Oxford Plant

Systematics With news from Oxford University Herbaria (OXF and FHO), Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford

OPS 9 January 2002

Contents

Editorial 4 mm Robert Scotland ...... 2

News items ...... 3 B C Student progress ...... 3 Timothy Waters Alex Wortley

A Abstracts of systematic theses submitted in 2001 ...... 4 1 mm Jonathan Bennett Elizabeth Moylan Julian Starr D 2001 publications ...... 5

Expeditions and visits ...... 5 4 mm 2 cm Refurbishment of Oxford University Herbaria Stephen A. Harris ...... 6

Sibthorp Medal awarded Roger Mills ...... 8

E F G Oxford, Greek Revival and John Sibthorp H. Walter Lack ...... 8 H

2 mm Three days plant collecting in Eastern Bolivia 2 mm John Wood ...... 10 4 mm I Evergreen forest flora of Malawi K L J Book Review Stuart Cable ...... 12

Herbaria A. Habit. B. Flower section. C. Gynoecium. D. Ovary pubescence. E. Bract. F. Visitors ...... 13 Bracteole. G. Calyx. H. Upper leaf surface. I. Lower leaf surface. J. Capsule. K. Dry seed. L. Seed after wetting. Fielding-Druce (OXF) ...... 13 Daubeny (FHO) ...... 14 Hemigraphis hirsutissima Merr. is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is easily recognised by its violet flowers subtended by Tropical forest plant field guide project hairy bracteoles and bracts. It was recollected from Benguet Province, William Hawthorne ...... 14 Luzon by Elizabeth Moylan, Ernesto Reynoso & Raymond Fuentes in February 1999 and is one of eighteen species of Hemigraphis found in BRAHMS the Philippines (see page 4). Denis Filer ...... 15

omy raise fundamental issues about the The late Colin Patterson of the Natural Editorial nature of science. Much scientific research History Museum (London) gave oral is driven by new technological innovations, evidence to the House of Lords Select cutting edge-breakthroughs and a Popperian Committee in 1992 and stated that the two At a time when taxonomy and herbarium hypothesis-testing approach. The global most important questions for a systematist based activities have all but disappeared in research project to complete the species faced with a specimen of an organism are the university sector in the UK, it has been level inventory, at some level of detail, is what is it and where does it fit on the very exciting witnessing the refurbishment neither a hypothesis nor does it demand evolutionary tree or classification? of our Daubeny Herbarium this past cutting edge breakthroughs or new Similarly, the Systematics Agenda 2000 summer. This phase of refurbishment technological advances. Therefore, in the initiative state that the research priorities represents an ongoing financial and UK, and in contrast to funding bodies in the over the next 25 years are to answer the structural commitment to whole organism United States, inventory taxonomy is still following questions: systematics within the Department of Plant mistakenly perceived as old fashioned, and Sciences but also provides an exciting peripheral to the main science agenda rather • What are the Earth's species? opportunity, within a university environ- than as one of the most fundamental, • Where do they occur? ment, to continue taxonomic research in an central, achievable and necessary global • What properties do they have? age in which the biological sciences are scientific goals of the coming century • How are they related? being revolutionized by molecular biology. (Wilson 2000). The issue of systematic and taxonomic Therefore so-called 'alpha taxonomy' is research is currently the focus of renewed The scope of systematics associated with a global research agenda discussion in the UK and has been given a Similar to the term biodiversity the term with a focus on completing and documen- particular focus recently. systematics is pseudocognate, meaning that ting the Earth's species whereas the so called In November 2001, I and two of my we all have a fair idea of what it is but 'omega taxonomy' has come to have a research students (Alex Wortley & Jonathan defining it is not easy. Discussion of the two particular focus on phylogeny recon- Bennett) began to write an opinion article associated terms systematics and taxonomy struction and an understanding of the tree of for Edinburgh Journal of Botany either view them as synonyms and broadly life. Although the four questions posed highlighting the demise of alpha taxonomy defined (Stace, 1989) or view systematics as above are interrelated they also are separate at the expense of phylogeny reconstruction a broader concept that includes taxonomy. in terms of career interests and who does (see below). In December 2001 the House Stace (1989) defines systematics as ‘The what research. Therefore people with of Lords Select Committee on Science & study & description of the variation of particular research skills and focus on Technology decided to revisit (previous organisms, the investigation of the causes inventory issues (the first three questions) report in 1992) the issue of systematics in and consequences of this variation and the are often distinct from those with a focus on the UK by taking evidence over a three- manipulation of the data obtained to building and understanding the tree of life month period with a focus on two questions: produce a system of classification’. Broad (the fourth question). These two research definitions of systematics represent an areas are complementary but distinct not 1. How has the organisation of and accumulated breadth of studies from only in that they are pursued generally by funding for systematic biology in the cytology and genetics (biosystematics), different people, but also, that they demand United Kingdom changed since 1992? phylogeny reconstruction, anatomy, flor- a different set of skills. Thus, the often istics, monography, biogeography, and stated view that research associated with 2. What, if any, are the changes required taxonomy. When taxonomy is defined in the completing the inventory, ‘alpha taxonomy', in this area to enable the United narrower sense, it generally includes the is somehow a mere, albeit important, Kingdom to meet its policy aims on discovery, description, naming and building block for the more intellectually biodiversity? classification of species or groups of challenging and worthwhile task of species. Taxonomy in the narrow sense can understanding evolution and phylogeny is One of the topics I and my students were be associated with a number of different an outdated and wrong-headed conceptual addressing in our paper concerning the terms such as alpha, classical, fundamental, framework to consider the scope of modern relationship between alpha-taxonomy and orthodox, practical, traditional etc (Turrill; systematics. Rather, the 'framework' and phylogeny reconstruction is particularly 1935, 1938). four questions of the priorities for pertinent to the issues being addressed by Attempts to define the scope of systematics systematics outlined in the Systematics the House of Lords. In much biological need to take into account the way in which Agenda 2000 initiative, places both research over the last decade phylogenetic the systematics research agenda has changed inventory taxonomy and phylogeny recon- trees have become common place, as it is as both new sources of data (chemo- struction as the two most important tasks increasingly viewed as important to research taxonomy, palynology, DNA sequencing) facing modern systematics. Furthermore, all aspects of biology within the context of have been introduced but also new methods Wilson (2000) discussed these two priorities phylogeny. Thus in recent times the research of analysis (e.g. cladistics). However, not and stated that ‘Phylogenetic reconstruction, and building of particularly molecular only are new data and methods of analysis currently the dominating focus of phylogenetic trees has been extensive and affecting the scope of systematics, but the systematics obviously is worth doing, but systematics as a subject has enjoyed a questions being addressed have also more scientifically important and far more period of relative growth, resonance and changed as evidenced by the massive urgent for human welfare is the description interest. Unfortunately, this growth in tree interest in phylogeny reconstruction over the and mapping of the world biota’ (see building systematics has not been matched last decade or so. Therefore any attempt to Landrum, 2001 for discussion). in that part of systematics (taxonomy) that is pin down the breadth of systematics is Therefore, in the UK we need to make a attempting to complete the inventory of constrained in time. Perhaps a more decision about whether we wish to play a species which, at least in the UK, appears to pertinent question is the scope of significant role in two global research be in serious decline. systematics today and in the immediate programs: completing the inventory of future. In other words, what are the research species and building the tree of life. This is Introduction priorities for the systematics community at why I have been excited by the The current plight of systematics in the UK this time. refurbishment of the Daubeny Herbarium especially with regard to inventory taxon- this summer. The refurbishment represents a

