Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 18 - No. 4 October-December 2015 Botany Profile Restoring the Forgotten Botanical Legacy of Agustin Stahl By Judith Knight new illustrated facsimile of the lific scholar, he combined his profession Wilson from the New York Botanical first edition ofEstudios Para with the study of natural history, research- Garden. However, Stahl’s work remains ALa Flora de Puerto Rico (Stud- ing, collecting, and illustrating specimens relevant and important to botanical ies of the Flora of Puerto Rico), written from around the island, as well as raising research as it refers to early representa- by Agustin Stahl from 1883 to 1888, public awareness of botany as an educator. tions of the Puerto Rican flora, including presents for the first time 390 of the His academic contributions, which were the recording of introduced plants, the author’s botanical watercolors in their written in Spanish and therefore acces- economic importance of the local flora, intended context: printed alongside the sible to local readers, provided a catalyst and a general ecological assessment of original text. Estudios, which is the for Puerto Rico to develop a sense of the island. Stahl reported for the first earliest scientifically rigorous treatment pride and responsibility for its natural and time the occurrence of several plant spe- of Puerto Rico’s flora, was originally cultural heritage. According to Acevedo, cies, including his description of a new published without the illustrations during the Estudios marked “the beginning of species Clusia gundlachii. Some of these Stahl’s lifetime due to lack of support and a scholarly journey that has resulted in species have not been collected on the funding. Puerto Rico currently being one of the island since, such as Malanea glabra, The new three-volume edition, better known Floras of the region, if not Psychotria officinalis, and Schultesia published by the Smithsonian Institu- worldwide.” brachyptera. As most of his original col- tion, was compiled and annotated with Stahl wrote and published his Estu- lections were destroyed, the watercolors updated nomenclature by Curator Pedro dios based on the study of plants in their are in many cases, the only surviving Acevedo, marking the culmination of natural environment for which he pro- original material on which Stahl based over a decade of research and painstak- duced copious watercolors. His analyses his floristic studies. They remain integral ing digital restoration work on hundreds and descriptions are scientifically rigorous and essential for the ongoing interpreta- of scanned images of Stahl’s original and verifiable. His work was based on the tion of his Estudios. watercolors. These works are currently criteria of previous and contemporary bot- housed at the University of Puerto Rico anists and followed the widely accepted olume One of the new illustrated in Mayaguez and the Institute of Puerto classification system of the time: de Can- edition includes an introductory Rican Culture in San Juan. Many are dolle, with the exception of re-positioning Vsection, prior to the facsimile, poorly conserved and are rapidly dete- certain families. He also documented the written in both Spanish and English, riorating. The Atherton Seidell Endow- distribution, the timing of flowering and which provides valuable contextual ment Fund of the Smithsonian Institution fruiting of species, and the local names of and historical information on Stahl generously provided financial support for many Puerto Rican plants. and the setting in which he produced the publication of this rare book, com- Despite the significance of the first his Estudios, with supporting photo- plete with surviving illustrations, in both edition of Stahl’s Estudios, knowledge of graphic images, and further chrono- hard copy and digital formats (the latter the book and Stahl’s contributions were logical information provided in the will be available through the Department effectively lost in time due to the book’s appendix. In the prologue, Dr. Ariel E. of Botany website). rarity and the fact that this work was never Lugo, renowned ecologist and Director Stahl (1842 – 1917) was Puerto finished in its entirety. Forty years after of the International Institute of Tropi- Rico’s most significant botanist of the his publication, his work was superseded cal Forestry (Puerto Rico), emphasizes 