Special Symposium Issue - Special Symposium Issue - see page 8 Department of Botany & the U.S. Nat Herbarium TheThe PlantPlant PressPress see page 9
New Series - Vol. 9 - No. 3 July-September 2006 Botany Profile Islands in the Stream of Evolution By Gary A. Krupnick n 21-22 April, more than 125 awarding of the sixth José Cuatrecasas arose in many adaptive radiations, but participants gathered at the Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany, that the islands are a source area for ONational Museum of Natural which was awarded to Sherwin Carlquist colonization to other oceanic islands History to attend the Sixth Annual Smith- (see related article, page 8). A leader in leading to new adaptive radiations. sonian Botanical Symposium, “Island the study of phylogeny, biogeography, and Bruce G. Baldwin, Professor of Archipelagos: Cauldrons of Evolution.” anatomy of island plants, Carlquist was Integrative Biology and Curator of the The Symposium explored the role that highly appreciative of the award and spoke Jepson Herbarium at the University of island archipelagos have played in our about how the award will encourage him California, Berkeley, next spoke on understanding of ecological and evolu- to continue to do better work. “The award “Pacific Dispersals and Radiations of tionary processes as well as the future is not closure, but a Western North conservation of these unique ecosys- vote of confidence,” American Origin: An tems. Six invited speakers presented he said. Carlquist Emergent Pattern.” talks that described different island sys- received accolades In describing the tems, each containing unique biotas that throughout the day adaptive radiations experience selective pressures different as each of the speakers began their talks from the west coast of North America from those that dominate mainland by paying tribute to their highly respected to Hawaii, Baldwin presented case ecosystems. colleague. studies from the Hawaiian silversword An opening reception at the United alliance (Asteraceae), Hawaiian sanicles States Botanic Garden, a co-sponsor of he first invited speaker was Warren (Sanicula: Apiaceae), Hawaiian violets the symposium, kicked-off the confer- Wagner, Curator of Pacific Botany (Viola), Hawaiian mints (Haplo- ence on the evening of 21 April. Gather- Tin the Department of Botany at the stachys), and Hawaiian Schiedea (Cary- ing in the Garden’s atrium, an enthusias- Smithsonian Institution, who presented ophyllaceae). He described how five tic crowd enjoyed food, conversation, “Out of Hawaii: A Remote Archipelago as western North American lineages and tours of the amazing collection of a Source Area.” Oceanic islands, ex- account for more than 12 percent of plants. The latest Garden exhibit featured plained Wagner, are natural laboratories Hawaiian angiosperms. Baldwin also plant species that were collected during for examining evolutionary diversifica- described how shrubby tarweeds from the U.S. Exploring Expedition (1838- tion. He described (1) what plant diversity the islands off the coast of California 1842). exists in the Hawaiian Islands; (2) how paralleled the adaptive radiation of the W. John Kress, symposium convener, independently derived groups exhibit Hawaiian silversword alliance. welcomed the audience at the morning similar patterns of colonization and diver- Moving from the Pacific Ocean to session on 22 April. Kress described the sification; (3) which groups radiated more the Atlantic Ocean, Javier Francisco- “what” and “where” of archipelagos, and than others; and (4) if colonization to Ortega, Head of the Plant Molecular explained how archipelagos make won- isolated archipelagos was one-way. Using Systematics and Conservation Biology derful systems that can provide to us diverse images of the Hawaiian flora, Laboratory jointly operated by Florida unique insights about ecology and Wagner gave a brief tour of the most International University and Fairchild evolution. He also gave a brief history of species-rich lineages: Campanulaceae, Tropical Botanic Garden, ushered in the how islands have shaped the study of Gesneriaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, afternoon session with his presentation evolution, natural selection, and bioge- Caryophyllaceae, Asteraceae, Arecaceae, of “New and Old Paradigms for the ography. Rubiaceae, and Myrsinaceae. He demon- Macaronesian Flora: Molecular Phylo- The morning session began with the strated that the Hawaiian Islands are not only a place where divergent species Continued on page 11 Travel Pedro Acevedo traveled to Santo Linda Hollenberg and Jamie with colleagues from the universities of Domingo, Dominican Republic, and San Whitacre traveled to Albuquerque, New Istanbul, Ankara, and Cyprus. Juan, Puerto Rico (6/17 – 7/2) to present Mexico (5/22 – 5/27) to present a poster Warren Wagner traveled to Pullman, the keynote address at the 9th Latin at the joint meeting of the Society for the Washington (4/2 – 4/11) to give a lecture American Botanical Congress and to Preservation of Natural History Collec- and to participate in a graduate student attend the meeting of the Organization for tions (SPNHC) and the Natural Science committee meeting at Washington State Flora Neotropica, both in the Dominican Collections Alliance (NSCA). University; to Kauai and Oahu, Hawaii (4/ Republic, and to fundraise in Puerto Rico. W. John Kress traveled to Panama 30 – 5/9) to make a presentation at the Walter Adey traveled to Newfound- City, Panama (5/8 – 5/11) to participate in National Tropical Botanical Garden Board land and Nova Scotia, Canada (6/12 – 8/ a workshop on plant phylogeny, phylo- of Trustees meeting and to conduct re- 12) to conduct research in the Canadian geography, and DNA barcoding; and to search at the Bishop Museum Herbarium; Maritimes. Grenada and Trinidad (5/19 – 6/1) to and to Santo Domingo, Dominican Re- Michael Bordelon traveled to conduct field work on hummingbirds and public (6/17 – 6/20) to attend the council Denver, Colorado (6/12 – 6/14) to give a Heliconia. meeting of the International Association presentation at the Applied Plant Conser- Mark and Diane Littler traveled to for Plant Taxonomy. vation Training Program at the Denver Fort Pierce, Florida (6/4 – 7/5) to con- Anna Weitzman traveled to Edin- Botanic Gardens; and to San Francisco, tinue work on the flora of the Indian River burgh, Scotland, and London, England (5/ California (6/28 – 7/3) to consult on Lagoon in collaboration with M. Dennis 2 – 5/13) to