2 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

significant commitment to stem the decline Stuart Cable joined the Department in Thomandersia comprises shrubs and small of taxonomy in the UK university sector and January 2001 to work with William trees forming a significant part of the maintain an active whole organism - based Hawthorne on the tropical forest plant field vegetation of tropical West Africa. Six plant systematics capacity for research and guide project. species were described by Heine (1966), and training across both tree building and their delimitation has been upheld in a species inventory. The news and articles in From June to December 2001 John Wood preliminary study of herbarium specimens this issue of OPS give a flavor of that joined Robert Scotland and his students from BR, FHO, K, MO and P. The broader agenda. contributing to the ongoing monographic systematic position of Thomandersia has research of Strobilanthes. Further collabor- never been certain: its morphology is References ative research is in the pipeline for 2002 aberrant for any family in which it could be Anon. (1994). Systematics Agenda 2000: onwards. classified. Traditionally placed in Charting the Biosphere. New York : Acanthaceae (e.g. Bentham and Hooker American Museum of Natural History. Congratulations to Alex Wortley for 1876) on the basis of fruit characters, it has winning the ‘best student paper’ at the 2001 also been associated with Pedaliaceae Landrum, L.R. (2001). What has happened Systematics Association biennial conference (Bremekamp 1942) or put into a to descriptive systematics? What would in London. Alex, in the first year of her monogeneric Thomandersiaceae (Sree- make it thrive? Systematic Botany 26: 438- D.Phil., was awarded £300 worth of books madhaven 1976, 1977). Anatomical 442. from Taylor & Francis. Her talk was sectioning of the retinacula (hook-like entitled ‘Systematics of Thomandersia outgrowths of the funicle) of Thomandersia Stace, C. (1989). Plant Taxonomy and Baill.: a rogue genus in Lamiales’. and other taxa in Acanthaceae, has Biosystematics. 2nd Edition. Cambridge demonstrated that these structures are not University Press. At the end of July we said a sad farewell to homologous, refuting the morphological Cynthia Styles, the herbarium secretary, basis for including Thomandersia in Turrill, W.B. (1935). The investigation of who retired after long service in the Acanthaceae (e.g. by Bentham and Hooker plant species. Proceedings of the Linnean Department. Cynthia had worked for many 1876; Lindau 1895). In addition, pre- Society of London 4: 104-105. years for the late Frank White. liminary phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast rbcL and ndhF sequences for Turrill, W.B. (1938). The expansion of Thomandersia hensii and 133 other taxa, taxonomy with special reference to spanning all major families of Lamiales, Spermatophyta. Biological Review 13: 342- Student Progress have placed Thomandersia outside 373. Acanthaceae. Timothy Waters (D.Phil., first year). Thomandersia appears from these Wilson, E.O. (2000). On the future of Systematics of Agathis Salisb. Supervised investigations to form a relatively restricted conservation biology. Conservation Biology by Stephen Harris (Oxford) and Aljos clade, the position of which, within 14: 1-3. Farjon (RBG Kew). NERC studentship. Lamiales, remains unclear. It may be Agathis (Araucariaceae) is a genus of associated with the Mesoamerican liana Robert Scotland between 10 and 20 species of tropical Schlegelia Miq., one of a number of conifer, distributed throughout Malesia, the similarly isolated “rogue” taxa in Lamiales Philippines and Melanesia, and also present (e.g. Paulownia; Armstrong 1985 and Typesetting and layout of this issue of OPS in parts of Australia & New Zealand. Sanango; Smith et al. 1997). Sequencing of by Serena Marner. Species delimitation in the genus has rbcL and ndhF for Schlegelia and related traditionally been extremely problematic, genera (following a visit to MO to obtain owing to the difficulty of collecting cones recent herbarium material) is underway, in News Items and the highly and continuously variable association with the Royal Botanic Garden leaf dimensions. Previous studies with rbcL Edinburgh, to clarify the phylogenetic have recovered very little phylogenetic position of Thomandersia. Sequences of a structure, although the phylogenetic greater number of genes may be needed to Jonathan Bennett will take up a post- relationships of Agathis within the improve resolution and support for its doctoral research post in the New Year at Araucariaceae and of the Araucariaceae to position in Lamiales. A collecting the University of Missouri - Columbia, other conifers are reasonably clear. expedition may be undertaken to obtain Missouri, USA to investigate the molecular Micromorphological and anatomical work material of Thomandersia and/or its evolution of phytochrome genes. have historically been used to delineate potential sister taxa, for further sequencing broad, informal groupings within the genus; and anatomical studies. Elizabeth Moylan has taken up a three-year critical investigations of these characters, post-doc position in Jane Langdale’s alongside molecular systematic analyses of References laboratory at Oxford Plant Sciences (down new sequence data, will help to provide Armstrong, J. E. (1985). The delimitation of the corridor) working on photosynthetic clearer species delimitation and the Bignoniaceae and Scrophulariaceae based cell-type differentiation. phylogenetic framework for a taxonomic on floral anatomy and the placement of revision of the genus. Fieldwork will problem genera. American Journal of Julian Starr has received a two-year hopefully be carried out in Borneo and in Botany 72(5): 755-766. National Sciences and Engineering the archipelagoes of the SW Pacific, to Research Council (NSERC) Postdoctoral provide herbarium and DNA material for Bentham, G. & Hooker, J. D. (1876). Fellowship to examine hybridisation and these studies. Genera Plantarum II: 1093. phylogeny in the genus Rosa L. Julian will be working under the supervision of Dr. Alex Wortley (D. Phil., second year). Bremekamp, C. E. B. (1942). The position Anne Bruneau at the institut de recherche en Systematics of Thomandersia Baill. of the genus Thomandersia Baill. Recueil biologie végétale (IRBV) at the Université Supervised by Robert Scotland (Oxford), des Travaux Botaniques Neerlandais 39: de Montréal in Canada. Paula Rudall (Kew) and David Harris 166-175. (Edinburgh). Burtt-Davy studentship.

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 3

Heine, H. (1966). Revision du genre The variation in pollen morphology among one newly described species, are Thomandersia Baill. Bulletin du Jardin species of the Strobilanthinae from south- archipelagic endemics and nine species are Botanique de l'Etat Bruxelles 36(2): 207- east Asia is documented. It is shown that the restricted island endemics. 248. range of variation is greater than previous A survey of micromorphological taxonomists had appreciated, and com- characters of the inflorescence and flower Lindau, G. (1895). Thomandersia. In: parisons are made with the range of structure in Hemigraphis and other Engler A. & Prantl, K. (Eds.) Die morphologies found in species from Strobilanthinae permits re-assessment of the Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien IV: 325. southern India and Sri Lanka. The variation filament curtain – a complex structure Liepzig. Verlag von Wilhelm Engelman. in pollen morphology is essentially formed from the fusion of staminal quantitative and continuous, with even filaments within the corolla tube. Characters Smith, J. F., Brown, K. D., Carroll, C. L. & apparently distinct morphologies bridged by of biological significance with regard to the Denton, D. S. (1997). Familial placement of intermediate forms. The difficulties of function of the filament curtain are Cyrtandromoea, Titanotrichum and breaking up continuous variation in to identified and discrete characters of use in Sanango, three problematic genera of the discrete character states for a phylogenetic phylogeny reconstruction are discussed. The Lamiales. Taxon 46: 65-74. analysis are discussed. Furthermore, the importance of inflorescence and flower assumptions of character state trans- characters in the context of recent Sreemadhaven, C. P. (1976). Leaf formations made during a phylogenetic developmental studies in Lamiales is architecture and systematics of Acanthaceae analysis are difficult to uphold for highlighted. and related families. University of South morphological data in general. It is Phylogenetic analyses are performed using Florida Ph.D. maintained that the most appropriate context sequence data from the trnL-F and ITS in which to interpret pollen morphology is regions and morphological data. Parsimony Sreemadhaven, C.P. (1977). Diagnosis of in light of a molecular phylogeny. and maximum likelihood analyses of trnL-F some new taxa and some new combinations A molecular phylogeny of the indicate that the Strobilanthinae are a in Bignoniales. Phytologia. 37: 412-416. Strobilanthinae is presented using DNA monophyletic group. Parsimony analysis of sequence data from ITS and trnL – trnF ITS recovers a non-monophyletic subtribe; markers. Evidence from trnL – trnF however, maximum likelihood analysis of sequences confirms the monophyly of the ITS corroborates results from trnL-F and Abstracts of systematic group, but some analyses of ITS sequence suggests that systematic error is impacting theses submitted in data place Dyschoriste decumbens within on ITS parsimony analysis. A combined ITS the Strobilanthinae. However, there is strong and trnL-F analysis results in a 2001 evidence that several genera within the strengthening of signal and also recovers a group are non-monophyletic. In light of monophyletic subtribe. Limitations in using The following three D. Phil. theses were these findings, and the earlier findings of morphological data alone for phylogeny submitted and successfully defended in Carine (1999) and Carine & Scotland reconstruction are apparent in terms of a 2001: (2000b), it is suggested that all species of paucity of characters with discrete variation the Strobilanthinae be referred to that can be repeatedly and objectively Jonathan R. Bennett Strobilanthes, with all allied genera reduced scored. However, including morphological Linacre College to synonymy. A broadly defined data with molecular data in simultaneous Strobilanthes is not only monophyletic, but analysis provides increased resolution and Systematics of the Strobilanthinae is also diagnosable by morphological support for phylogenetic relationships at (Acanthaceae) of south-east Asia characters. lower hierarchical levels. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Hemigraphis, Abstract Sericocalyx and Strobilanthes are non- Three aspects of the systematics of the Elizabeth Clare Moylan monophyletic. Strobilanthinae are addressed: a taxonomic The distribution of morphological account of the Javanese species with four or St Cross College Systematics of Hemigraphis Nees characters throughout the Strobilanthinae is fewer seeds in the capsule, excluding the highly homoplastic and the prospects for a (Acanthaceae) yellow-flowered species usually referred to new generic classification of the

Sericocalyx, a survey of the pollen Strobilanthinae aiming to recognise and Abstract morphology of species from south-east Asia diagnose only monophyletic groups are and an investigation of the molecular Four aspects of the systematics of Hemigraphis Nees (subtribe Strobilanthinae extremely limited. An expanded genus systematics of the group using both Strobilanthes s.l. –Acanthaceae) are investigated in this is therefore recognised at chloroplast trnL – trnF and nuclear ITS the level of the well-supported and thesis. First, a taxonomic account of species markers. monophyletic Strobilanthinae. All species of Hemigraphis from the Philippines is Twenty five species are recognised from previously referred to Hemigraphis in the provided. Secondly, the micromorphological Java and a key to their identification is Philippines are placed in synonymy. provided, and several species illustrated. variation of Hemigraphis and other members of the Strobilanthinae is assessed. Two new species are described. Morphological variation found within and Thirdly, the phylogenetic relationships of Julian Richard Starr between species is described. A critical Hemigraphis and other Strobilanthinae are Linacre College evaluation of the suitability of competing investigated. Finally, the classification of species concepts for species delimitation in the Strobilanthinae is reviewed. Systematics of Uncinia Pers. tropical taxa which show a high level of Applying an explicit pattern-based species (Cyperaceae) infraspecific morphological variation is concept, 18 species of Hemigraphis are made. The advantages and disadvantages of recognised from the Philippines. A key to Abstract applying a pattern-based phylogenetic all species is provided, together with Inquiries into the phylogeny of Cyperaceae species concept which recognises groups of descriptions, synonymy, illustrations and tribe Cariceae (c. 2,150 spp.) have been individuals sharing a unique combination of distribution maps. Six species are stifled by tradition, and by the uncertain morphological characters are discussed. widespread throughout the Philippines and homology of the tribe’s highly reduced in south-east Asia, three species, including floral and vegetative structures. At the heart