19th century. A medical doctor and pro- by that of Nathaniel L. Britton and Percy Continued on page 9 Travel Pedro Acevedo traveled to San Juan, to collect native legumes from Manti-La Laurence Skog traveled to Edmonton, Puerto Rico (8/27 – 9/1) to present on the Sal National Forest, Denver Botanic Gar- Canada (7/25 – 7/29) to attend the Botany scientific contribution of Agustin Stahl at dens, Missouri Botanic Gardens, and other 2015 conference. the Museum of Wildlife. areas along the way. Alice Tangerini traveled to Glenside, Barrett Brooks traveled to Carrie Bow Christian Feuillet traveled to north- Pennsylvania (7/5 – 7/10) to present a Cay, Belize (7/8 – 7/16) and to Willem- west California and southwest Oregon portfolio and to demonstrate techniques stad, Curaçao (8/25 – 8/30) to supervise (7/10 – 7/27) to collect plants. at the conference of the Guild of Natural the training of scientific divers and to Vicki Funk traveled to Bronx, New Science Illustrators at Arcadia University; collect algae; and to Key West, Florida York (8/24 – 8/25) to work in the herbar- and to Edmonton, Canada (7/25 – 7/30) to (9/29 – 10/6) to attend a symposium of ium of the New York Botanical Garden. present a workshop using botanical illus- the American Academy of Underwater Carol Kelloff traveled to Widewater, trations at the Botany 2015 conference. Scientists. Virginia (7/23) to collect plants for the Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Monica Carlsen traveled to Edmon- Global Genome Initiative-Gardens project. Appetiti traveled to San Marino, Califor- ton, Canada (7/25 – 7/29) to present a talk Gary Krupnick traveled to Montpel- nia (7/9 – 8/14) to update the design of the at the Botany 2015 conference. lier, France (8/1 – 8/6) to present a poster garden of medicinal plants of the Hun- Laurence Dorr traveled to Edmonton, at the International Congress for Conser- tington Botanical Gardens and to build a Canada (7/25 – 7/29) to attend the Botany vation Biology. new historical and ethnobotanical itinerary 2015 conference. Sue Lutz traveled to Ohio, Missouri, and discourse, to attend the “Weird, Wild, Ashley Egan traveled to Edmonton, Tennessee and South Carolina (8/26 – and Wonderful Symposium” held at the Canada (7/25 – 7/29) to present a talk at 8/30) and to Vermont, New Hampshire, Huntington Library, Art Collections and the Botany 2015 conference; to Webster and New Jersey (9/9 – 9/12) to collect Botanical Gardens, and to organize the Springs, West Virginia (8/18 – 8/20) to sumac, gall aphids, and mosses for a workshop “Plants, Artists, Languages: A train students in collecting plants and to research project. Sense of Times and Places”; Touwaide sample population levels of kudzu; and Paul Peterson traveled to Edmonton, also delivered a keynote lecture entitled throughout Midwestern U.S. (9/3 – 9/24) Canada (7/26 – 7/29) to present a talk on “The Beauty of Ancient Plant Repre- the molecular phylogeny of the Cyno- sentations: Weird or Wonderful?”; and The Plant Press donteae (Poaceae) at the Botany 2015 Appetiti traveled to Norman, Oklahoma conference; and from Washington, D.C. to (9/23 – 9/28) to work at the University New Series - Vol. 18 - No. 4 Pueblo, Mexico (9/18 – 10/20) to collect of Oklahoma on editing the forthcoming Chair of Botany grasses and present an invited lecture at issue of the yearly ISIS-Current Bibliog- Laurence J. Dorr the VI Congreso Internacional de Maneje raphy published by the History of Science ([email protected]) de Pastizales in Durango entitled “A Society. molecular phylogeny of the Cynodonteae Mohammad Vatanparast traveled EDITORIAL STAFF (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) and new subge- to Chiba, Japan (8/29 – 9/22) to conduct Editor neric classification ofBouteloua .” research on Dalbergia, Canavalia, and Gary Krupnick Caroline Puente traveled to Guelph, Phaseoleae (Fabaceae). ([email protected]) Canada (8/17 – 8/21) to attend the 6th Warren Wagner traveled to Edmon- International Barcode of Life Conference ton, Canada (7/25 – 7/30) to receive the Copy Editors at the University of Guelph; and to Mex- Asa Gray Award at the Botany 2015 Robin Everly, Bernadette Gibbons, and Rose Gulledge ico City, Mexico (9/21 – 10/2) to work conference. with collaborators at the National Autono- Jun Wen traveled to Edmonton, News Contacts mous University of Mexico (UNAM) on Canada (7/26 – 7/30) to