discuss data standards for greenhouse operations and the ginger Hanisak at Harbor Branch Oceanographic. taxonomy and issues related to rearrang- collections at the University of Califor- Dan Nicolson traveled to Richmond, ing herbarium collections at the Royal nia, Berkeley. Virginia (4/4) with Emanuela Appetiti Botanic Garden Edinburgh and at the Maria Faust traveled to Belize City, to consult with the librarian and director Natural History Museum in London. Belize (4/26 – 5/11) to conduct research of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Jun Wen traveled to New Haven, Con- on red tide-forming, toxic, dinoflagellate Richmond on identification of plant necticut (4/4 – 4/6) to give a lecture at microalgae in the Atlantic Barrier coral species in artwork; and to New York (5/21 Yale University; to Chicago, Illinois (4/27 reef-mangrove habitats. – 5/26) to work on Taxonomic Literature, – 4/30) to work on her collections at the Vicki Funk, Sara Alexander, and Maya F & G Supplement. Field Museum; to Mexico (5/8 – 5/22) to Sthral traveled to Bronx, New York (6/5 – James Norris and Robert Sims present a seminar at Universidad Nacional 6/8) to study specimens from the traveled to Belize City, Belize (5/7 – 5/ Autónoma de México and to conduct field Venezulean Guayana at the New York 25) to collect marine red algae for research on Vitaceae, Araliaceae, and Botanical Garden. studies in Carrie Bow Cay. Prunus; to China (5/28 – 6/11) to teach a Rusty Russell traveled to Cambridge, training course on molecular techniques Massachusetts (6/5 – 6/6) to visit the in ethnobotany organized by Missouri The Plant Press Harvard University Botany Library and Botanical Garden and Kunming Institute Archives to investigate the Wilkes of Botany, and to conduct research on New Series - Vol. 9 - No. 3 collection. Araliaceae and Vitaceae; and to Santo Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Domingo, Dominican Republic (6/17 – 6/ Chair of Botany Appetiti traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia (5/3 20) to attend the council meeting of the W. John Kress ([email protected]) – 5/7) to participate in a conference on International Association for Plant traditional medicine; to Pompeii, Italy (5/ Taxonomy. EDITORIAL STAFF 13 – 5/20) to study biological material Kenneth Wurdack traveled to Bronx, from excavations; to Rome, Italy (5/24 – New York (5/15 – 5/17) to conduct Editor 7/5) to conduct research on Renaissance research at the herbarium and attend the Gary Krupnick printed herbals; to Baku, Azerbaijan (6/10 dedication of the Pfizer Plant Research ([email protected]) – 6/14) to attend a conference on ancient Laboratory at the New York Botanical News Contacts manuscripts and materia medica; and to Garden. MaryAnn Apicelli, Robert Faden, Ellen Istanbul, Turkey (6/15 – 6/16) to work Farr, Shirley Maina, George Russell, Alice Tangerini, and Elizabeth Zimmer Visitors
The Plant Press is a quarterly publication provided Ze-Long Nie, Kunming Institute of Robert Leucking, Field Museum; Mason free of charge. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact Dr. Gary Krupnick at: Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Hale Costa Rican collections (1/30-4/2). Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, PO Eastern Himalayan conservation and Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, DC biodiversity, and molecular biogeography Federico Luebert, Universidad de Chile, 20013-7012, or by E-mail: [email protected]. of Northern Hemisphere disjunct plants Santiago; Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) (2/5-8/4). Web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany (10/10-6/9). Continued on page 6
Page 2 Asian Botany at the Smithsonian: Past, Present and Future Chair he recent annual meeting of the Association for and plan the final volumes of this massive project that Chair Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) will eventually include over 31,000 species of flower- Theld in China in July ended with the publication ing plants. The Department of Botany has been a of the “Kunming Declaration.” The conference was participant in the Flora of China Project since the early With hosted by the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical 1990s. Although this participation has been one of the Garden and sponsored by the Chinese Academy of most obvious Asian-based programs in Botany during Sciences and National Natural Science Foundation as the last several decades, it should not be forgotten that well as ATBC. Growth of Chinese science during the we have a long history of working in various parts of A last decade has been impressive and it was very clear Asia since the very beginning of the United States at the meeting that the government was fully commit- National Herbarium in the 1800s. ted to increase funding for ecological and environ- The U.S. South Pacific Exploring Expedition led by View mental research. Lt. Charles Wilkes returned to the Nation’s Capitol in The “Kunming Declaration,” approved unanimously 1842 with tens of thousands of botanical specimens, at an ATBC plenary session on the last day of the con- many from islands in the Pacific which was a focus of ference, urged the nations of tropical Asia to expand the voyage. These specimens eventually became the the number and size of protected areas within their basis of the US. National Herbarium which was offi- W. borders, especially for forest types and eco-regions cially formed in 1893 when Frederick V. Coville was that are poorly protected in existing reserves, and for appointed Honorary Curator of the National Herbarium. John the increasingly rare areas that still retain their highly Since that time a series of well-known botanists have Kress vulnerable megafauna. The Declaration also stated that made significant contributions to Asian Botany at the financial support be substantially increased for scien- Smithsonian, including tific strategies to (a) restore degraded and secondary Elmer D. Merrill (1876-1956), who collected over forests, (b) identify key regions of high biological and 6,000 species from the Philippines during and after conservation significance, (c) enhance and maintain the Spanish-American War; functional connectivity for wildlife among existing Joseph F. Rock (1884-1962), whose 25,149 collec- and planned reserves; (d) develop multi-national tions from China, Tibet, Thailand, Burma, and Assam research, collaboration, and capacity-building; and (e) are the foundation