4 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

of this problem lies the poor circumscription In common with the results of many Carex White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, of the enormous (c. 2,000 spp.), and highly studies, groups defined by silica bodies in J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of variable genus Carex from its smaller Uncinia often conflict with traditional Malawi. 697 pp. Royal Botanic Gardens, satellite genera (Cymophyllus, Kobresia, classification, large groups such as sections Kew. [For review see page 12.] Schoenoxiphium, Uncinia, Vesicarex). To could not be defined, and distantly related gain a better understanding of character taxa may share similar silica bodies. Wise, Rosemary. (2001). Botanical evolution and generic limits within the However, when silica body characters are Illustration in Colour. Plant Talk Issue 25: Cariceae, a phylogenetic study focusing on examined within the context of smaller, 21-25. the ingroup and outgroup relationships of monophyletic groups, there appears to be the genus Uncinia (c. 65 spp.) was considerable congruence between groups undertaken. based on silica body characters and clades Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 5’ETS discovered in phylogenetic analyses. Expeditions and visits sequences suggest that Uncinia is Nonetheless, a lack of discrete character monophyletic within a paraphyletic grade of states and a poor understanding of the Kobresia, Cymophyllus and reduced homology of structures indicate that silica Alison Strugnell attended the XVIth members of Carex subg. Carex, Vignea and body characters are inappropriate for meeting of A.E.T.F.A.T. (the Association Primocarex. Analyses do not support the cladistic analysis, and are best used for for the Taxonomic Study of the Flora of historical transition series involving Uncinia circumscribing species in the Cariceae. Tropical Africa) from August 28th – s.s., U. kingii and Carex microglochin that September 2nd 2000. This meeting marked has been pivotal to numerous tribal the 50th anniversary of the establishment of evolutionary scenarios. Trees suggest there A.E.T.F.A.T., one of whose founding is a fundamental split between the dioecious 2001 publications members was Dr. Frank White of Oxford and androgynous unispicate species of the University. Cariceae. Dioecious species are related to multispicate species of either Carex subg. Bass, S., Hughes, C.E. and Hawthorne, Colin Hughes was awarded the 2001 Carex or Vignea, whereas the androgynous W.D. (2001). Forests, biodiversity and Rupert Barneby Award by the New York species of Uncinia, Kobresia, Cymophyllus livelihoods: linking policy and practice. In: Botanical Garden enabling him to spend a and Carex constitute a separate clade that Koziell, I. & Saunders J. (Eds.) Living off month in New York (NY) and Washington includes multispicate species of biodiversity. Exploring livelihoods and (US) during February to work on Andean Schoenoxiphium and Kobresia. Carex biodiversity issues in natural resources Lupinus. As part of that visit research classifications that recognise only two management: 23-73. London: Institute for seminars were presented at NYBG and the subgenera, Carex and Vignea, are probably Environment and Development. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University. a better expression of relationships within These were the first in a series of field the genus as presently circumscribed. Hawthorne, W.D. (2001). Forest collecting and herbarium visits undertaken Despite the strong conviction of many during the year associated with mono- authors that Schoenoxiphium and Kobresia conservation in Ghana: forestry, dragons, genetic heat. In: W.& I. Weber (Eds.) graphic work on Lupinus. A month was are morphologically indistinct, phylogenetic African rain forest ecology and spent in Peru with botanists from the MOL analyses strongly suggest that these genera conservation: Chapter 30: 491-512. Yale herbarium of the Universidad Agraria La should not be merged. The monotypic University Press. Molina in Lima working on delimitation and genera Cymophyllus and Vesicarex do not collection of the Andean species of Lupinus. warrant generic status. Most of the time was spent in northern 5’ 3’ Hughes, C.E. (2001). Gliricidia. In: Stevens, A combined ITS, ETS and ETS analysis W.D., Ulloa Ulloa, C., Pool, A. & Montiel, Departments of Cajamarca, Amazonas, and suggests that Uncinia s.s. is divided into two O.M. (Eds.) Flora de Nicaragua. Ancash between 2,000 and 5,000m major groups: (1) a predominately Monographs in Systematic Botany : elevation where there is high diversity of Australasian clade consisting of sect. 85 1013. St Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden lupin species. In addition short visits were Uncinia species, and (2) a predominately Press. made to Florida and Iberia to collect South American clade comprising the material of Lupinus more generally. Colin species of sect. Platyandrae and sect. Marner, S.K. (2001). 1. Faurea Harv. In: Hughes also attended the IVth International Uncinia series Macrolepidae. This topology White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, Legume Conference in Canberra, Australia and outgroup relationships suggest that J.D. Evergreen forest flora of Malawi: 436- in July 2001. Two papers were presented. sectional characters are homoplastic, and 438. that those used to define sect. Uncinia are Donovan Bailey and Colin Hughes spent plesiomorphic. Except for the Australes, McLean, Barbara & Wise, Rosemary. November 2001 in Mexico working on a series are either poly- or paraphyletic. (2001). Dissecting Flowers. 54pp. Chelsea new research project funded by the Similar trends in the phylogenetic analyses Physic Garden Florilegium Society. Leverhulme Trust to investigate hybrid- of Uncinia and the Cariceae suggest ization and polyploid origins in the ‘cryptic’ clades may be common, and that Robinson, J., Harris, S.A. & Juniper, B.E. Mimosoid legume genus Leucaena in parallelisms and reversals in even the most (2001). Taxonomy of the genus Malus relation to its indigenous domestication as a important morphological characters used for Miller (Rosaceae) with emphasis on the minor food plant in south-central Mexico. A classification are widespread. This raises the cultivated apple Malus domestica Borkh. week was spent working in the National prospect that a phylogenetic classification Plant Systematics and Evolution : 35-58. Herbarium (MEXU) at the Universidad may be incompatible with the pragmatic 226 Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM, a need to create groups that can be easily Starr, J. R., and Ford, B. A. (2001). The research seminar on Leucaena was diagnosed by traditional means. High levels presented to staff of the UNAM Instituto de of homoplasy and a general lack of discrete taxonomic and phylogenetic utility of vegetative anatomy and fruit epidermal Biología, and three and half weeks were morphological characters indicate that the silica bodies in Carex section Phyllostachys spent in the field working with Helga discovery of clades, and our confidence in (Cyperaceae). Canadian Journal of Botany Ochoterena (MEXU). Fieldwork con- their reality, will largely depend on 79: 362-379. centrated on assembly of new collections of molecular characters.

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 5

a number of Leucaena polyploid species and Herbaria. The collection in Oxford is the a short period will have any idea of the hybrids in the south-central Mexican states fourth oldest herbarium in the world and the effort involved! Whilst FHO was closed to of Puebla, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Morelos and oldest in the United Kingdom. Oxford outside users we tried to maintain the Veracruz. University Herbaria comprise some 800,000 function of the collection for our own staff specimens collected from all over the world and students, which created additional Rosemary Wise was invited to join the but is particularly strong in Africa, Europe, logistical problems. team from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew South and Central America and South East For the last five years, curatorial work in and visited Irian Jaya for the fourth time Asia. Approximately 3% of the collection is FHO was undertaken in the belief that funds during November 2000, to paint lowland type material. for refurbishment would be secured. This plant species. In September 2001 Rosemary Oxford University Herbaria has occupied work resolved many curatorial problems, attended the 5th International Flora its current site in the Department of Plant e.g. matching herbarium specimens with Malesiana Symposium in Sydney and ran a Sciences for nearly 50 years. However, the fruit and spirit collections, although workshop on techniques of Botanical space problems had become severe, emptying FHO uncovered other problems Illustration. cupboards were overfull and boxes of that had lurked in the bottoms of cupboards specimens covered almost all available and drawers for at least 30 years. Once Serena Marner attended the Investigator surfaces or were secreted away in other empty, gutting FHO was done rapidly; the 200 Symposium in Albany, Western parts of the Department of Plant Sciences. cedar wood cabinets yielding easily to Australia, organized by the Australian Thus, there were three significant problems; sledge hammer and crowbar, before the Systematic Botany Society with the storage conditions for the collections were remnants were discarded through a window Department of Conservation and Land not ideal, space to work on the collections into a skip. Fifty years of dust were Management CALM, in December 2001. was very limited and no space was available disturbed, specimens that had slipped Serena was invited to the Chelsea Physic for the collections to expand. However, after behind cupboards were found and 1950s Garden by the Florilegium Society in six years of persistent work on the parts of empty cigarette packets were uncovered. August 2001 to talk about pressing, Professor Christopher Leaver and Dr However, it was the size of the room that mounting and storing herbarium specimens Stephen Harris, funding for refurbishment FHO occupied that most surprised people, for their new herbarium. of Oxford University Herbaria has been given there was such little available space secured from Gatsby Charitable Foundation when the cupboards were in place. Timothy Waters led an Oxford University and Science Research Infrastructure Fund The floor has been strengthened and, once Expedition to New Caledonia in December (SRIF). To these organisations, we are most the rolling stack is installed, the specimens 2000 – January 2001, working on the grateful. will be returned to FHO. It will take time to population biology and conservation of the Additional physical space is not available get things back into order but once this is narrow endemic Araucaria nemorosa de for the Herbaria within the Department of done, for the first time in nearly 40 years the Laub. with the Service de l’Environnement Plant Sciences and hence it has been whole of FHO will be in one place and a in Province Sud. Only described in the necessary to maximise the use of the single sequence, rather than scattered 1960s, this distinctive emergent conifer of existing space. Refurbishment of the around the Department of Plant Sciences. coastal forest is restricted to a tiny area at collections will take place in two phases. The refurbishment of FHO threw up the southern tip of Grande Terre. A Refurbishment of FHO has already begun logistical problems associated with the preliminary report, making some con- and the refurbishment of OXF will occur temporary storage of material and tracking servation recommendations and suggesting over Summer 2002. The principles that have boxes. The lessons learnt include that a change in the basis of its IUCN “Critically guided the refurbishment of FHO are care collections should be closed completely Endangered” status, was circulated in the and access to the collections, space for during refurbishment, many people are spring. The full report, including the researchers to work and space to expand the needed to shift material but few people are ecological, biogeographic and dendro- collections. Whilst, for OXF, collection care needed to pack material. However, perhaps chronological datasets, botanical and and access plus research space are the most most importantly is that the planned process entomological collection data, ornitho- important issues, as there is relatively little should be maintained despite external logical observations, colour plates and expansion of the collection. pressure. These lessons will be used when detailed demographic analyses will be Specimens in FHO will be stored on OXF is refurbished. The refurbishment has published shortly: more information is rolling stack in Kew-style green boxes, thus allowed us to rethink the arrangement of the available on the expedition website at: generating space for additional specimens specimens, resolve curatorial problems in http://users.ox.ac.uk/~scat1055/expedition/ and creating research space for our own the collections, which may have remained staff and students and visitors. The vision of unresolved without the stimulus of emptying FHO at the end of refurbishment is simple, FHO, and make decisions about the fate of but the implementation is another matter. unincorporated material. The biggest problem that was faced was the I would like to express publicly my thanks amount of material to be moved, approx- to Alison Strugnell, Ruth Eastwood and Ian imately 250,000 herbarium specimens and Gourlay for their Herculean efforts in associated spirit and carpological emptying FHO of its contents in just over a Refurbishment of collections. Over about a month, nearly 37 month. Many thanks also to all those people Oxford University tonnes of material was decanted from the in the Department of Plant Sciences who herbarium. Herbarium specimens were helped in unloading the lorry loads of green Herbaria placed into numbered green boxes and their boxes when they arrived. contents databased to family and genus. Nearly 3,500 green boxes were filled and Stephen A. Harris The Botany Department Herbarium (OXF) each box moved approximately 300 m into was established in 1621 and the Forest temporary storage in the Department of Herbarium (FHO), now known as the Plant Sciences. Stark numbers of specimens Daubeny Herbarium, was established in moved out of FHO to temporary storage 1924. In 1992 these collections were give only a feel for the task; only those who brought together as Oxford University have moved this amount of material in such