attend the Botany MaryAnn Apicelli, Rusty Russell, Alice DNA barcodes for plants from Puebla, 2015 conference and to collect plant Tangerini, and Elizabeth Zimmer Mexico. specimens. The Plant Press is a quarterly publication pro- Rusty Russell traveled to Cleveland, Ken Wurdack traveled to from vided free of charge. To receive notification of Ohio (9/10 – 9/12) to speak about the Bethesda, Maryland to Aiken, South Caro- when new pdf issues are posted to the web, please subscribe to the listserve by sending a message Field Book Project at a citizen science lina (7/18 – 7/23) and points in between to to [email protected] containing only the symposium. collect spice bushes and Euphorbiaceae; to following in the body of the text: SUBSCRIBE PLANTPRESS-NEWS Firstname Lastname. Eric Schuettpelz traveled to Puebla, Edmonton, Canada (7/26 – 7/30) to attend Replace “Firstname Lastname” with your name. Mexico (7/14 – 7/27) with Spencer Goy- the Botany 2015 conference; and to Coral If you would like to be added to the hard-copy ette, Amanda Grusz, Greg McKee and Gables, Florida (8/6 – 8/16) with Aleksan- mailing list, please contact Dr. Gary Krupnick at: Erin Sigel to collect fern specimens; and dar Radosavljevic to collect specimens at Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, to São Paulo, Brazil (9/19 – 9/27) to col- Fairchild Tropical Gardens. DC 20013-7012, or by E-mail: krupnickg@ laborate on a research project focused on si.edu. the phylogeny and evolution of neotropi- Web site: http://botany.si.edu/ cal Pteris (Pteridaceae).
Page 2 Transitions o be perfectly frank I have mixed feelings Technically, the baton was passed on October 1, Chair about becoming Chair of Botany. It is clearly 2015, but anyone watching this race would have Tan honor to be entrusted with this position but seen the former and present Chair running side by it comes with a price. My personal scientific ambi- side for a good amount of time before then. In fact, With tions will have to be subordinated to the needs of the I think we are still running side by side. Shortly Department, the Museum, and the Institution. In those before I officially took the helm, I felt as if a tidal fleeting moments when I am being honest with myself, wave had washed over me, but I appear to have I will have to admit that I will never finish all of the survived. I never realized the extent of the email A research projects I contemplated or even a number of traffic the Chair receives nor could I have imagined those that I initiated. This might have been the case the number of meetings one is required to attend. regardless of whether or not I became Chair, but now My first official act (a very wise one) was to go on View I can delude myself and blame my new administra- annual leave but even while I was on vacation in tive responsibilities for my failure to realize all of my Egypt and Turkey, I found myself reading email dreams. My tendency to complain (well known to my each day at breakfast and trying to respond to those fellow curators) also will have to be severely curtailed. messages that demanded my attention. If I had not The reason for this should be obvious: I am not fond of done this, this column would not have been written L.J. criticizing myself. I will however accept responsibility by the deadline. I would also still be sorting through for my decisions and I trust that most of them will be two weeks of accumulated emails. Dorr reasonable and fair. One of the nice things about becoming the The transition to becoming Chair was interesting. Chair of Botany is that it is liberating. By that I mean I feel free to approach other department and unit heads in the Museum (and elsewhere) and ask them how we in Botany can find common ground to improve our science, collections, and exhibits. I have worked at the Smithsonian for almost 25 years and I thought I had a good understanding of our Department, the Museum, and the Institution. I now realize that I do not. I am learning new things every day and I find this exciting and challenging. During my tenure as Chair I intend to work hard and I expect all members of this Department to work just as hard. I am committed to helping all of you succeed with your research. We are very privileged to be working in this Museum and Institution and with privilege comes obligation. We are obligated to do the best that we can with the resources we are