only occur in the absence of DNA quality has limitations, and in par- efficient DNA isolation. Upon separation liquids. Immersing tissue in ≥96% ethanol ticular is more fragmented than if ex- from the plant, a leaf undergoes a physio- also causes dehydration when water in the
Page 14 tissues rapidly diffuses into solution to reach equilibrium. This diffusion actually occurs faster than in air desiccated by solid media such as silica gel or calcium sulfate. While rarely used for plants, ethanol des- iccation is the preferred method of pre- serving DNA in insects; they are then stored in ≥96% ethanol at sub-freezing temperatures. Ethanol does not inherently damage DNA, and is routinely used for AWARDS & HONORS nucleic acid precipitation. It cannot be stressed more emphatically that preserving tissues with ethanol for future DNA ex- tractions is entirely different from using The National Museum of Natural and another set of five scientific papers ethanol to prevent voucher specimens History began awarding Science and three books each published in from rotting in the field. Herbarium Achievement Awards in 2003. The 2019. voucher specimens collected in remote awards recognize exceptional scien- Among the awards, Jonathan Price tropical field sites are routinely sprayed or tific publications in natural history. and Warren Wagner received rec- soaked with 50-80% ethanol. This prevents On November 18, 2020, in close con- ognition for their 2018 paper, “Origins microbial degradation of the specimen’s sultation with the museum’s Senate of of the Hawaiian flora: Phylogenies and morphological characters but poorly pre- Scientists, an interdisciplinary review biogeography reveal patterns of long- serves its DNA, especially when coupled committee recognized the outstand- distance dispersal” (J. Syst. Evol. 56(6): with subsequent high heat drying. ing work of staff scientists for five sci- 600-620; https://doi.org/10.1111/ To preserve leaf tissue with ethanol for entific papers each published in 2018 jse.12465). DNA extraction, it must be torn into small fragments to increase surface area (and bient humidity contains significantly less Regardless of how leaf tissues were ini- break the epidermis) for diffusion and im- water than a living leaf, the water available tially desiccated, subsequently treating mersed quickly into a vial of ≥95% ethanol to the cell wall polysaccharides allow them samples in ethanol is a valuable method to at a general ratio of 1 mL per 1.0 cm2 of to reform after mechanical deformation. improve DNA extractions by inactivating leaf tissue (see image on page 14). If the This wall elasticity impedes homogeniza- DNases, modifying polysaccharides to in- tissues contain considerable water, chang- tion in a bead beater and leads to reduced crease cell wall fragility, and removing ing the alcohol will keep concentrations DNA yields. In contrast, leaves fully des- many secondary metabolites. DNAs from high and can enable better preservation, as iccated in ethanol do not regain the same silica dried material treated with ethanol is also employed with insects. Preserved elasticity after equilibrating to ambient hu- before extraction are the same quality and samples should be kept in the dark; even midity. quantity as those preserved in ethanol the emissions of fluorescent office lights Just as ethanol desiccation renders (Akindele et al., Conserv. Genet. Resour. 3: can degrade the DNA in leaf samples in as plant and fungal cell walls permanently 409–411; 2011). Therefore, while ethanol little as a week. brittle, it also irreversibly inactivates the desiccation is not necessarily a replace- Ethanol desiccation confers irreversible plant cell’s endogenous deoxyribonu- ment for silica gel, it is a valuable accessory changes to the elasticity of the plant cell cleases, DNases (Linke et al., BioTechniques to be used with the various reagents and wall (i.e., makes it brittle) and facilitates 49: 655-657; 2010). Contrary to popular tools needed to best preserve the DNA of a the removal of secondary chemicals from