6 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

FHO just before demolition (July 2001, FHO after demolition (July 2001, photograph: photograph: B.E. Juniper). S.A. Harris)

FHO cupboards being discarded (July 2001, Refurbishment work in progress in FHO photograph: B.E. Juniper). (January 2002, photograph: J. Baker)

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 7

Professor Lack was also presented with a hand-illustrated certificate to mark the Oxford, Greek Revival occasion. The design, based around autumn and John Sibthorp fruits, was the work of Rosemary Wise, botanical artist in the Department. Following his award, Prof. Lack lectured to great acclaim from a packed hall on Words of thanks after the receipt of the first ‘Oxford, Greek Revival and John Sibthorp’; Sibthorp Medal from the University of the text of his address is printed below. Oxford, 5 November 2001 Professor Lack has recently received three other awards for his outstanding books. In Let me first say that I feel delighted and 1999 he received the OPTIMA medal for highly honoured by having been chosen as The Flora Graeca Story and in 2000 the the recipient of the first Sibthorp Medal. My DGG (German Horticultural Society) Book sincere thanks go to Professor Leaver, the Prize for Ein Garten Eden (Garden Eden. present Sibthorpian Professor of Plant Masterpieces of botanical illustration) and Science, whose chair was endowed in 1796 Sibthorp Medal the prestigious Engler Medal for Ein Garten by John Sibthorp, Professor Whatley, the für die Ewigkeit (A Garden for Eternity: former Sherardian Professor of Botany, and Awarded The Codex Liechtenstein). We are delighted to Professor Dickinson, the present Sherard- to be able to add the Sibthorp Medal to this ian Professor, who have among their impressive list. predecessors the same John Sibthorp. Irrespective of the intentions, the The Department of Plant Sciences has To acquire the Sibthorp Medal you will have to make an outstanding contribution to foundation of a Sibthorp Medal is most awarded the first Sibthorp Medal to appropriate: firstly because John Sibthorp Professor. Dr. H. Walter Lack of the Free plant sciences, but if you would like a copy of the original Iris drawing it is available as was one of the key figures in English University, Berlin for work on the greatest botany, secondly because he laid the treasure of Oxford’s Plant Sciences Library a newly-produced greetings card from the Plant Sciences Library and the Wildlife foundations of the most splendid flora ever and other associated collections in the published, the Flora Graeca, and thirdly herbarium: John Sibthorp’s Flora Graeca. Trusts; notepads and notebooks are also on sale, as are copies of the 1999 exhibition because he brought back from his two A major exhibition at the Bodleian Library expeditions into the Levant a multitude of marked the publication of Lack’s book The catalogue and poster. These may be obtained from: extremely valuable botanical collections, Flora Graeca Story (OUP) in 1999, and a which are still kept in this very building. project to make digital scans of the Flora’s Plant Sciences Library Oxford University Library Services For me personally there are also three 966 magnificent coloured drawings by reasons for being particularly happy: firstly Ferdinand Bauer available world-wide on South Parks Road OXFORD OX1 3RB, UK because this day marks the successful the web is expected to begin in 2002. completion of a project which has led three Tel. +44 1865 275082 e-mail: [email protected]. years ago to the publication of my book The Flora Graeca Story, the most complex text I Roger Mills have produced; secondly because this medal Plant Sciences Library expresses the sentiment that all this is appreciated as a contribution to under- standing botany at Oxford; and thirdly because this day enables me also to acknowledge encouragement and help received from others, in particular from Professor William T. Stearn, London, Professor David Mabberley, Sydney, from the indefatigable Mrs. Anne Marie Townsend, Special Collections Librarian at this institute, always kind, always helpful, and from the most competent and knowledgeable Miss Sandra Raphael, who

as copy editor for Oxford University Press Sibthorp, the first to discover the lilac and read the entire text of The Flora Graeca the horse chestnut growing in the wild, Story. However, it would be utterly endowed Oxford’s chair of Plant Sciences inappropriate to forget the most liberal currently held by Professor Chris Leaver, working conditions I enjoyed in this who presented the medal at a ceremony in institute - on the first day I was given the the Department on 5 November 2001. keys, a practice unheard of in places like Designed by Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn, Kew or the British Museum. So thank you a Polish specialist in the sand-casting of all for this. bronze at the Royal Academy of Art, it Let me now say a few words about today’s Professor Lack receiving the Sibthorp shows in deep relief details from Bauer’s hero - John Sibthorp, or to be more precise Medal from Professor Chris Leaver. drawing of Iris germanica which featured about Oxford, Greek Revival and John on the cover of the exhibition catalogue and Sibthop. also on the accompanying poster. The Feeling quite incompetent to offer you a reverse of the medal shows the ‘Danby new definition of Oxford, I shall simply say, Gate’ at the entrance to the Botanic Garden, that this is a place where very many which is also the logo for the Department. outstanding things were either written,