given. I know we need more money, more space, and more help, but placed in a global perspective our current resources are quite generous. I intend to have fun while helping improve our research and collections and I hope all of you will have fun, too. My ultimate goal as Chair is simple: I hope to help make a very good Depart- Laurence Dorr began his first week as Chair ment even better. of the Botany Department while on vacation in Egypt and Turkey. (photo by Lisa Barnett) Visitors Monica Carlsen, Missouri Botanical Gar- Peter Schafran, Old Dominion Univer- Craig Costion, University of Adelaide, den; Araceae and Zingiberales (2/17/15- sity; Southeastern U.S. Isoetes (Isoeta- Australia; DNA barcoding (11/3/14 2/16/17). ceae) (5/5-7/31). -10/31/15). Kenia Velasco, Sociedad para el Estu- Caitlin Redak, Kenyon College; Histori- Liang Zhao, Northwest Agriculture and dio de los Recursos Bióticos de Oaxaca, cal expeditions and herbarium curation Forestry University, China; Dichocarpum, Mexico; Traditional ecological knowledge internship (5/25-8/15). Pulsatilla, Trollius (Ranunculaceae) and of the Dixaza-speaking Community (4/4- its close relatives (2/5/15-2/26/16). 7/31). Continued on page 5 Page 3 Staff Research & Activities
Alice Tangerini and Botany illustra- tion volunteer, Mary Monsma, attended and participated in the annual conference of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania during the week of July 5 through July 11. Tangerini presented “Ink and Graphite on film in Botanical Illustra- tion” at an afternoon workshop as part of the Techniques Showcase, an event with hands on illustration techniques and ven- dors showing their products. Her digital Gary Krupnick speaks with a guest about native pollinator gardens at a “FOOD print of Eriolaeana rulkensii (Malvaceae) in the Garden” event at the National Museum of American History. (photo by the was included in the Annual GNSI Exhibit Smithsonian Institution) held in the Campus gallery during the On September 17, Gary Krupnick par- meeting. ticipated in “FOOD in the Garden: How Tangerini also taught a one day work- Does Your Garden Grow” at the National shop, “Introduction to Botanical Illustra- Museum of American History (NMAH). tion” to 24 students at the Botany 2015 Sponsored by NMAH and Smithsonian Conference in Edmonton, Canada, held Gardens, the event explored innovations July 25-30. Aided by American Society in American food and gardens with tastes, of Botanical Artists (ASBA) Conference talks, and tours outside in the Victory Coordinator, Marilyn Garber, Tangerini Garden. Krupnick hosted a table display- chose Acer ginnala as her class subject. ing historic specimens of food plants from With the help of botanist Diane Haughland the U.S. National Herbarium along with of the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmon- literature, handouts and posters about the ton, who collected and dried specimens of importance of pollinator health in food the maple, Tangerini was able to guide the production. Advice was given to attend- class to each finish a pen and ink draw- ees about planting native plant species in ing of their own specimen. Tangerini and home gardens that support local pollinator Garber also presided over a booth for populations. ASBA doing demonstrations on drawing techniques and answering questions about New Faces illustration. Tangerini and Monsma participated in In September, Erika Gardner became the “Anatomy of Sports Day” as part of a pro- newest employee of the Botany Depart- gram to promote an understanding of med- ment as a Museum Specialist on the Core Erika Gardner icine through art at the National Health Collections Management team. Gardner has been involved in all aspects of collec- and Medical Museum in Silver Spring, arrives with an excellent knowledge and tions management. Her data management Maryland on August 22. Representing understanding of classic taxonomy and and digitization skills contributed to the members of the local GNSI DC Chapter, brings a great deal of experience in herbar- success of the Latin American Plants Ini- Tangerini and Monsma were the only two ium collections. A native of southern Cali- tiative and Global Plants Initiative projects non-medical illustrators in the group of 15 fornia, Gardner received her bachelor’s at RSA. She has done extensive geo-refer- biomedical illustrators painting the muscle degree in