belief, many families of nuclease enzymes particular organism in a certain location the tissue. In contrast, after silica gel dry- are cofactor-independent and digest DNA and quantity. ing, the leaf tissue contains all native sub- in the absence of divalent cations such as Aside from its obvious limitations as a stances and its cell walls regain elasticity Mg+2 and Ca+2. Since the concentrations flammable liquid, ethanol is an invaluable upon rehydration. Just because a leaf was and activity of cofactor independent nu- resource for preserving plant nucleic acids dried once in silica gel does not mean it cleases vary among lineages of plants, in situ. It is unfortunate that misconcep- stays at an optimal low humidity forever in these are not problematic for all plant sys- tions about its effect on plant collections a plastic bag. After the initial desiccation tematists, which leads to common misun- have prevented its use more broadly in in silica gel, water vapor slowly seeps derstandings about them. Such DNases phylogenetic research. Using evidence- through the polyethylene container and can quickly fragment in the DNA in the based research to demystify many long- into the desiccant and tissue. Eventually, lysis buffer, even if it contains chelators like held assumptions about collecting tissues the silica gel will become fully hydrated, EDTA. While nucleases in silica desiccated for DNA extraction, molecular system- and if not replaced, the leaf tissue will leaves immediately regain their function atists can design better-informed collec- equilibrate with the humidity of the room. upon rehydration, as little as briefly grind- tion strategies to obtain high quality DNAs Buildings are generally kept at 40-60% ing tissue in ethanol can effectively inacti- from taxa long thought to be impossible to relative humidity while a silica desiccator vate all DNase activity (Adams et al., Mol. sequence. is about 30%. Although leaf tissue at am- Ecol. 8: 681–684; 1999).
Page 15 János Xántus, a 19th century collector
By Julia Beros Born in Hungary in 1825, Xántus fin- “There are thousands and thousands of ished his secondary schooling and ways to dig out a little plant, even if one promptly pursued a legal career. In 1848, has to resort to digging with his own nails,” the Hungarian Revolution spurred war such is the acumen of János Xántus, rather and Xántus at age 23, equipped with carto- John Xantus, or perhaps Louis Vesey, or graphic skills, became a chief lieutenant. potentially and more accurately, J. Xántus He was captured and sent to Austria to be de Vesey. A man enrobed by myth and lore enlisted in the army there, but was soon Xántus was a famed Hungarian lawyer, freed and while fleeing was arrested again then Lieutenant and then exile, but fore- in Prague, where he somehow escaped and most a self-taught collector of plants and absconded to the United States. Arriving animals who contributed to the founda- with seven dollars, Xántus made a career tions of the Smithsonian Institution and of odd jobs, visiting different cities and the namesake to many novel species. De- leaving “after picking conflicts” with locals, pending on where you look for infor- and then enlisted in the U.S. army where mation he is described as a zoologist, or an his unlikely career in science began. Enlist- ornithologist, a naturalist, but never de- ing under the name “Louis Vesey” his first fined as a botanist. In arecent publication station was at Fort Riley in Kansas where in Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Hung. (111: 145- he met William Alexander Hammond, 177; 2019) by Daniel Pifkó of the Hungar- military physician and neurologist who ian Natural History Museum’s Botany made a hobby of collecting biological spe- Holotype of Mimosa xanti (Fabaceae) Department, researchers endured a mas- cimens for naturalist friend Spencer Ful- collected in Cape San Lucas, Mexico by sive undertaking of finding and accurately lerton Baird (Smithsonian Curator who János Xántus between August 1859 and cataloging Xántus’ early plant