of our Asian materials; devise sustainable strategies for natural-resource Floyd McClure (1897-1970), who studied bamboos development. The Kunming Declaration was distribu- and taught at Lingnan University in Guangdong, tion to the local and international media by the end of China, came to the Smithsonian in 1941 and his the conference. massive bamboo collections and library are depos- The success of the ATBC meeting in China and the ited here; announcement of the Kunming Declaration was a clear Egbert H. Walker (1899-1991), who also taught in signal that biodiversity and conservation sciences are China at Canton Christian College, came to the US strong and growing in Asia. As stated in the Declara- National Herbarium in 1928; he was eventually co- tion the biological diversity of tropical forests in Asia author with Merrill on the Bibliography of Eastern is among the very richest and most spectacular on the Asiatic Botany (1938) and sole author of the planet and likely accounts for at least a quarter of all Supplement (1960); species on Earth. But at the same time Asia has the Albert C. Smith (1906-1999), who first went to Fiji in highest deforestation rate of any major tropical region 1933, came to the Smithsonian in 1948 and rose to in the world, and is also being massively altered by become Assistant Secretary of the Institution; he rampant industrial logging, plantation expansion, over- completed his Flora Vitiensis Nova (5 volumes) in hunting, the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife 1991; products, pollution and degradation of freshwater and Francis Raymond Fosberg (1908-1993), who studied coastal marine ecosystems, rapid human population South Pacific botany made over 150,000 collections growth, and other threats. Yet rapid economic growth and published the Revised Handbook of the Flora of and the impressive development of scientific exper- Ceylon. tise in tropical Asia are creating important new opportunities for targeted research and conservation More recently a number of contemporary members initiatives. of the Department have continued this tradition of Asian Not always recognized, curators in the Department Botany with sustained field work, collections, and of Botany have contributed significantly to Asian publications in a number of different countries: botany and biodiversity studies. In April, Botany Dan H. Nicolson, who joined the staff in 1963, hosted the Joint Meeting of the Editorial Committee conducted field work and made collections in the of the Flora of China Project. Editorial members from Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Thailand, China as well as the US and UK attended to discuss Continued on page 7
Page 3 plate lists botanical information, from botanical illustration using herbarium Staff family, genus and species, to countries in specimens and demonstrated her pen and which the plant was found and related ink techniques. Research & literary references. The plates were An exhibit at the Desert Botanical Activities produced by artist A. Descubes during the Garden (DBG) in Phoenix, Arizona, late 19th and early 20th centuries. “Botany Beautiful, The Tradition Contin- ues” features three Oenothera illustra- In May, James Norris and Suzanne On 9 May, Robert Faden was an invited tions by Tangerini and three watercolor Fredericq (co-principal investigators of guest of the open house of the U.S. paintings by Mary Eaton from the the Belize Marine Algae Project), with National Arboretum’s Floral and Nursery Department’s Art Collection. The exhibit, Robert Sims, Fred Gurgel (Smithsonian Plants Research Unit/Green Industry. The curated by Marilyn Garber, educational Marine Station post-doctoral fellow) and research done by the 15 researchers in director of the American Society of Chip Clark (Smithsonian photographer) the FNPRU was presented by research Botanical Artists, concentrates on plants traveled to the Smithsonian’s Marine leader, John Hammond. The researchers native to the southwestern U.S. and also Laboratory on Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, to include taxonomists, horticulturalists, exhibits art from the Harvard collections dive and collect marine macroalgae for geneticists, plant pathologists, microbi- as well as DBG. The exhibit runs until 3 comparative morphological studies and ologists and physiologists. They are May 2007. molecular analyses, focusing primarily on stationed in Beltsville, Maryland, at the mangrove algae, colloid producing Anna Weitzman has taken a full time USNA in Washington, DC, and McMinn- species of Hypnea , Eucheuma and detail assisting the Bureau of Industry & ville, Tennessee. Research is focused on Gracilaria, as well as new species of Security at the Department of Commerce the development of new, woody plants for Liagoraceae and Wrangelia, and photo in managing some internet technology horticulture and on the diseases of documentation of their research and projects. She will continue to keep an ornamental plants. The presentation was diving at Carrie Bow Cay and vicinity. affiliation with the Botany Department. followed by discussion groups that Weitzman is excited about revitalizing focused on the work of the USNA and its On 5 June, Rusty Russell and Bianca her work in botany and plans to have a intersection with the needs of the Green Lipscomb visited the Harvard University more active role in botanical and biodi- Industry (essentially the horticultural Botany Library and Archives to complete versity informatics research projects trade at all levels). This was followed by their review of Asa Gray’s handwritten and through the department than she has been lunch and tours of the USNA collections, unpublished fourth manuscript which lists able to for some years. including the herbarium (NA), and the 1,192 species names of the plant collec- research facilities at Beltsville. tions made during the U.S. Exploring Expedition. On 18 May, Gary Krupnick presented At the 2006 joint meeting of the the keynote address, “Plant Conservation Society for the Preservation of Natural at the U.S. National Herbarium,” at the History Collections (SPNHC) and the symposium “Charting the Future of Plant- Natural Science Collections Alliance based Conservation Education in the (NSCA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.” Held at the United States Jamie Whitacre presented a poster Botanic Garden, the symposium was entitled “Ethnobotany of the Border designed to address Target 14 of the Regions of the U.S. and