Biology from Cal Poly-Pomona encing of herbarium specimens, conducted and bone anatomy of Armed Forces ath- in 2009, and recently completed require- field work in support of her master’s thesis letes. Using watercolors and pan pastels, ments for her master’s degree in Botany on the floristics of the Scodie Mountains the two were enlisted to paint the bones from Claremont Graduate University. She in Kern County, California, and is Arc-GIS and muscles on the legs of Eric Marshall, began her career as a Getty Multicultural certified by ESRI. Most recently, Gardner U.S. Marine Corps Super Marathoner. Undergraduate Intern at Rancho Santa has been responsible for acquisitions pro- After learning that the two were botanical Ana Botanical Garden working with Sula cessing in the RSA herbarium, supervising artists Eric quipped, “I thought they would Vanderplank. Upon graduation, she went a large volunteer staff, graduate students, make me look like a tree.” full-time at RSA and, over the last 7 years, and undergraduate interns. Page 4 Wen Joins Editorial Visitors Fernanda Paz, Museu Paraense Emílio Continued from page 3 Goeldi, Brazil; Brazilian Amazonian Board of Journal Cyatheaceae (8/21-8/24). Roy Moger-Reischer, University of of Systematics and Rochester; Pueraria montana var. lobate Pedro Filho, Universidad Federal do Rio (Fabaceae) internship (5/26-7/31). Grande do Sul, Brazil; Rhynchospora sec- Evolution tion Tenues (Cyperaceae) (8/31-9/30). Chloe Siegel, University of Illinois; DNA Jun Wen has joined the editorial board extraction internship (5/27-8/15). Alison Shapcott, University of the Sun- of Journal of Systematics and Evolution shine Coast, Australia; Southeast Queen- as the Co-Editor-in-Chief. Journal of Sys- Florence Stevenson, University of Mary- sland Rainforest Plant DNA barcoding tematics and Evolution (JSE, since 2008; land; DNA extraction internship (5/27- project (8/31-9/25). formerly Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica) 8/20). is an international journal in systematics Adebola Bamigboye, Obafemi Awolowo Elizabeth Strohbeck, Smith College; and evolution dedicated to the description University, Nigeria; Pteris (Pteridaceae) Araceae and Zingiberales internship. (6/1- and understanding of biological diversity and other pteridophytes (9/1-9/11). 8/7). that covers the description of new taxa, Morgan Gostel, George Mason Univer- monographic revisions, phylogenetics, Sarah White, Wake Forest University; sity; Compositae and GGI-Gardens project molecular evolution and genome evolu- Historical expeditions internship (6/1- (9/1/15-8/31/17). tion, evolutionary developmental biology, 8/22). evolutionary ecology, population biol- Araik Sinanyan, Georgetown University ogy, conservation biology, biogeography, Elizabeth Jacobsen, Williams College; Medical School; Armenian ethnobotany paleobiology, and evolutionary theories. Plant Press scientific writing internship (9/1). JSE is an official journal of Botani- (6/08-7/31). cal Society of China, sponsored by the Warren Cardinal-McTeague, Canadian Sarah Jones, Safety Harbor; Herbarium Museum of Nature; Plukenetieae (Euphor- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of curation internship (6/8-7/2). Sciences. Several research scientists from biaceae) (9/8-12/11). the Botany Department have recently pub- Anna Raffeld, Brown University; Listed Ronald Liesner, Missouri Botanical Gar- lished in JSE, including Rob Soreng, Paul species project internship (6/8-8/22). den; Biological Diversity of the Guiana Peterson, and Konstantin Romaschen- Sara Pineda, Universidad Nacional Shield Program family determinations ko’s recent cover article on the worldwide Autónoma de México; Herbarium curation (9/14-9/19). phylogenetic classification of the Poaceae, internship (6/29-7/24). and several papers by Vicki Funk, Jun Audrey Ragsac, University of Washing- Wen, Elizabeth Zimmer, Ning Zhang Mary McKenna and 10 students, Uni- ton; Jacaranda and Digomphia (Bignoni- and Morgan Gostel in the new special versity of Virginia Blandy Field Station; aceae) (9/14-9/15). issue on “Phylogenomic Approaches to Herbarium tour, plant conservation (7/10). Bruno Amorim, Universidade Federal de Deciphering the Tree of Life.” Laurence Pernambuco, Brazil; Atlantic rainforest Dorr also serves on the JSE editorial Melissa Logies, California State Univer- Myrcia (Myrtaceae) (9/16-9/17). board. sity Monterey