8 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

thought of or done for the first time. A M.D. and get himself elected successor to single example from the recent past may his father. Thus, at the age of 25, John suffice as an example: in 1983 a surgeon at became the third Sherardian Professor of the Radcliffe Infirmary had the courage to Botany. Although by the standards of today transplant the heart of a traffic victim into the whole affair reeks of jobbery and the body of patient suffering from terminal nepotism, it turned out to be a change for heart failure and at the same time treat the the better: in fact the resignation of the 72- transplant patient with cyclosporine. The year-old Humphrey Sibthorp, inactive for success was limited, because the patient many years, led to the appointment of the survived only for a few days. However, keen and much more energetic John. upon post mortem it was shown that the However, John showed no intention of transplanted organ had no signs of rejection, devoting himself to the routine duties of a whereas the kidneys had failed. In short, the professor and instead continued to travel on cyclosporine dose had been too high. This the Continent. There is a hint that he opened an entire new field in cardiology: developed the idea of exploring the Levant heart transplantation, now a standard while in Göttingen, but the decision was technique used world-wide. As a matter of taken in Vienna, where he had seen in the fact, my life - and also writing The Flora Imperial Library two outstanding medicinal Graeca Story - entirely depended on this codices of the early Byzantine period. These very operation plus cyclosporine, first used were illuminated manuscripts of the writings in Oxford eighteen years ago. of Dioscorides, dating from the early 6th However, this is just one example for a century and mid-7th century. Hard to break-through at Oxford. If you have believe but true, in the eighteenth century Certificate to mark presentation of the brilliant people in all branches of learning these texts were still regarded as sacrosanct Sibthorp Medal, 5 November 2001 performing in a brilliant way for more than to physicians as the texts of the Bible are seven hundred years, you simply cannot sacrosanct to Christians. plants, animals and landscapes. Most of avoid arriving among the top universities of Sibthorp had a brilliant new idea: he these have survived at Oxford. The the world, and this is where Oxford was and decided to test the writings of Dioscorides importance of these collections cannot be is right now. by travelling to the Levant and looking out overestimated, they are of relevance for The eighteenth century was full of many for the plants described in his texts and modern science and form the hard core of excellent new ideas; one of them is called in illustrated in the manuscripts in the Imperial any institution. Irrespective of so-called retrospect Greek Revival: the sum total of Library. All this must have happened in the priorities, research policies etc., the research into the Greek World, its culture, winter 1785/86 in Vienna. Both the stately collections have to be maintained and history, language and life. At that time home where Sibthorp lived, the spectacular preserved. As in my home institution, these Greece was not the country we now know Palais Pallavicini, and the reading room, the comprise the living collections in the from our summer holidays. It formed one of world famous Prunksaal, where a few days botanical garden, the dead collections in the the western provinces of the Ottoman ago my exhibition ‘A Garden Eden’ ended, herbarium, the manuscript material in the Empire, a region very dangerous and have remained virtually unchanged. archive, and the printed material in the difficult to travel in due to malaria, pirates, Sibthorp also had the good fortune of library. It is good to know that all these and civil unrest, and then as unknown as the receiving a series of copper-engravings from materials are well kept here and I trust that heart of Africa. his homologue in Vienna, showing the this will remain so. You are certainly aware Although strictly speaking not a purely plants in the two codices, annotated with of the fact that across the channel in the Oxford idea, Greek Revival had an their early Byzantine plant names. In short, Netherlands all herbarium specimens are important proponent at Oxford - Richard his approach was totally new, radical and now listed as national cultural heritage, like Chandler, a demy of Magdalen College. He was to shake the very basis of established their Rembrandts. was one of the very few who had actually belief and knowledge of medicinal plants. But, back to Sibthorp. In December 1786 travelled in the Levant. Across the High Vienna was also important for Sibthorp in he was again in Oxford and started to Street a boy grew up - John Sibthorp. His another respect. In Ferdinand Bauer, only a determine his specimens, while Bauer father Humphrey was a rich landowner and, single year younger than himself, he found prepared finished watercolours on the basis as a sideline, the second Sherardian an outstanding illustrator, who was prepared of his pencil sketches. A skeleton of a Professor of Botany. His mother was to join him in his adventures and depict with precursor to a projected Flora Graeca was Elizabeth Gibbs, heiress to a rich London utmost precision and accuracy several written by Sibthorp, but was not completed. merchant. Although there is no proof, it hundreds of plants and animals of the We do not know why. Thus the only one seems reasonable to assume that John knew Levant. The first expedition has been told in working hard on the project for six years of his next door neighbour Chandelor and detail in The Flora Graeca Story and need was Bauer, meticulously preparing 966 the latter’s travelogues, the Travels in Asia not be repeated here. For eight months watercolours of plants and 293 watercolours Minor and his Travels in Greece. Sibthorp and Bauer were accompanied by of animals. He was both very badly paid and Not surprisingly, John Sibthorp studied another gentleman of leisure, John Hawkins, very badly treated by John Sibthorp, almost medicine like his father, first at Oxford, later mainly interested in topography, geology, like a slave. As a result, when Sibthorp set at Edinburgh. After the early death of his mining and antiquities. out on a second expedition to the Levant, mother, her huge estates descended upon What matters in an expedition of this kind Bauer could not be persuaded to join in John and a year later his father managed to is the material brought home: Sibthorp and again. have him elected a Radcliffe Fellow. For the Bauer had collected herbarium specimens, This second tour was a disaster right from next ten years he now received the colossal living material, which subsequently was the beginning. Sibthorp was seriously ill sum of £300 per annum, with the single raised in the Oxford Physic Garden as a when arriving in Ostend and had to travel by stipulation that he must travel abroad for ‘plantation sacred to Greece’; animal carriage in sixty days to Istanbul, a record at five years for his improvement. This John specimens, both dried and in spirits; notes, that time. Due to malaria and diarrhoea he did, staying mainly in Montpellier and Paris, and very many drawings, documenting arrived in a critical condition, but on his and only returned to Oxford to receive his way he was lucky to make another

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 9

spectacular observation: he found the lilac being among the immortals of Oxford, listed blossoming in the wild, a shrub widely just after King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth Three days plant cultivated in England and Central Europe, I, Thomas Bodley, Gilbert Sheldon, Elias collecting in Eastern but then of totally unknown origin. His Ashmole, John Radcliffe, and William specimen from Eminska Planina in modern Sherard. Bolivia Bulgaria is in your herbarium. If we look more critically and with modern It took months for Sibthorp to recover and eyes on Sibthorp’s life and work, we realise when he set out from Istanbul, again with that he had not achieved very much, but by John Hawkins, autumn had started and only making his one brilliant, challenging idea a It is approximately 750 kilometres from the some seeds could be collected. The story of reality he had opened up gates for others - in city of Santa Cruz, which lies just beyond the second expedition has also been told in botany, in pharmaceutical sciences. the most easterly point of the Andes, and the The Flora Graeca Story and need not be Hermann Hesse, a German writer, the border between Bolivia and Brazil. There repeated here. It ended in Sibthorp returning Nobel laurate of 1946 and a passionate are only a few dirt roads across this vast to Oxford in very bad shape, without his gardener, wrote shortly before he died a area connecting the small, scattered collection, which arrived only several poem entitled ‘Steps’, quite philosophical in settlements, but there is a daily train, which months later, when his life was already approach, comparing life to a series of steps. travels through the night to cover the approaching its end. And there is a verse saying that even the last distance in about 20 hours. After having had a single, but very brilliant steps may lead us to new views and insights Roberto and I left Santa Cruz at half past new idea, selected an extremely able ‘because there is magic in every beginning’ three in the afternoon. Our destination was collaborator and developed a lasting [denn jedem Anfang wohnt ein Zauber the small town of Chochis which lies on the friendship with Hawkins, John Sibthorp, inne]. The magic of the beginning - this is pre-cambrian shield, an ancient rocky always chaotic, difficult and inconsiderate, very much Sibthorp. Imagine him as the plateau extending from central Brazil into prepared a surprisingly well considered will. first European traveller on Mount Parnassos, eastern Bolivia, worn away over millions of It is a long legal document, the essential imagine him studying the Omega 75 years into low flat-topped serranias and points being that one of his estates should Dioscorides in the library of the Megista undulating plain. The plains are still mostly go to the University of Oxford, under the Lavra on Mount Athos, imagine him covered in dry forest but the higher ground condition that the proceeds should first be smelling for the first time the fragrance of consists of open, seasonally burnt, scrubby used for the publication of a Prodromus the lilac on a sunny day in May in the grassland, interspersed with boggy hollows Florae Graecae and the Flora Graeca and Eminska Planina. But the magic of the and rock outcrops and commonly referred to then for the endowment of a chair in botany, beginning - thinking, writing, doing as "cerrado”. To the north of Chochis the modern Sibthorpian chair. By fixing a something for the first time - is also very village lies the most massive of the clear sequence of steps to be undertaken, by much Oxford. remaining mountains of the Bolivian pre- describing in detail the format, size etc. of cambrian shield, known also as Chochis. the two works, and by selecting his friend H. Walter Lack This rises up with spectacular cliffs on all Hawkins as one of his executors, Sibthorp sides to around 1200m. It is still unclimbed ensured that the University would do what Prof. Dr. H. Walter Lack, FMLS, and as far I know I am the only botanist ever he intended. Botanischer Garten und Botanisches to visit the area. Eastern Bolivia is for the A few weeks later John Sibthorp died at Museum Berlin-Dahlem, most part unexplored botanically. Bath, aged 38. His epitaph is famous, being Freie Universität Berlin, The train deposited us at Chochis at 2.30 in one of the very early cases of a conscious Königin-Luise-Str.6-8, the morning. There is no electricity and no severe Greek revival relief, showing D - 14195 Berlin, hotel but fortunately the message we had Sibthorp stepping out of a boat and Germany sent to the family who had helped us before approaching a building, clearly the Danby had got through and they were waiting for Gate to the Physic Garden at Oxford. us at the station. All of this was actually Sibthorp carries flowers - those of the very convenient because we were, in fact, plantation sacred to Greece, of the entering a politically controversial situation, herbarium, and, in a wider sense, the greatly in which I am anxious to keep a low profile increased knowledge of the flora of the and be closely associated with local people. Levant, which he had collected but which The situation is not unique to Bolivia and others would publish later - James Smith, has arisen in the following manner. A group Robert Brown, John Lindley - the cream of of environmental organizations, some local English botany. The list of Sibthorp’s and some U.S.-based, including a well- trophies is a long one, and I have seen with known U.S. Botanical Garden, have my own eyes several of his discoveries in founded an NGO called the “Fundacion para English gardens. la conservacion del Bosque Chiquitano”. At Oxford Sibthorp is remembered today This has attracted considerable financial in a different way, in the Sibthorpian support, principally from oil companies and Professorship founded by his will and as a has at least 20 million dollars committed to consequence in a prayer of commemoration. it. However the F.C.B.C. appears to have Regarding this the Decrees and Regulations been set up without any consultation with state: ‘The Preacher, in a prayer before the the local communities, who are under- standably jealous of the very considerable sermon of the first Sunday after the Professor Lack with Rosemary Wise, sums of money it has attracted and are beginning of term and on the morning of the designer of the certificate. deeply suspicious that their interests are Sunday preceding Encaenia, shall make a being in some way sold out to the oil grateful commemoration of the benefactors companies, who have already built one of the University, that is to say of . . . Joannis Sibthorp, M.D.’ In a way Sibthorp pipeline through the area. Civic authorities throughout a considerable area of Eastern had achieved what he intended from the beginning - to become famous, his name Bolivia, not without some prodding from