collections served as Assistant Secretary and then as nd January 1860. from the 1850s in North America, which the Smithsonian Institution’s 2 Secretary were sent largely unidentified and with from 1878-87). The serendipity of this first jumbled data, ultimately delivering clarity assignment for Xántus gave him not only sonal enthusiasm and curiosity for natural- and placing his collections in context with opportunity and motivation to collect bio- ism motivated him to learn on his own its greater and mythic history. logical specimens but training and men- time reading guide books and correspon- torship from one of the world’s leading ding with Baird when possible. Through- naturalists of the time as well. As one of out his travels and time collecting in North Baird’s goals was to make the natural his- America, legend says that Xántus fathered tory collections more robust he was happy multiple children in a small tribe in the to enlist more collectors (keeping a vast list Baja California Peninsula of Mexico while of contacts around the continent to solicit also acting as a “diplomat” to so-called for collecting and sending material) and local despots. Despite this unconfirmed continue building the nation’s collections gallivanting, he sent back 122 different of a practically unstudied flora, essentially flowering plants, 17 of which were pre- from scratch. viously undescribed. He wrote frequently Xántus’ time with the army took him to to his mother during his time in North Fort Tejon, California as a paramedic and, America, often seasoning his letters with to the displeasure of his superiors, he con- “imaginary achievements.” It is noted that tinued collecting both plants and animals his murky history is in part a result of both in his free-time for Baird. He soon left the the lack of corroborated written history army and joined the U.S. Coast Survey in surrounding Xántus and his fabled tales Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Again, not on the regaled to his mother that were often un- greatest terms with his superiors, he con- substantiated but retold and republished as tinued collecting and sending material to some of the few records of his time collect- Baird. Despite a lack of resources, experi- ing on the continent. His scientific ence and knowledge in the field, and often achievements, howerver, are certainly not necessary tools, Xántus always found a way imagined. to procure specimens and preserve them Among his collections from California Isotype of Clarkia xantiana (Onagraceae) as safely as possible with detailed infor- and Baja, Xántus sent 245 species of flow- collected in the vicinity Fort Tejon, mation about location in his notebook, ering plants. This does not include the sea California by János Xántus between 1857 and with duplicates, often covering most of stars and shellfish, the birds, the 200 mam- and 1858. the important taxa in each region. His per- mals, the sloshing jars of fish, the insects,
Page 16 the bird’s nests, and any reptile that hap- ding to other numbers corresponding to il- part of a greater mission: “the increase and pened to cross his path. All of this mate- legible five-syllable scribbles, the obscure diffusion of knowledge.” rial, comprising thousands of specimens, is letter or two with a one-word clue about a Over 300 plant specimens collected by part of the first systematic study of North specimen’s location tucked away between Xántus can be viewed in the Smithsonian’s American ecologies. His contributions are drying plants or bookmarking a page in a online Botany Specimen Catalog
Page 17 PUBLICATIONS