Bay; Scientific illustration internship (7/13-8/15). Fernanda Cabral, Universidade Estadual Magdalena Grenda, Independent de Campinas, Brazil; Caraipa (Clusi- researcher, United Kingdom; Conservation aceae) (9/16-9/17). of specimens (7/14-7/16). Claudia Rapp, University of Vienna, Ana Paula Fortuna Perez, Universidade Austria; History of Greek science (9/18). Estadual Paulista, Brazil; Eriosema and Tom Croat, Missouri Botanical Garden; Rhynchosia (Leguminosae) (7/27-7/31). Araceae (9/21). Fabio Espirito Santo, Universidade Anne Richard, Royal Library of Belgium; Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil; Apo- Ancient botanical documentation (9/22). cynaceae (8/3-8/6). Petala Gomes Ribeiro, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil; Leguminosae and other families (8/3-8/6). Natalie Cook, National Herbalist Associa- tion of Australia, and Claudia Joy Wingo, Maryland University of Integrative Health; Mediterranean ethnobotany (8/19).
Page 5 Wagner Receives of New Mexico where he completed his Smithsonian Institution, Wagner has done bachelor’s degree in 1973 and, sub- much to ensure the health of systematics the ASPT Asa Gray sequently, a master’s degree in 1977. at one of the primary centers in the field. Under the advisement of Peter Raven, In this vein, he has been what Smithso- Award Dr. Wagner completed his doctorate at nian colleague Jun Wen calls a “fantastic -Adapted from aspt.net Washington University in 1981. Following mentor” of young scientists, with a gift for a postdoctoral appointment at the Missouri “letting the young colleagues maximize The American Society of Plant Taxon- Botanical Garden, he spent 1982-1988 their creativity and productivity on impor- omists (ASPT) selected Warren Wagner at the Bishop Museum before arriving at tant evolutionary and systematic research for its 2015 Asa Gray Award, one of the the Smithsonian in 1988. He has held the projects.” most prestigious honors in the botanical prestigious McBryde Chair at the National Wagner’s previous honors include the sciences. The award is named for Asa Tropical Botanical Garden since 2004. Merit Award from the Botanical Society Gray (1810-1888), considered by many to In his career, Wagner has published of America, the Robert Allerton Award be the most important American botanist nearly 200 scholarly articles and edited from the National Botanical Garden, the of the 19th century. The award recognizes four books. He has authored or co- Henry Gleason Award from the New outstanding lifetime achievement in the authored seven taxonomic monographs, York Botanical Garden, and (twice) the field of plant systematics. but is perhaps best known for his mul- National Museum of Natural History Sci- Wagner’s recognition follows a nomi- tidisciplinary work on South Pacific ence Achievement Award. He is the 34th nation consisting of numerous testimonial floras, evolution, and biogeography. scientist to be recognized with the ASPT letters from experts from across the fields Bruce Baldwin (University of California Asa Gray Award. of ecology and evolutionary biology. Berkeley) cites Wagner as “unquestion- Kenneth Sytsma (University of Wiscon- ably the world authority on the Hawaiian sin – Madison), the primary nominator, angiosperm flora,” a reputation that was Wiersema Receives attributes this broad show of support to solidified and nourished by his publication the ASPT Peter Wagner’s impressive contributions to not of (and continued work on) the Manual only plant systematics, but to disciplines of Flowering Plants of Hawai’i a quarter Raven Award including biogeography, ecology, resto- century ago. That effort was followed by -Adapted from aspt.net ration biology, and conservation. Letter his co-editorship (with Vicki Funk) of writer Peter Hoch (Missouri Botanical the symposium volume Hawaiian Bioge- The American Society of Plant Taxono- Garden) spoke to Wagner’s core passion ography: Evolution on a Hot Spot Archi- mists (ASPT) awarded John H. Wiersema for biodiversity when he wrote, “As a pelago, a publication that Sytsma credits the 2015 Peter Raven Award. Wiersema, ‘field and floristic’ taxonomist, there are as “laying the foundation for integrative a Research Associate at Smithsonian’s few in his generation who have accom- evolutionary and biogeographic research Department of Botany, is a botanist of the plished more.” on Hawaiian organismal diversity that has National Germplasm Resource Laboratory, A native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, continued to this day.