10 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

other NGOs, have joined together to exclude plants I had not seen before and the best species being smaller-flowered and less any activities connected with the F.C.B.C. I area of all was near where we spent the hairy than Ruellia brachysiphon. In the field have to admit that I myself see dark motives night. all three are readily distinguished but the in such lavish generosity on the part of the We slept out in the open near a group of characters that separate them are “soft”, oil companies. old poles, which marked the unsuccessful essentially corolla dimensions and degrees Chochis has played a leading role in attempts of a long-forgotten family to of hairiness, and this complex together with excluding the FCBC and there is every risk establish a farm – our guides told us that some other Brazilian species would make an that any visiting naturalist might be damned attacks of vampire bats on their cattle had interesting topic for molecular studies as by association and asked to leave. Field forced them out, but sheer loneliness seems conventional systematics is unlikely to make work increasingly requires political skills as a more likely explanation to me. My fears further progress in unraveling the the years pass! Fortunately I carry papers during the night, however, centred on the complexities of this group. Ruellia from La Paz indicating I have no connection persistent flashing of lightening in various geminiflora is in fact extremely variable with the FCBC and, in any case, no one directions but we survived the night without with a long synonymy but part of the notices our pre-dawn arrival in the dark nor another drenching and in the morning I was variation is environmental. It is one of the our early departure to the field. The family able to look around with some care. first plants to flower in the cerrados after were ready and waiting to leave soon by Everywhere in the rough grassland were burning and in this situation is commonly seven the next day so after a hurried but the fading white corollas of a species of less than 20cm in height, but in situations substantial breakfast of steak and cassava Macrosiphonia in the Apocynaceae – one of where no burning takes place it develops we set off into the hills. several night flowering, moth-pollinated into an untidy, branched plant about a metre I travel relatively light when collecting, species with long corolla tubes and high, which looks very different. Until my going out into the field for only a couple of conspicuous white, spreading lobes. I own observations in Bolivia this was days before returning to a base, where I can searched these carefully looking for a recognized as a different species, Ruellia sort out my specimens and get the drying similar-flowered Acanthaceae, Ruellia elliptica but I am sure it is only a habitat process seriously underway. I take one or nobilis, collected only twice in Bolivia but form being fully sympatric, in Bolivia at two presses and enough newspaper for drew a complete blank. However there were least, with the more common, low form. collections but I can’t cope with collecting three blue-flowered Ruellias, whose corollas The area also had some interesting more than about 25 numbers a day, open at dawn and fall around midday. legumes and orchids but I was most especially as I try to make four specimens of Although clearly day-flowering and not interested in Asclepias candida, only a each number. I try to put specimens into the moth-pollinated I have no idea what insect single sterile example of which David press immediately I collect them as they wilt performs this function – there were plenty of Goyder and I had found in February in the very fast in tropical conditions. I bring possible contenders for this role at the site! then only known locality in Bolivia. It was seceteurs and a machete but rely on long All three species are very similar and not common here either but an hour’s search sticks or climbing to get specimens from easily confused. The smallest but most turned up five scattered individuals in the trees. A light burden means we can cover distinct is the inappropriately named Ruellia grassland. It is clearly not a very sociable considerable distances in a day. bulbifera. It is not bulbous but like the other plant. Our route took us through secondary scrub species and many other cerrado plants has a We made the previous day’s journey in and into dry forest composed of various thickened woody base, which allows it to reverse and as so often happens found a species of Bignoniaceae and Annonaceae, survive droughts and periodic fires. completely different set of plants on the the presence of the former easily noted by However its low habit, pale flowers and return. I can never resist collecting Mela- the abundance of corollas on the forest glabrous leaves make it easy to identify. It is stomataceae, partly because there are so floor. As always I look out for Acanthaceae essentially circum-chaco in distribution in many different kinds in South America and and in this area there was an abundance of contrast to the relatively rare, large- partly because they are so attractive – I feel an undescribed Justicia, which I propose flowered, densely hairy Ruellia brachy- they go some way to compensate for the naming Justicia mesetarum after the flat- siphon, which is restricted to the pre- absence of Rhododendrons, which are such tipped mesetas around which it grows. It is cambrian shield in Bolivia and Brazil. These a colourful feature of the mountain forests somewhat problematic as it only occurs at two would be easy to distinguish were it not of east, and south east Asia. I found five Chochis and on the Serrania de Huanchaca, for the presence of a third species, Ruellia species along our track as well as three some 500 kilometres to the north. The geminiflora, which is widespread through- species of Aristolochia with their dark, populations are quite uniform on each out tropical South America. It is to some somewhat foetid, insect-attracting flowers Serrania but differ somewhat from each extent intermediate between the two other and best of all as we walked back into other, the Chochis plant being smaller in all Chochis village in the early evening I was its flower parts. They should possibly be delighted to find Ruellia nobilis opening its distinguished at subspecific level, but it is pure white flowers in the gathering gloom. quite possible that there are intermediate My failure to find it earlier was clearly populations on other serranias between these explained by its presence in the dry Acacia two. The area between is almost totally bushland on the plain below the mountain. It unexplored botanically and there is had got the habitat wrong! consequently a strong element of intelligent We spent our third day climbing round a guessing in taxonomic decisions. huge rock pillar overlooking Chochis, An extremely hot and very steep climb known as El Torre. We turned up another took us to the top of a pass over the Aristolochia on the way to the pillar and a mountain range, but not before we were further colony of Ruellia nobilis at its base. I drenched by a short thunderstorm that spent some hours clambering around the spattered us with hail. The other side was rocks with considerable success. The most totally different with extensive rolling plains interesting discovery was an undescribed terminating in cliffs. Although dry at the species of Blepharadon in the Asclep- time of our visit this area is undoubtedly iadaceae. David Goyder and I had found the interesting and as we made our way to the Ruellia ciliatiflora Hook. A blue, day- same plant on some cliffs further east at only stream in the area, I kept coming across flowering Ruellia. Santiago earlier in the year. It was rare there

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 11

and fiercely guarded by hornets. Here it was returned to Malawi in 1980 and, with the Pope, have dedicated much time and effort abundant but protected only by its collaboration of the Malawi Forestry to editorial matters. I would personally like inaccessibility. However using a long forked Department, invited Frank to join him in the to thank them for the major contribution stick to twist round the stems I was able to field there in 1981. It was during this visit they have made to someone else’s work. get good specimens. I used the same that Frank first met Françoise Dowsett- Like several other of Frank White¹s major technique to collect flowers from several Lemaire who was engaged with her contributions to African botany, because of trees unknown to me and perched on cliff husband, Robert Dowsett, in a survey of the his perfectionism, this work has taken a long ledges. avifauna and flora of the Nyika Plateau time to emerge. It is, however, a fitting final The view here over the plains to the south forests. This tour by Frank White was the tribute to one of the leading experts of the is spectacular and it is not surprising that a catalyst that spurred a revival of the project. twentieth century on the African flora. That small sanctuary has been built below the Between 1984 and 1986 Françoise his colleagues would put so much effort into pillar. It commemorates the miraculous Dowsett-Lemaire made many visits to realising his dream for this work demon- escape of a train from a collapsing bridge in Oxford and worked closely with Frank strates the esteem with which Frank White a freak storm that buried much of the village White on the text of the present volume. At was regarded amongst specialists in the of El Porton some eight kilometers from the same time the outstanding Oxford African flora. Chochis. It is a peaceful place today and a botanical artist Rosemary Wise was brought good place to relax and sort specimens into the project to prepare the many G. T. Prance before we descended to board the night train excellent line drawings which now form back. We had collected about 75 numbers, such a prominent part of the present book including two undescribed new species and and which are in themselves a significant Book Review twenty or so species I have never seen contribution to African botany. Jim before, any of which could be new to Chapman continued to provide information Frank White, Françoise Dowsett- science. Our established links with the and collections and to comment to Frank family in Chochis had apparently quelled White on the draft text of the Species Lemaire and Jim Chapman. any suspicions of connections with the Conspectus of the present work up to 1994. Evergreen forest flora of Malawi. F.C.B.C. As so often in the field I left However, as the project was nearing Pp. x + 697, 31 photographs, 213 line feeling a sense of wonder at the diversity of completion, Frank White became pro- drawings (mostly by Rosemary Wise), plants and a sense of exhilaration at being in gressively more ill, and the role of Françoise 65 distribution maps. UK: Royal Botanic a remote place, where the flora is still Dowsett-Lemaire became increasingly vital Gardens Kew, 2001. Price £59, ISBN essentially unknown. to the completion of the project. When 900347970, softback. Frank White died in 1994 there was still John Wood much left to be done, and Françoise put in a Sir Ghillean Prance describes this book in great deal of hard work to complete the his forward as ‘…a fitting tribute to one of book, which she did in 1996 despite her the leading experts of the twentieth century ongoing commitments to her other work in on the African flora’. Frank White is best Africa. She herself has written the remembered for his work on the chorology Evergreen forest flora introductory chapters, collaborating with of the African flora and the taxonomy of the of Malawi Jim Chapman on the conservation chapter, African Chrysobalanaceae, Ebenaceae and Myrtaceae. However, the posthumously and has thoroughly reviewed every page of published ‘Evergreen forest flora of this text. The introductory chapters give a Malawi’ is a major contribution to African By F. White, F. Dowsett-Lemaire & J.D. good summary of the history of the project, botany and will be the standard reference to Chapman (2001) and for which we have and it is evident that this work could not the forest flora of Malawi and central Africa permission to reproduce the foreword here: have been completed without the work of for many years. It is of great credit to the co- Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire. authors, Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire and The gestation period of this important new The taxonomy is basically that of Frank Jim Chapman, and to the many botanists at work on the evergreen flora of the forests of White with minor modifications where Oxford, Kew, Meise and in Malawi who Malawi has been undeniably long owing to strong new evidence exists to indicate contributed time and expertise, that this many unforeseen circumstances. Frank changes were needed, but Françoise White and Jim Chapman first met in Dowsett-Lemaire has made every effort to book was brought to fruition five years after northern Malawi in 1952 when the former preserve his taxonomic opinions. These Frank White’s death and nearly 50 years after his first visit to Malawi. was working in the Commonwealth Forestry were based on his extensive knowledge of The first part of the book is an introduction Institute, Oxford, towards his Forest Flora the African flora, his field trips to Malawi in to the environment, chorology of the forest of Northern Rhodesia (published in 1962), 1981, 1984 and 1987, and much exchange flora and vegetation of Malawi written by and the latter was a Forest Officer in of ideas with Jim Chapman over a period of Malawi (then Nyasaland). In their ensuing more than 40 years, and with Françoise Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire. The evergreen forests of Malawi covered only c.320 km² in correspondence they planned to collaborate Dowsett-Lemaire whose field experience the early 1980’s, but have faced increasing in an account of the forests of Malawi, was also invaluable. The demise of the pressure for land and firewood and the which eventually resolved itself into two senior author inevitably made the task future looks uncertain. The final section is publications. The first, a largely phyto- harder for those who were left to complete an assessment of the conservation status and sociological and phytogeographical account, it. As a life-long associate of Frank White, I was published as The Evergreen Forests of must express considerable thanks to importance of the forests by Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire and Jim Chapman, which Malawi in 1970. The second, a principally Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire for bringing the is an interesting and sobering historical taxonomic account, was expected to follow work to publication and to Jim Chapman for catalogue of destruction and ineffectual soon after, first draft treatments having his enthusiastic commitment over so many management. No solutions are offered, but already been prepared by 1966. However, years and his consistent input right up to the areas involved are not large and these were temporarily put aside owing to going to press. Two of the herbarium staff at many other commitments which Frank the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with long hopefully this book will precipitate action by administrators in Malawi and inter- White had at the time. After spending seven experience of the African flora and Malawi national conservation organisations. years in the field in Nigeria, Jim Chapman in particular, Dick Brummitt and Gerald