Ackerfield, J.R., D.J. Keil, W.C. Hodgson, M.P. Simmons, S.D. Fehlberg and V.A. Funk. 2020. Thistle be a mess: Untangling the taxonomy of Cirsium (Cardueae: Com- positae) in North America. J. Syst. Evol. 58(6): 881-912. https://doi.org/10.1111/ jse.12692 Appelhans, M.S., C. Paetzold, K.R. Wood and W.L. Wagner. 2020. RADseq resolves the phylogeny of Hawaiian Myrsine (Prim- ulaceae) and provides evidence for hybrid- ization. J. Syst. Evol. 58(6): 823-840. https: //doi.org/10.1111/jse.12668 Carvalho-Sobrinho, J., A.C. da Mota and L.J. Dorr. 2020. A new species of Eriotheca (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) from coastal areas in northeastern Brazil. PhytoKeys 167: 31-43. http://doi.org/10.3897/phyto- AWARDS & HONORS keys.167.57840 Dal Forno, M., J.D. Lawrey, M. Sikaroodi, P.M. Gillevet, E. Schuettpelz and R. Lück- David Kenfack elected as a Fellow to the ing. 2020. Extensive photobiont sharing in African Academy of Sciences a rapidly radiating cyanolichen clade. Mol. Ecol. http://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15700 David Kenfack, ForestGEO staff Missouri-St. Louis. Upon obtaining his Davies, S.J., I. Abiem, K. Abu Salim, S. scientist, has been elected as a Fellow to degree in 2008, he began a post-docto- Aguilar, D. Allen, A. Alonso, et al. 2021. the African Academy of Sciences. This ral fellowship at the University of ForestGEO: Understanding forest diversity distinguished membership recognizes Michigan, Ann Arbor (2008-2009). Be- and dynamics through a global observa- African scientists who have “attained tween 2010 and 2012 he served as a re- tory network. Biol. Conserv. 253: 108907. the highest level of excellence in their search fellow at Harvard University’s https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.1089 scientific field and have made signifi- Arnold Arboretum, and in 2012 he was 07 cant contributions to the advancement hired as the Africa Program coordi- of science regionally and globally.” nator for the ForestGEO network. In Dorr, L.J. and K.J. Wurdack. 2020. Indo- Begun in 1986, there are now more 2016 he became a Smithsonian Tropi- Asian Eriolaena expanded to include two than 400 Fellows in the African cal Research Institute staff scientist. Malagasy genera, and other generic re- Academy of Sciences. Kenfack describes his work saying, alignments based on molecular phyloge- Kenfack is currently the coordinator “I use a combination of morphological, netics of Dombeyoideae (Malvaceae). of ForestGEO’s Africa Program and is a molecular, ecological and spatial data Taxon. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12370 principal investigator of the Korup to explore plant groups with challeng- Duan, L., AJ Harris, L.Y. Mao, Z.R. Zhang, (Cameroon), Mpala (Kenya), and Ngel ing taxonomy to understand their evo- E. Arslan, K. Ertuğrul, P.K. Loc, H. Nyaki (Nigeria) plots. lutionary history and biogeography.” Hayashi, J. Wen and H.F. Chen. 2020. He was born in Bafou, Cameroon He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed Chloroplast phylogenomics and biogeog- and completed both his undergraduate publications. raphy of liquorice (Leguminosae: Gly- and graduate studies at the University The African Academy of Sciences’ cyrrhiza), pp.1-35. In G.Q. Chen, ed., of Yaoundé (1984-1995). In 1996, he announcement of its 2019 class of fel- Prime Archives in Plant Sciences. Vide Leaf, was hired as a field manager for the lows has been posted at https://www. Hyderabad, India. first census of the Korup 50-ha plot. In aasciences.africa/news/african- 2002, he moved to the United States to academy-sciences-announces-election- Gurgel, C.F.D., L.P. Soares, J.N. Norris, pursue a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution 2019-fellows. M.T. Fujii, W.E. Schmidt and S. Fredericq. and Systematics from the University of 2020. Molecular systematics of Crassiphy- cus and Hydropuntia (Gracilariales, Rho- dophyta) with the description of poorly