Mexico” whose Global Strategy for Plant Conservation authors included Russell, Bill Merrill and and was co-sponsored by Botanic Gardens Linda Hollenberg. Conservation International. Krupnick was also an invited speaker Alice Tangerini is exhibiting two of her at the Maryland Master Gardeners Annual botanical illustrations, Mortoniodendron Training Day at the University of Mary- uxpanapense and Alloplectus serpens at land, College Park, on 25 May, where he the Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, New Faces presented “A Natural History Approach to Virginia, as part of an exhibition, “Inspired Plant Conservation.” by the Plant,” organized by the Botanical Maya Strahl, a Research Training Art Society of the National Capital Program (RTP) intern, is working with On 4 April, Dan Nicolson and Emanuela Region (BASNCR). The exhibit runs until Vicki Funk this summer on a project Appetiti visited the library of the Lewis 30 July and features botanical subjects in titled “Phylogeny and Biodiversity of the Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, watercolor, color pencil, graphite, pen and Compositae Family in the Guiana Shield.” Virginia, to view the Descubes collection, ink, and mixed media. The BASNCR is a Strahl was born in New York City but which comprises 2,300 drawings (in local group of botanical artists who free- grew up in a small village near Canada in pencil and painted in watercolor, most of lance and teach classes in their special- upstate New York. She is currently them signed) of plants of the Indian ties. Some of the members are long time majoring in biology at Berry College, a subcontinent and areas such as Pakistan, illustrators associated with the Smith- small liberal arts college in northwestern Buthan and the Himalayan region. Each sonian. On 24 June, Tangerini discussed Georgia. She has been doing undergradu-
Page 4 ate research since the spring semester of Jun Wen was honored as a guest profes- to collect cool-season grasses (Poo- 2005 and has worked on research in oak sor for a four-year term by the Kunming ideae) while the intervening valleys and seedling leaf ontogeny and cotyledon Institute of Botany of the Chinese lower slopes provided good habitat for reserves, and on a study to assess the Academy of Sciences. warm-season grasses (Chloridoideae). A results of prescribed burning on fire- total of 503 numbers of grasses were suppressed longleaf pine stands. More Elizabeth Zimmer has been appointed gathered and duplicates were left at our recently she has been responsible for a Associate Editor of the journal Plant host institution, Instituto de Darwinion in long-term project on a limestone glade Systematics and Evolution. San Isidro. community on the Berry College campus. In addition, Strahl began a vegetation Department Hosts survey and drafted a management plan as a National Science Foundation intern the Flora of China during the summer of 2005. This spring she presented her findings at the annual Project meeting of the Association of Southeast- The Department hosted the Joint ern Biologists. After completing the RTP Editorial Committee Meeting for the at the Natural History Museum she will Flora of China project on 17-18 April. finish her senior year at Berry College The meeting was organized by W. John and apply for graduate school. Kress and Jun Wen. Twenty-five mem- bers of the Committee from China, Japan, Grass Collecting in England, Scotland, and several major US Awards & Argentina botanical institutions, including the Grants Missouri Botanical Garden, Harvard From 1 March to 12 April, Paul University, and the California Academy of Vicki Funk and Warren Wagner each Peterson and Robert Soreng visited Sciences, attended the two-day meeting. received a 2005 National Museum of Argentina to collect grasses and review The Department has been a partner in the Natural History Science Achievement specimens at Darwinion (SI), Fundacíon Flora of China Project for several dec- Award. The awards were established in Miguel Lillo (LIL), Universidad de ades. The Flora of China will describe 2004 to recognize outstanding scientific Buenos Aires (BAA), Instituto Nacional and document about 31,000 or one-eighth contributions by NMNH staff during the de Tecnología Agropecuaria (BAB), and of the world’s total plant species. This preceding calendar year. Each spring a Museo de La Plata (LP). Diego Lionel number includes about 8,000 species of committee comprising members of the Salariato and Adela Maria Panizza, two medicinal and economically important permanent scientific staff and chaired by students from Darwinion, accompanied plants and about 7,500 species of trees the Associate Director of Research and Peterson and Soreng on the collecting trip and shrubs. More than 600 scientists Collections (ADRC) reviews up to three that began in southern Mendoza and con- from throughout the world are cooperat- publications nominated by each curatorial tinued north through San Juan, La Rioja, ing in the preparation of individual department as well as nominations from Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta to La treatments of the Flora, including several individual staff. Funk and Wagner were Quiaca, Jujuy. High elevation slopes of curators in the Department of Botany at recognized for the following publica- the Cordillera de los Andes were visited the Smithsonian. tions: Funk, V.A. et al. 2005. Everywhere but Antarctica: Using a supertree to under- stand the diversity and distribution of the Compositae. Biologiske Skrifter 55: 343-373. Wagner, W.L., S.G. Weller, and A. Sakai. 2005. Monograph of Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae - Alsinoideae). System- atic Botany Monographs 72: 1-169. Rusty Russell and W. John Kress received a grant from the Earthwatch Institute for “Plants and People: Extract- ing Ethnobotanical Data from Historic Specimens.” Alain Touwaide has been elected Presi- dent-Elect of the Washington Academy of The Flora of China Editorial Committee at the National Museum of Natural Sciences. History. (Photo by Chip Clark)