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricul- Wagner attended college at the University As the longtime Chair of Botany at the ture Research Service (USDA-ARS), The award is named for Peter Raven, eminent botanist and President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, who has made significant contributions to research, edu- cation and outreach in botanical sciences throughout his esteemed career. Wiersema has greatly served the plant systematics and broader plant biology communities during a long, productive career that includes over 25 years of service to the U.S. government. Fellow scientists working for museums and gov- ernmental organizations in four countries wrote in strong support of his nomina- tion, highlighting the various roles he has played supporting international botani- cal research. In his current position with USDA-ARS, Wiersema has been princi- pally responsible for the development and oversight of the Germplasm Resources Kenneth Sytsma (left) presents the 2015 Asa Gray Award to Warren Wagner Information Network (GRIN) website, during the American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT) banquet in Edmonton,
Page 7 Critically Endangered Gesneriad Discovered in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana By Elizabeth Jacobsen, Botany Intern Its range may be small, and its flowers even smaller, but it couldn’t hide forever: Anetanthus disjuncta (Gesneriaceae) is Populations of Magnolia acuminata may become increasingly isolated and may described for the first time byLaurence experience reduced genetic diversity without intervention. (photo by R.A. Howard) Skog and John L. Clark in the journal Clark are the world’s leading experts on Canadian Phytotaxa. The new find is located at neotropical gesneriads. Skog is an emeri- a single location on Mt. Ayanganna in tus research botanist at the Smithsonian Populations of the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, at and Clark has been a Research Associate elevations between 800 and 1100 m. This at the Smithsonian since 2006. Magnolia acuminata restricted range signals that A. disjuncta The Smithsonian has a long history of Have Low Levels of should be listed as Critically Endangered research in the Guiana Shield, most visibly according to IUCN Red List criteria. since 1983 when the Biological Diversity Gene Flow Anetanthus disjuncta gets its name of the Guiana Shield Program (BDG) got By Elizabeth Jacobsen, Botany Intern from its spatial separation from the other started in the Guianas. The area known as two Anetanthus species, which are found the Guiana Shield includes parts of Ven- Magnolia acuminata, the cucumber farther west—in Brazil and the Andes ezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, Suri- tree, is not the social type. Even where it is from Colombia to Bolivia. Anetanthus nam, and French Guiana. The region is widespread, it is never abundant, existing gracilis, described in 1877, is the most biologically rich, but much remains to be in small populations throughout its range. widespread species in the genus, and it uncovered by scientists. Its largely pristine The northern end of the species distribu- contains a subspecies, Anetanthus gra- conditions are threatened by logging and tion lies in Ontario, Canada, where around cilis subsp. munchiquensis, which was mining, and the BDG has been dedicated 200 trees occupy fragmented habitats described in 1995. The remaining Anetan- to studying and preserving this biodiver- consisting of small populations of no more thus species, A. rubra, is known only from sity hotspot, an especially important task than 50, and usually fewer, mature trees. its type locality in Amazonas, Peru, and as it continues to reveal new species like It is considered endangered in Canada and was described by Skog in 1982. Skog and Anetanthus disjuncta. critically imperiled in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Florida. Concerned about its lonely distribution, Elizabeth Zimmer joined Trent University biologists Cara Budd and Joanna Freeland to investigate the tree’s genetic diversity using DNA microsatel- lites, comparing Canadian populations with each other and with populations in the United States (across the heart of M. acuminata’s