12 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

The second part of the book is the species Fielding-Druce (OXF) conspectus that covers all trees, shrubs and Herbaria lianas that are evergreen or briefly The historic herbaria of OXF deciduous, including introduced plants that Many enquiries were received in connection are commonly used or naturalised. The Visitors We were pleased to welcome 147 visitors to with the historic herbaria. The Flora Graeca definition of woody is applied loosely to and related Sibthorpian collections were the include sub-woody climbers, as is the the herbaria during the academic year from focus of several visits by groups mentioned minimum height for inclusion of 2 m, so 1 October 2000 to the end of September above or by individuals. A number of that genera consisting of small shrubs that 2001. Several group visits were made. visitors again came to view the Australian may vary in height over their range are not Guided tours of the herbaria were given to a group of students participating in the Kew Dampier specimens collected in 1699. This arbitrarily or partly excluded. Also included collection was the reason for a visit by a are some small montane trees and shrubs, International Diploma Course in Herbarium group from the Western Australian such as species of Protea and Xerophyta, Techniques 2001, also to a group of M.Sc. Maritime Museum, headed by the Curator of which are generally found at a higher students from Birmingham University and Maritime Archaelogy Dr. Mike McCarthy. altitude than the forest. In total the another group of M.Sc. Students from the The group, a team of divers, visited while conspectus includes 712 species from 107 Department of Zoology, Oxford University. On 26 January 2001 a special exhibition on route to Ascension Island to search for families. Nearly 400 species are illustrated the wreck of William Dampier’s ship, the by high-quality line drawings, mostly by focusing on some of the University’s Roebuck, which sunk off the coast of the Rosemary Wise, showing leaves, inflor- greatest treasures in plant sciences was island in 1701, with the specimens OXF escences, dissected flowers and fruit. Many arranged by the Department, together with now has on board. The team were species are illustrated for the first time, St. Catherine’s and Magdalen Colleges, to successful in their mission and uncovered which greatly enhances the value of the which some 35 distinguished guests attended. The theme of the displays was the ship’s bell, which is now being book for anyone working on the African conserved, and various other artefacts. As a flora. based on four hundred years of botanical result Dampier and his collections received The taxonomy is faithful to the ideas of exploration and species introduction, by some newspaper coverage. For further Frank White, but also reflects the experience continent. The display in the Daubeny details see Daily Telegraph 20.3.01, of Jim Chapman and Françoise Dowsett- Herbarium ranged from herbarium spec- Western Daily Press 24.3.01 page 11, The Lemaire. Families, genera, species and imens from the historic collections alongside related drawings, manuscripts and West Australian 19.3.01 pages 1 & 12, plus synonyms are ordered alphabetically, and The West Australian ‘Weekend’ 26.5.01 the names of authors follow the standard of books from the Special Collections in the pages 1-2. In August we were delighted to Brummitt & Powell (1992). Roger Polhill Library, to herbarium specimens with welcome to the herbarium a descendant of contributed the accounts for Loranthaceae related publications from the present day William Dampier’s brother to see his and Viscaceae, and Serena Marner collections to highlight recent and current work in the Department. Our visitors were ancestors’ collections. contributed the account for Faurea. There is th no key to families, but within the family also able to view the early 17 century accounts there are dichotomous keys to watercolours contained in the ‘Tradescant Accessions genera and species. The family accounts Orchard’ kindly lent by the Bodleian 94 sheets of miscellaneous British plants include a concise description, notes on Library for the day, plus the recently collected by Mr R.C. Palmer during 1995- global distribution and totals of genera and published paintings of ‘The Banksias’ in a 97, including many species from Berkshire, species. Some family accounts are three-volume set kindly donated to Plant Oxfordshire, Shetland, East Sussex and supplemented with notes on pollination Sciences by Sir Martin Wood. Again on 14 Dorset, were added to the Druce Herbarium. ecology, taxonomy and important cultivated June, a number of distinguished visitors, An additional 82 sheets collected by Dr and non-forest species. Each genus starts including a return visit by the Marchioness H.J.M. Bowen were also incorporated, with species totals and global distribution, of Salisbury, came to the Fielding-Druce adding many new species/aliens to the but occasionally notes on taxonomy and Herbarium to view the Flora Graeca and British collection. thumbnail descriptions are also given. other items from the historic collections. Species accounts include main literature references and recent synonyms (this serves to point the user to more detailed taxonomic treatments and to indicate accepted names for use in Malawi), a brief note of habit and habitat, specimen citations, global dis- tribution and chorological classification. The specimen citations are divided into the three regions within Malawi (Northern, Southern and Central) mostly one for each, given along with regional distribution and altitudinal range where appropriate. This book should be an essential reference for all botanists, conservationists and natural resource managers interested in the flora of the evergreen forests of Malawi. Un- fortunately, the excessively high price will ensure that many students, botanists and workers in Malawi will not benefit from this important work. Protea cynaroides from the Sherardian Herbarium (on left) collected c.1693 plus coloured Stuart Cable drawing of Protea cynaroides from MS Sherard 188 dated 1693, Plant Sciences Library