Page 18 known taxa in the Western Atlantic Ocean. gaert, D.S. Boyd, P. Boeckx, D.F.R.P. Burs- Soreng, R.J., S.P. Sylvester, M.D.P.V. Eur. J. Phycol. http://doi.org/10.1080/ lem, R. Chazdon, D.B. Clark, D. Coomes, Sylvester and V.R. Clark. 2020. New 09670262.2020.1814424 L. Duncanson, S. Hancock, R. Hill, C. records and key to Poa (Pooideae, Poa- Hopkinson, E. Kearsley, J.R. Kellner, D. ceae) from the Flora of Southern Africa re- Knope, M.L., V.A. Funk, M.A. Johnson, Kenfack, N. Labrière, S.L. Lewis, D. Minor, gion and notes on taxa including a W.L. Wagner, E.M. Datlof, G. Johnson, H. Memiaghe, A. Monteagudo, R. Nilus, diclinous breeding system in Poa binata. D.J. Crawford, J.M. Bonifacino, C.W. Mor- M. O’Brien, O.L. Phillips, J. Poulsen, H. PhytoKeys 165: 27-50. http://doi.org/ den, D.H. Lorence, K.R. Wood, J.Y. Meyer Tang, H. Verbeeck and R. Dubayah. 2020. 10.3897/phytokeys.165.55948 and S. Carlquist. 2020. Dispersal and adap- Evaluating the potential of full-waveform tive radiation of Bidens (Compositae) ac- lidar for mapping pan-tropical tree species Sylvester, S.P., R.J. Soreng, M.D.P.V. ross the remote archipelagoes of Polynesia. richness. Global Ecol. Biogeogr. 29(10): Sylvester and V.R. Clark. 2020. Festuca J. Syst. Evol. 58(6): 805-822. https://doi. 1799-1816. https://doi.org/10.1111/ drakensbergensis (Poaceae): A common org/10.1111/jse.12704 geb.13158 new species in the F. caprina complex from the Drakensberg Mountain Centre of Flo- Laraba, I., H-S. Kim, R.H. Proctor, M. Bus- Peterson, P.M., H.A. Hosni and E.K. ristic Endemism, southern Africa, with key man, K. O’Donnell, F.C. Felker, M.C. Shamo. 2020. A key to the grasses (Poa- and notes on taxa in the complex including Aime, R.A. Koch and K.J. Wurdack. 2020. ceae) of Egypt. Webbia 75(2): 329-353. the overlooked F. exaristata. PhytoKeys Fusarium xyrophilum, sp. nov., a member http://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-9004 162: 45-69. http://doi.org/10.3897/ of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex phytokeys.162.55550 recovered from pseudoflowers on yellow- Peterson, P.M., K. Romaschenko and Y. eyed grass (Xyris spp.) from Guyana. My- Herrera Arrieta. 2020. A phylogeny of the Wang, H.X., M.J. Moore, R.L. Barrett, S. cologia 112: 39–51. https://doi.org/10. Hubbardochloinae including Tetrachaete Landrein, S. Sakaguchi, M. Maki, J. Wen 1080/00275514.2019.1668991 (Cynodonteaea: Chloridoideae: Poaceae). and H.F. Wang. 2020. Plastome phyloge- Phytoneuron 2020-81: 1-13. http://www. nomic insights into the Sino‐Japanese Laraba, I., S.P. McCormick, M.M. Vaug- phytoneuron.net/2020Phytoneuron/81Phy biogeography of Diabelia (Caprifoliaceae). han, R.H. Proctor, M. Busman, M. Appell, toN-HubbardochloinaePhylogeny.pdf J. Syst. Evol. 58(6): 972-987. https://doi. K. O’Donnell, F.C. Felker, M.C. Aime and org/10.1111/jse.12560 K.J. Wurdack. 2020. Pseudoflowers pro- Peterson, P.M., S.P. Sylvester, K. Ro- duced by Fusarium xyrophilum on yellow- maschenko, R.J. Soreng, P. Barberá, A. Wen, J. and W.L. Wagner. 2020. Collec- eyed grass (Xyris spp.) in Guyana: a novel Quintanar and C. Aedo. 2020. A phy- tions‐based systematics and biogeography floral mimicry system? Fungal Genet. Biol. logeny of species near Agrostis supporting in the 21st century: A tribute to Dr. Vicki 144: 103466. https://doi.org/10.1016/ the recognition of two new genera, Agros- Funk. J. Syst. Evol. 58(6): 743-750. https: j.fgb.2020.103466 tula and Alpagrostis (Poaceae, Pooideae, //doi.org/10.1111/jse.12707 Agrostidinae) from Europe. PhytoKeys Lichter‐Marck, I.H., W.A. Freyman, C.M. 167: 57-82. http://doi.org/10.3897/phyto- Willert, M.S., C.A.M. France, B.L. Brooks, Siniscalchi, J.R. Mandel, A. Castro‐Castro, keys.167.55171 C.C. Baldwin and M.E. Hay. 2020. Effects G. Johnson and B.G. Baldwin. 2020. 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Page 19 ART BY ALICE TANGERINI
Stachycephalum asplundii H.Rob. & Tangerini
When Alice Tangerini was examining plant specimens for a series of Stachycephalum (Asteraceae) illustrations in 2006, she discovered some interesting features of the achene on a particular specimen. Her observations did not agree with what Harold Robinson had asked her to draw. Robinson concluded that the species that Tangerini was drawing was a new species. To give credit where credit is due, Robinson added Tangerini’s name as plant author with his. Stachycephalum asplundii H.Rob. & Tangerini is published in Flora of Ecuador 77(2): 125- 127; fig. 55) (2006). The species is found in the Ecuadorian province of Napo, in the Rio Cosanga valley.
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