Page 5 New Synthesis of Flora for Famed Plummers Island A checklist of the flora of Plummers Island, in the Potomac River narrowly separated from the Maryland shore just inside Washington DC’s Capital Beltway (I-495) and below the American Legion Bridge, has just been published by Stanwyn G. Shetler, Sylvia S. Orli, Elizabeth F. Wells, and Marcie Beyers- dorfer, in the Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington. The Washington Biologists’ Field Club has been studying the biology of Plummers Island and its adjoining mainland since 1901, when the Club leased the island and established a headquarters there. Today, it is one of the most studied small islands or sites of comparable size anywhere. The first and only previous checklist was published in East end of Plummers Island with large sign identifying island. (Photo by E. 1935, with an addendum in 1953. Lohnes) The new checklist reports a cumulative total of 885 species since records were first kept and documented with speci- Cuatrecasas Travel Award mens. This is 92 species more than pre- The Cuatrecasas Travel Award (CTA) is • Jorge Andrés Pérez Zabala - viously reported in 1934 and 1953. Of the a new annual competition offered by the “Curation of Neotropical Prunus 885, only 300-350 of these are present Department, which will usually result in (Rosaceae) and Colombian Rosaceae today. The flora has been in constant flux one to two awards, each not exceeding Based on Collections Deposited at the from season to season and year to year, $3,000. The award is to support work in US National Herbarium” especially because of the frequent the spirit of the research of the late Dr. • Oscar Mauricio Vargas - “Study of flooding of the river. Among the species José Cuatrecasas, a long time associate of the Genus Diplostephium (Aster- that have disappeared from the island over the US National Herbarium. Priority is aceae, Astereae)” the years are the locally native prickly- given to scientists from Latin America or • Alejandra Vasco - “Monograph and pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) on from elsewhere who work on tropical Phylogenetic Study of the Fern Genus Cactus Rock and bloodleaf (Iresine rhi- plants. Funds are to be used to study Elaphoglossum Subsection Muscosa zomatosa), which was first described new specimens housed in the US National (Dryopteridaceae)” to science from the island. Others have Herbarium. given way to invaders. The native hop This year, the CTA Committee (Pedro These awards will bring in four (Humulus lupulus) has been displaced by Acevedo, Laurence Dorr, and Vicki colleagues from Colombia and one from the Japanese hop (Humulus japonicus), Funk) selected three proposals to fund Venezuela (now in Mexico). These trips and the American bittersweet (Celastrus for a total of $6,000. Fortunately, the will help build institutional collaboration scandens) has given way to the Oriental Director of the National Museum of and advance botanical systematics. bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Natural History, Cristián Samper, will The island is still relatively unspoiled, provide an extra $6,000, to bring a total but as everywhere, invasive aliens are of five applicants to the US National taking their toll. Although only about 21% Herbarium: Visitors of the historical total of 885 species and Continued from page 2 the 300-350 contemporary species are • Rodrigo Bernal - “Study of Palms aliens, 55% of the 42 species that have (Arecaceae) at US, Towards a Treat- Wenying Wu, Philipps University, been recorded since the last update in ment of the Family for the Flora of Marburg, Germany; Nolana (Solanaceae) 1953 are aliens. Colombia” (2/28/06-2/27/08). The new checklist will provide a focus • Rodrigo Duno de Stefano - “Study of Ying Meng, Kunming Institute of Botany, for the Electronic Field Guide Project the Family Leguminosae in the Yucatan China; Smilacina (Liliaceae) (2/28-6/6). and the DNA Barcoding Project of W.J. Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP), Kress and collaborators. Mexico. Part III.” Shiliang Zhou, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing;
Page 6 Calycanthaceae (3/14-8/14). Qing Liu, South China Botanic Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Publications Michael Dillon, Field Museum; Peruvian Guangzhou; Poaceae (6/13-7/21). Asteraceae (3/31-4/7). Applequist, W.L., W.L. Wagner, E.A. Kathryn Mauz, University of Arizona; Zimmer and M. Nepokroeff. 2006. Thaweesak Thitimetharoch, Khon Kaen Arizona historical collections (6/14). Molecular evidence resolving the sys- University, Thailand; Commelinaceae (4/ tematic position of Hectorella (Portula- 3-5/2). Alice Calvente, Universidad de Sao caceae). Syst. Bot. 31(2): 310-319. Paulo, Brazil; Rhipsalis (Cactaceae) (6/ Lynn Russo, Independent researcher; 26- 6/29). Clark, J.L., P.S. Herendeen, L.E. Skog Volunteer interview (4/12). and E.A. Zimmer. 2006. Phylogenetic Leonardo Versieux, Universidad de Sao relationships and generic boundaries in Mark Tebbitt, Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Paulo, Brazil; Bromeliaceae (6/26-6/29). Begoniaceae (4/13-4/14). the Episcieae (Gesneriaceae) inferred Joao Nunes, Universidad de Sao Paulo, from nuclear, chloroplast, and morpho- Jean Molina, Rutgers University; Leea Brazil; Brazilian Bromeliaceae (6/26-7/ logical data. Taxon 55(2): 313-336. (Nyctaginaceae) (4/21). 10). Dorr, L.J. 2006. New combinations in Donald McClelland, New York Botani- Erica (Ericaceae: Ericoideae) from the cal Garden; Solanum (Solanaceae) (4/21- Chair high mountains of East Africa. Novon 4/22). Continued from page 3 16(1): 56-58. Jen Whipple, USDI-NPS-Yellowstone; Burma, India, Nepal and China; Peterson, P.M. 2006. Grasses. P. 68. In: Frank Tweedy collections (4/24-4/26). Laurance Skog, Robert DeFilipps (now R. Abramson and J. Haskell (eds.). Encyc- deceased), Anna Weitzman and John lopedia of Appalachia. University of John Freudenstein, Ohio State Univer- Kress, who have served as editors and Tennessee Press, Knoxville. sity; Orchidaceae (4/28). advisors to the Flora of China Project since 1990; Sakai, A.K., S.G. Weller, W.L. Wagner, WendyLynn Sacerdoti, Independent Warren Wagner, who took over the M. Nepokroeff, T.M. Culley and D.R. researcher; Ethnobotany lecture (4/28). Pacific Botany Program when Fosberg Campbell. 2006. Adaptive radiation and Frank Axelrod, University of Puerto retired, focuses on the Flora of Hawaii evolution of breeding system in Schiedea Rico, San Juan; Flora of Puerto Rico (5/ and Pacific Islands; (Caryophyllaceae), an endemic Hawaiian 1-5/5). John Kress, who has worked on the sys- genus. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 93: 50-65. tematics and pollination biology of the Shetler, S.G., S.S. Orli, E.F. Wells and Judy Chen, University of Florida; Zingiberaceae in China, Thailand, M. Beyersdorfer. 2006. Checklist of the Vitaceae (5/8- 5/12). Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian vascular plants of Plummers Island, Mary- countries, recently published a new Steve Manchester, Florida Museum; land. Contribution XXIX to the Natural checklist of the flowering plants of Cornales (5/8-5/12). History of Plummers Island, Maryland. Burma; Bull. Biol. Soc. Wash. 14: 1-58. Elizabeth O'Leary, University of Florida Jun Wen, who is one of the newest hires Museum of Natural History; Winged fruit in the Department, will continue her Touwaide, A. 2006. Malaria, pp. 195- database (5/8-5/12). floristic, biogeographic and taxonomic 196; Marcellus [8] Empiricus, pp. 300- work in China and neighboring coun- Nicolas Cuvi, Universitat Autònoma de 301; Medicina Plinii, pp. 568-569; tries as Curator of Botany. Barcelona, Spain; Cinchona Mission files Medicinal plants, pp. 558-568; Method- (5/17). Curators at the United States National ists, pp. 801-802; Metrodora, p. 836. In: Herbarium have a rich history, past and Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopaedia of the Rose Broome and James Reveal, present, of working in Asia and it is Ancient World. Brill, Leiden and Boston. Independent researchers; Dodecatheon expected that this work will continue into (Primulaceae) (5/19-5/22). Wasshausen, D.C. 2006. 156. Acantha- the future. As suggested by the Kunming ceae. In: M.J. Jensen-Jacobs (ed.). Flora Sarah Wakamiya and Kim Winter, Declaration biodiversity is exceptionally of the Guianas: Series A: Phanerogams North American Pollinator Protection rich in Asia but is also under exceptional 23: 1-141. Campaign; Conservation database (5/24). threat from over exploitation and ecosys- tem degradation. Increased activity by Wasshausen, D.C. 2006. 159. Mendonci- Orlando Alvarez F., Michigan State Uni- botanists at the US National Herbarium as aceae. In: M.J. Jensen-Jacobs (ed.). Flora versity; Thelypteris (Thelypteridaceae) well as other institutions both in Asia and of the Guianas: Series A: Phanerogams (6/8-6/11). outside Asia will be necessary to discover 23: 142-151. and describe this plant diversity before it Jackie Kallunki, New York Botanical disappears. Whittall, J.B., Medina-Moreno, A., E.A. Garden; Rutaceae (6/12). Zimmer and S.A. Hodges. 2006. Gener- Note: Thanks to Dan Nicolson who con- ating single-copy nuclear gene data for a Ray Mims, United States Botanic tributed facts and dates on Asian Botany at recent adaptive radiation. Mol. Phylo- Garden; Plant conservation (6/13). the US National Herbarium. genet. Evol. 39(1): 124-134.
Page 7 Carlquist Receives Sixth Cuatrecasas Medal The Department of Botany and the Shoreline (1970, 1980); and Tarweeds & as Adjunct Professor of Biological United States National Herbarium present Silverswords: Evolution of the Madiinae Sciences at the University of California at this annual award to a botanist and scholar (Asteraceae) (2003). Santa Barbara, 1993-1998. of international stature who has contrib- Carlquist received his B.A. and Ph.D. Other than academic honors (including uted significantly to advancing the field of from the University of California at Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi), Carlquist tropical botany. The José Cuatrecasas Berkeley in 1952 and 1956, respectively. has received the Gleason Prize of the Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany In 1955-1956, he conducted his post- New York Botanical Garden for Island is named in honor of Dr. José Cuatreca- doctoral study at Harvard University. He Life, 1967; career award (Certificate of sas, a pioneering botanist and taxonomist was a Professor of Botany at the Clare- Merit), Botanical Society of America, who spent nearly a half-century working mont Graduate School, 1956-1992, with a 1977; Fellow, International Academy of in the Smithsonian Institution’s Depart- joint position at Pomona College, 1977- Wood Science, 1987; Allerton Medal of ment of Botany. Dr. Cuatrecasas devoted 1984. His position was funded jointly by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, his career to plant exploration in tropical Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and 1992; Asa Gray Award, American Society South America and this award serves to Pomona College, 1984-1992 (during of Plant Taxonomists, 1993; Career keep vibrant the accomplishments and which time the title of Plant Anatomist Award, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, memory of this outstanding scientist. was held at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic 1996; Fellows’ Medal, California Acad- The winner of this prestigious award is Garden, and the titles as Professor were emy of Sciences, 1996; and the Margaret selected by a committee made up of three retained at Claremont Graduate School T. Getman Teaching Award, University of botanists on the staff of the Department, and Pomona College). He also servered California at Santa Barbara, 1996. in consultation with other plant scientists in the Washington area. Nominations for the Medal are accepted from all scientists in the Botany Department. The award consists of a bronze medal bearing an image of José Cuatrecasas on the front with the recipient’s name and date of presentation on the back. Highlights from past presentations to the recipients are available on the Symposium Archives at http://persoon.si.edu/sbsarchives/. Sherwin Carlquist is the sixth recipient of the José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excel- lence in Tropical Botany. Carlquist is a wood anatomist who focused on many tropical angiosperm families and who also addressed questions about the evolu- tion of plants on islands. The award committee was impressed with his many contributions to scientific journals as well as a significant number of books published over the course of his career, including Island Life: A Natural History of the Islands of the World (1965); Island Biology (1974); Hawaii: A Sherwin Carlquist (center), recipient of the José Cuatrecasas Medal for Natural History; Geology, Climate, Excellence in Tropical Botany, receives his award from Laurence Dorr (left) and Native Flora and Fauna Above the W. John Kress. (Photo by Jim Harle)
Page 8 Abstracts from the Speakers at the Smithsonian Botanical Symposium The sixth annual Smithsonian Botani- cal Symposium was held 21-22 April 2006. The symposium, “Island Archipela- gos: Cauldrons of Evolution,” explored the role that island archipelagos have played in our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. Below are the speakers’ abstracts from the papers that were presented.