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 13

Specimens collected by Rosemary Wise Loans Tropical forest plant during the Linnean Society Expedition to Activity on this front increased this year Lapland in 1988 were added to the Fielding with a large quantity of loan material field guide project Herbarium, having previously been mounted moving through the herbarium. Loans for for OXF. 36 specimens collected by Dr commencing research were received for H.J.M. Bowen in Switzerland in August Colin Hughes (Lupinus, Leguminosae); In 2001 the FRP field guides project 1965 were also incorporated. John Wood (Strobilanthes, Acanthaceae) outlined in the last newsletter (OPS 8) has and Alex Wortley (Thomandersia, visited Grenada again, where we are Curation Acanthaceae) as well as for Ruth Eastwood collaborating with the ministry of Forestry An undergraduate, Ruth Eastwood, was (undergraduate research project on Senecio and National Parks. Rosemary Wise has employed in the herbarium for 4 weeks squalidus, Compositae) and Stephan Gale now painted from living material more than during the Long Vacation. Part of her time (Forestry M.Sc project on Lysiloma, 100 species of trees and shrub and later has was spent on a conservation project Leguminosae) drawn the same species from dried involving much needed re-foldering of the Over 1000 specimens were returned to specimens. William Hawthorne and Stuart Dillenian Collections. other herbaria at the end of research Cable have added to collections from the The substantial collections of Rosa and projects, mainly Aglaia and other island made earlier, so that we and Rubus material in the Druce Herbarium Meliaceae; Strobilanthes and Steno- Grenadans now have a comprehensive were re-organized according to D.H. Kent’s siphonium (Acanthaceae); Euphorbiaceae, collection of woody plants from all List of Vascular Plants of the British Isles in Sterculiaceae and Irvingiaceae from West vegetation types on the island, linked to line with the rest of the British Collections Africa. digital photolibrary-material that has so far (with the exception of Taraxacum and taken only 4.5 person-months to compile. Hieracium which remain to be tackled). Curation This material, the specimens, paintings, The specimens were also placed in acid-free Curation of the collection was confined to drawings and actual leaves, will be made folders. the earlier part of the year. Acacia was into various field guides covering four areas completed and other smaller genera in the of forest on the island. These will be tested Loans Leguminosae as well as other families were in early 2002 on tourists and Grenadans and Material sent out on loan from the Fielding worked on as the need arose, mainly after scored for accuracy, user-appeal, cost and and Druce collections during the last returned loans or the activities of William time to produce and other attributes. academic year included specimens from the Hawthorne and his team on the Tropical In Ghana in October-November 2001 following genera and families: Steno- Forest Field Guide project. William Hawthorne will be testing, with the siphonium, Strobilanthes, Acanthaceae; The spirit collection had to be reduced Ghana Forest Service and the Protected Anastatica, Malcolmia, Sisymbrium, further in order to fit it into the storage Areas Development Project, a bark-and-bole Cruciferae; Juniperus, Cupressaceae; Erio- organised in the basement of the depart- photoguide to more than 100 of the most phorum, Scirpus, Cyperaceae; Geranium, ment. This was achieved by retaining important, largest tree species, arranged Geraniaceae; Agropyron, Bromus, and smaller, but representative, amounts of each with various formats and indexes, and to be Bromopsis, Gramineae; Galeopsis, Labiatae; collection and did not, therefore, necessitate tested on several groups with an interest in Lupinus, Swartzia, Leguminosae; Alten- the disposal of any collections. Due to their tree identification skills. Other steinia, Dactylorhiza, Prescottia and safety requirements, this collection will be ‘guidelets’ being tested in Ghana are various Stenoptera, Orchidaceae; Clavija and kept separate from the main herbarium formats of guide to important NTFPs (Non Jacquinia, Theophrastaceae; Antrophyum, collection after refurbishment. Timber Forest Products e.g. rattans, Monogramma, Vittaria, Vittariaceae. OXF Some Leguminosae and Meliaceae fruits Garcinia chew sticks, Dracaena species) material comprising 26 loans, or parts of were added to the carpological collection as and leaf guides to Sapotaceae and loans, were returned during the year and unincorporated material came to light during Bignoniaceae trees. Meanwhile, Stuart in 13% of the returned specimens were types. clearing of the herbarium. This collection collaboration with Limbe Botanic Garden had to be boxed up for the refurbishment staff, in Cameroon, will be testing guidelets Serena Marner period as the cupboards it occupies will be to species of Cola from Mt. Cameroon in modified and moved in the new layout of several formats. Formats of guidelet to this the herbarium. ‘difficult’ genus include detailed photo- graphs of dried and living plants, line Daubeny (FHO) Other activities drawings, Xrays of venation, photocopies of herbarium specimens and actual dried Visitors were fewer this year because FHO st leaves, all to be tested on various user The refurbishment of FHO has dominated was closed from May 1 2001. The areas of this year, much of the time being spent interest of those that came included the groups. All the information from these activities sorting out specimens before the herbarium African ferns, Ugandan forest trees, the will be analysed in early 2002 to help was packed into boxes for temporary Sudan flora, some Leguminosae and provide guidance for the sorts of field guide storage in June and July. However, other Meliaceae genera. appropriate in different circumstances. activities did not completely cease, at least The work on the checklist of the flora of Being a DFID project, we are particularly in the first half of the year. Mt. Mulanje, Malawi was somewhat interested in guides appropriate in various curtailed during the year due to refurbishment work taking priority. Alison ways for promoting sustainable rural Accessions livelihoods and poverty-alleviation. Mean- A small amount of material was accessed to Strugnell has now submitted the paper on while, we hope the ‘guidelets’ themselves FHO during the year and mainly comprised the endemics of Mt. Mulanje to will be developed based on our results to Chris Fagg’s Tanzanian Acacia collection; ‘Systematics and Geography of Plants’, and produce useful products in these countries. Augustine Chikuni’s Brachystegia coll- the checklist of the spermatophyte flora is ections; Lupinus for Colin Hughes and ready to be extracted from the database. William Hawthorne Aglaia for Caroline Pannell. Alison Strugnell

14 Oxford Plant Systematics OPS 9 January 2002

BRAHMS

module for loans and exchanges; optional- BRAHMS is database software for botanical Netherlands where the Leiden, Utrecht and use data forms added to key data screens research and collection management. For Wageningen databases have been growing including the main collection file; increased downloads and documentation, go to since about 1995. flexibility with linked data files allowing www.brahms.co.uk Regional data networks are being users to attach linked data files with any established in Brazil and the Netherlands fields to a core BRAHMS database; custom and, with assistance from the Asia IT&C Key developments – 2001 lookups that generate lookup dictionaries for European Community Initiative, the web During 2001, the continued development of non-standard fields; extensive enhancements based project ‘South East Asian Collection BRAHMS has been one component of the to RDE and RDE importing; password extensive modernisation of the Oxford Information Network (SEABCIN)’ will encryption; extended calculate and data assist with data exchange between herbaria herbaria. In addition to the extension of analysis options throughout; and a new in Europe and South East Asia. curation services, there has been a auto-upgrade feature that means you can substantial development of research support download the new version from the web and tools including the addition of modules to rapidly auto-upgrade your databases. manage DNA samples and sequences. Feature – managing loans

Within this Department, the Hughes work on Lupinus is steering BRAHMS into new Active projects – 2001 The BRAHMS Transaction Module The BRAHMS Project started in 1985. areas of practical support for monography monitors incoming and outgoing loans, gifts Since then, the software has worked its way while the preparation of the checklist of and exchanges and any other category of through five principal revisions. It is now Mount Mulanje by Strugnell has pushed transaction entered into your Transaction assisting herbaria in Europe (Baltic states, forward developments with text storage and Category dictionary. It maintains permanent Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and the formatting. Andrew Liddell has re- records describing the movement of UK); Africa (Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, developed the BRAHMS web site and specimens and associated materials such as Ghana, Kenya); Asia (Bangladesh, Jonathan Bennett is coordinating the extra sheets, photographs and wood samples Indonesia, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, preparation of the BRAHMS 5 manual. to and from your herbarium. New software developments are posted on Singapore) and the Americas (Brazil, the web site in the Software Development Honduras, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA). The Transaction categories first external project was started at the Paul section. They include the addition of the Transaction Categories are classified into IN C. Standley herbarium (EAP), Honduras in Map Library, Image Library and DNA and OUT groups or combinations of these. 1989. The largest database to date is in the sequence modules; upgraded transactions A default list of categories is provided with

the BRAHMS set-up – but these may be

edited. The most commonly used of these is the OUT-IN category ‘Loan requested

from you - then returned’ – the typical loan. As well as the incoming and outgoing loans, you can store transactions that are gifts, exchanges, purchases and staff collections. The grouping of transactions into categories means that you can prepare period reports for and otherwise analyze

transactions by group.

Transaction records Each transaction entry is given a unique

Transaction ID and is coded by category. In addition, the transaction record stores where the transaction was sent to or received from, a contact name, various dates and optional memo fields including a summary of the transaction content. Counts of specimens (in and out) can be manually added. The manual count fields are useful when it is not

possible or realistic to physically link the specimens. These fields can be used to

balance exchanges or simply check that loan The Image Library is one of the additions made to BRAHMS in 2001. Slides, illustrations returns are complete. and other pictures including saved pictures o f maps and other scanned items can be catalogued. Once added, the images can be li nked to individual taxa, collections or a locality.

Depar tment of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford 15

Linking specimens The value of the transaction module increases when specimens, stored in BRAHMS, are explicitly linked to the transaction records. As well as enabling you to keep track of exactly which items are included in a transaction, you can print specimen lists, monitor loan returns, make retrospective enquiries (e.g. exactly which specimens were sent in loans to the USA in 1990). The system includes a range of tools to efficiently link and unlink specimens to and from transactions. Herbaria using barcodes can make good use of these with the transaction module. Barcodes provide extra precision with the handling of collection materials; save time selecting collections for dispatch and recording returns; and they can be included on specimen lists providing an unambiguous collection reference.

Designing reports After a loan or any other type of transaction Selecting Collections, Transactions – MAIN file opens a screen similar to that shown below. has been processed, you can print a list of determinations can be efficiently updated specimens included in the transaction. Using and fed into the main database. the BRAHMS Visual Reporter, you can The immediate and longer term benefits Frequently, the need to record which design and print a wide range of lists. These As well as providing longer term benefits specimens are being dispatched on loan is may be formatted to include any of those that come from tackling the movement of an incentive to databasing collections, fields in the main transaction record (e.g. the collections, the transaction module has providing a realistic way to making a start ID number and the address) and the linked immediate practical uses – printing lists, with this often massive and daunting task, at specimen file. If necessary, you can set forms and address labels; pinpointing the the same time doing something of filters on lists to include only some of the whereabouts of particular collections; immediate practical benefit. To make full specimens. For example, you may want to balancing specimen numbers in herbarium use of the transactions module, you do not print a list of material that has not yet been exchange schemes; listing loans overdue; need to have a fully databased herbarium – returned to send attached with a reminder and preparing transaction period activity you can start today. letter. Sample reports are provided with reports. The module also provides a logical BRAHMS in the \Brahms5\Reports\ platform to record in-coming determinations Denis Filer Transactions folder. – as specimens return from loans, revised

T he above screen shows part of the National Herb arium of the Netherlands – Leiden transaction fil e. If the actual specimens have been linked, t hese can be accessed using the Open button or d ouble clicking in the Transaction column. The fie ld SPECIMENS in this record refers to the n umber of specimens attached to the transaction. The field EXTRAS refers to the number of assoc iated collections attached to the transaction ( extra sheets, wood samples, etc.).