Warren L. Wagner Smithsonian Institution, U.S.A. “Out of Hawaii: A Remote Archipelago as a Source Area” Oceanic islands have been viewed as Speakers of the 2006 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium (from left): W. John natural laboratories for understanding Kress, Robert Ricklefs, Robert Fleischer, Warren Wagner, Sherwin Carlquist, evolutionary diversification. Pacific Bruce Baldwin, Mike Maunder, Javier Francisco-Ortega, Ole Hamann (Photo islands support an unparalleled array of by Jim Harle). biota whose patterns of diversity have graphic patterns. The advent of cladistic tance of western temperate and boreal contributed significant insights into approaches to polygenetics and the incor- North America as a source of founder evolutionary theory. Many of the con- poration of molecular data have launched lineages. Molecular phylogenetic cepts have been derived from traditional a new and exciting era of Pacific biogeog- evidence for North American ancestry of comparative biology and taxonomic raphy. Data from the genus Melicope prominent Hawaiian radiations, such as systems. One fundamental conclusion is (Rutaceae) revealed a significant new bio- the silversword alliance, mints, schiedeas, plants and animals on isolated archipela- geographic pattern of the remote Hawai- sanicles, and violets, underscores the gos stem from a one-way colonization ian Islands serving as a source area for potential of long-distance dispersal to event from continents, sometimes moving colonization followed by radiation. Ha- shape floras, in accord with hypotheses in stepping-stone fashion across regions waiian Melicope (56 species), which have championed by Sherwin Carlquist and with smaller inter-archipelago distances, diversified throughout the main Hawaiian reinforced by recent phytogeographic to end up on the most remote islands like Islands, and another 10 to 15 vascular studies on a worldwide scale. As noted by Hawaii. Tremendous growth in geologic plant lineages have further colonized to Carlquist, high-elevation environments on knowledge of Pacific tectonics and dating the Marquesas Islands, other islands of the main islands of the Hawaiian chain and of oceanic hot-spot archipelagos has southeastern Polynesia, and as far as Fiji. associated dry habitats leeward of major opened a new era of discovery of biogeo- New data demonstrate more dynamic volcanic summits present unusual ecolog- patterns of colonization across the ical opportunities in a tropical setting for Pacific, and suggest that remote archipel- colonists from temperate or boreal areas Sponsors of the agos inhabited by unique island-adapted of North America. Comparison of two 6th Smithsonian lineages can and do disperse to other Pacific island clades that were founded by archipelagos, if not back to continents. closely related Californian ancestors Botanical Symposium addresses in part the difficult question of • Cuatrecasas Family Foundation whether some lineages have intrinsic Bruce G. Baldwin • National Museum of Natural potential for diversification under insular University of California at Berkeley, History, Smithsonian Institution conditions. Results of these molecular U.S.A. • Office of the Associate and cytogenetic studies confirm Carl- Director for Research and “Pacific Dispersals and Radiations of quist’s suggestion that the Hawaiian Collections, NMNH Western North American Origin: An silversword alliance (Argyroxiphium, • United States Botanic Garden Emergent Pattern” Dubautia, and Wilkesia) and California • National Tropical Botanical Recent progress in understanding Island tarweeds (Deinandra), although Garden origins of Hawaiian angiosperms has differing greatly in levels of diversity, greatly increased support for the impor- Continued on page 10
Page 9 Abstracts will also assess to what extend some of for resisting extinction. Such compari- Continued from page 9 these hypotheses are confirmed by the sons also emphasize the well-known molecular data. Phylogenetic patterns of utility of archipelagoes for the study of have undergone parallel adaptive radia- taxa restricted to old geological regions evolution. tions marked by strikingly similar proc- of the archipelago (i.e., paleo-islands), esses and patterns of evolutionary change. colonization routes between the islands and the mainland, dispersal tracks within Ole Hamann Botanic Garden, University of Javier Francisco-Ortega the region, and major phylogenetic Copenhagen, Denmark Florida International University, incongruences will be discussed. Few of U.S.A. the molecular phylogenies are based on “The Galápagos Islands – Aspects of Arnoldo Santos-Guerra more than one DNA region, have strong Vegetation Dynamics and Conservation” Jardín de Aclimatación de La Oro- phylogenetic support for relevant nodes, The demography of selected woody tava, Canary Islands and have extensive taxonomic sampling in species and changes in vegetation has Javier Fuertes the mainland. Despite these limitations been studied in the Galápagos Islands Real Jardín Botánico, Spain our study supports a region with complex since 1972. Characteristic and dominant Mark A. Carine biogeographical and evolutionary pat- trees and shrubs of the arid and humid Natural History Museum, London, terns. Therefore we believe that early zone (Opuntia spp., Bursera graveolens, U.K. hypothesis concerning the origin and and Scalesia spp.) display different evolution of the Macaronesian flora were “New and Old Paradigms for the Macaro- patterns of growth, mortality, turnover and too simplistic and generalistic and did not nesian Flora: Molecular Phylogenetic life expectancy. This leads to different consider the complex environmental Perspectives” recovery patterns in different vegetation history of the region. types after disturbances caused by, for In the last 15 years molecular phylog- example, goat grazing or El Niño events. enies have been obtained to a great In situ plant conservation measures proportion of plant species restricted to Robert E. Ricklefs include protection of native vegetation the Macaronesian region (i.e., Azores, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and species, and control or elimination of Madeira, Salvagens, Canaries, and Cape U.S.A. invasive alien plants and animals. Ex situ Verde archipelagos). These phylogenies “Avian Perspectives on Evolution and plant conservation measures in the islands have provided a unique framework to test Diversification in Archipelagoes” comprise growing and propagating rare previous taxonomic, evolutionary and The diversity of species in archipela- and endangered species for habitat resto- biogeographical hypothesis about the goes balances colonization, diversifica- ration or population enhancement. Out- Macaronesian flora. In this presentation tion, and extinction. Each of these side the islands, such species may be con- we will review and evaluate the available processes has historic and geographic served ex situ in seed- and gene-banks as phylogenies for Macaronesian plants. We dimensions that can be perceived through the ultimate insurance against extinction. phylogenetic analyses of taxa in archi- pelagoes. Whereas classic island bioge- Acknowledgments ography theory was developed in the Mike Maunder The success of the Symposium context of equilibrium systems composed Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, was due to the significant time and of homogeneous organisms, recent U.S.A. efforts of the following people: studies suggest that this is hardly the case. Marie M. Bruegmann U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Organizers Especially in archipelagoes, local extinc- Hawaii, U.S.A. • Mary Ann Apicelli tion, recolonization, and species forma- • Patricia Davis tion create a complex pattern of diversity “Extinction and Restoration: Oceanic • Laurence Dorr and distribution from interacting pro- Islands as Testing Grounds for Conserva- • Ellen Farr cesses. Phylogeographic studies of birds tion Biology” • Gary Krupnick in the Lesser Antilles reveal a highly Oceanic islands are being stripped of • Sue Lutz dynamic system far from equilibrium in their evolutionary heritage; unique • Warren Wagner which the outcome of coevolutionary biological assemblages and associated relationships influence abundance and Core Collections Management Staff ecosystem resources are being lost from habitat distribution, extinction, and the a lethal combination of poor resource Reception secondary spread of populations among management, habitat loss and invasive Holly Shimizu and the United • islands. The degree to which these species. Ironically these islands have also States Botanic Garden staff processes are apparent, and how they been intellectual crucibles where the Photographer influence evolutionary change and diver- concepts of conservation and sustainable • Jim Harle sification, depends on how well their management have been tested since the temporal and spatial scales match the And many others who had helped in a eighteenth century. Using case studies geography and history of an archipelago. myriad number of ways. from Macaronesia, the Mascarenes, St. This is evident in comparisons of taxa Helena, and the Pacific Islands case with different potential for dispersal and Page 10 studies will be reviewed that illustrate the mental heterogeneity. Distance from the only roughly match expectations of alarming collapse of many island biotas site colonization, recolonization, and theory; and (4) many unexpected phyloge- and the evolving portfolio of conservation local extinctions also are important netic relationships and geographic origins techniques available to avert habitat loss factors on species richness. have been discovered, which have chal- and extinction. Particular emphasis will Following Ricklefs was Ole Hamann, lenged existing paradigms for many be given to the acute issue of managing Director of the Botanical Garden & biotas. In addition, island floras and the “living dead,” an increasing number of Museum, Natural History Museum of faunas seem to be particularly susceptible species that survive as tiny and often non- Denmark, University of Copenhagen, who to invasion from introduced species, reproductive relictual populations, in presented “The Galápagos Islands – which have devastating impacts on island some cases surviving as single wild indi- Aspects of Vegetation Dynamics and organisms. Development of effective viduals. Some species have survived only Conservation.” Using three case studies conservation strategies are usually as ex situ populations in overseas botanic (Opuntia, Bursera, and Scalesia), difficult, and often involve both in situ gardens (e.g. Sophora toromiro from Hamann described how the Galápagos and ex situ solutions. Easter Island); others such as the Round flora has regenerated time and again after In his discussion, Fleischer provided a Island Bottle Palm (Hyophorbe lageni- severe disturbances, such as El Niño list of suggested future directions: (1) caulis) are recovering after intensive events and invasive species like goats. He increase the use of DNA marker methods habitat restoration in situ. A set of island- argued that arid and humid zone woody to document patterns of colonization, wide declines will be highlighted, particu- plants display different patterns of mor- geographic origins of biotas, colonization larly the decline in wild populations of tality and survival and thus have different times and rates of evolution; (2) refine island endemic palms and hibiscoids life expectancies. These species react studies of island biogeography using largely as a result of invasive species. differently to El Niño events. Whereas temporal scales and information from the Opuntia and Bursera can survive during fossil record; (3) analyze genes involved Symposium these long-term disturbances, many in development to better understand species of Scalesia can not and thus adaptation and speciation; (4) consider Continued from page 1 deserve high conservation priority. multiple factors and their interactions in genetic Perspectives.” Francisco-Ortega The final invited talk was “Extinction conservation management; and (5) con- began his talk with a description of the and Restoration: Oceanic Islands as Test- duct better outreach to the public and unique biogeography of Macaronesia. He ing Grounds for Conservation Biology” government agencies about drastic con- then presented arguments against two presented by Mike Maunder, Executive servation problems facing island biotas. major paradigms for the Macaronesian Director of Fairchild Tropical Botanic To conclude the day of presentations, flora. The first paradigm says that many Garden in Coral Gables, Miami, and Chair Kress invited John Burns from Smith- Macaronesian taxa are sister to taxa of the World Conservation Union– sonian’s Department of Entomology to restricted to remote regions of Eastern Species Survival Plant Conservation deliver a poem that Burns had written 30 and Southern Africa, Arabia, and Asia. He Committee. In describing the essence of years ago about Drosophila evolution and argues that most lineages instead have his talk, Maunder said that his presenta- island biogeography. links with the Mediterranean region. The tion will be a “first aid course when you Next year, the Smithsonian Botanical second paradigm states that taxa that are have the last four or five individuals of a Symposium will consider plant classifica- endemic to the palaeo-islands of Tenerife species.” Maunder emphasized why tion and conservation in the light of form early branching lineages, which is islands are important and provided a list Linnaeus’ 200 birthday celebration. All evidence for old speciation events. of threats to island species. His “islands are invited to attend. Francisco-Ortega explained that there are of the living dead” included Rodgrigues, only a few examples that support that Mauritius, and St. Helena. After present- claim. He then presented a new paradigm ing images of extinct and near-extinct Supplementary based on molecular phylogenetics: phy- plant species, Maunder offered some logenies for only 27 percent of endemic hope. He described how recovery is Symposium Links species are robust enough to make clear possible, and outlined three stages of on the Web conclusions about continental affinities. restoration: salvage, siege, and restore. th The next speaker presented an ornitho- Robert Fleischer, Head of the Genet- The Web site to the 6 Annual logical viewpoint. Robert E. Ricklefs, ics Program at the Smithsonian Institu- Smithsonian Botanical Symposium Curators’ Professor of Biology at the tion, concluded the afternoon session
Page 11 Art by Alice Tangerini
Psychotria uapoensis Lorence & W. L. Wagner
A recently described species (Allertonia 9(1), 2005) from the Marquesas Islands, Psychotria uapoensis is known only from the island of Ua Pou and grows on the windswept and cloud- shrouded summit ridge of the island. More than a decade of exploration by David Lorence and Warren Wagner along with collectors Steve Perlman, Ken Wood, Liloa Dunn and several French collaborators Jean- Yves Meyer and Jacques Florence have increased the known vascular flora of the archipelago by 20% with the discovery of 60 species new to science. They are being illustrated by Alice Tangerini for publication. A flora of the islands is being devel- oped online at
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