range). Their findings were published in Conservation Genetics. “For other groups of plants with this distribu- tion,” comments Zimmer, “in some cases you see there have been bottlenecks, and that’s a stronger warning that you have to manage plants.” As it turns out, the northern popula- tions of M. acuminata in Canada have lower levels of genetic diversity than populations across the United States. Zim- Anetanthus disjuncta was first collected from Guyana by David Clarke in 2001. mer explains, “may not be pollination that (Photo by John L. Clark during a 2014 field expedition to Mt. Ayanganna). Page 8 maintains genetic diversity, it may be seed the state. All plant genera and about half career and his contributions to many other dispersal.” The beetle species that polli- the taxa are illustrated, and all species academic disciplines. This is followed by nate the trees likely do not disperse as far and infraspecies are mapped. More than a detailed essay written by Dr. Acevedo as other major pollinating animals, but the 20 taxonomists contributed to the first on “Stahl and the Botany of Puerto Rico”– plant’s seeds are likely dispersed greater volume of the first statewide flora for a fascinating historical and botanical distances by birds or in some cases water- Oregon published since the second edition analysis of Stahl’s work including: the ways. However seeds must find suitable of Morton Peck’s flora in 1961. Volumes 2 contemporary academic and local milieu, habitat to germinate, which can be a chal- & 3 are expected in 2017 and 2020. Visit Stahl’s expeditions and scientific meth- lenge in today’s altered and fragmented the Oregon Flora Project website
Painting of Dr. Agustín Stahl (1842 –1917) by Félix Bonilla Norat, Sala de Colección Puertorriqueña, UPR-RUM. Reproduced in the new illustrated facsimile of the first edition of Stahl’s Estudios (Volume 1) with permission by Juan Bonilla, Cataño, Puerto Rico. Page 9 On the left is an example of one of Stahl’s watercolor images digitally restored by Fiona Wilkinson published in Volume II, Fascicle IV. WATERCOLOR 325. Passiflora serratodigitata L. Dr. Pedro Acevedo, above, examines one of Stahl’s original watercolors at the Division of Puerto Rican Collections in the Library of the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. The same illustration is reproduced in the new edition, Volume II, Fascicle IV WATERCOLOR 324. Passiflora maliformis L. (Passifloraceae) Original: UPR-RUM, #426. Size: 21.6 × 16 cm. (photo by J. Knight, 2013) Profile States on the conditions of the island of to the history and development of Botany Continued from page 9 Puerto Rico: and the study of Natural Sciences in volume. Stahl’s illustrations of represented Dr. Stahl, who has made numerous Puerto Rico. species (identified and numbered) are and careful studies in the natural provided as color plates at the end of each history of Porto Rico, with admirable illustrative drawings in colors, very volume. Descriptions are directly linked Publications with the relevant illustrations and nomen- kindly furnished the commissioner with the following brief survey of the clature of species updated through the use Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2015. Introduc- of footnotes provided below the original subject [La fauna y la flora de Puerto Rico, Stahl, 1899]. His ambition is tion: Stahl and the botany of Puerto Rico, text. In addition, there are useful summa- pp. 10-77. In P. Acevedo-Rodríguez, ed. ries presented as appendices including a to be permitted to complete his most important work and present it to the Agustin Stahl’s Estudios para la Flora de synopsis of plants described in Estudios, Puerto Rico, illustrated facsimile of the nomenclatural types based on Stahl’s col- Government at Washington for the use of the Smithsonian Institution. He does first edition. Vol. 1. Smithsonian Institu- lections, a list of the watercolors, updated tion, Washington DC. scientific names, and indexes of common not ask compensation for his work – and scientific names. simply support while he is completing Bahia, R.G., G.M. Amado-Filho, G.W. In his lifetime, Agustin Stahl report- it, which would, I am assured, take no Maneveldt, W.H. Adey, G. Johnson, edly expressed his ambition for his long time. M.B. Jesionek and L.L. Longo. 2015. watercolors to be used by the Smithsonian, Over a century later, this Smithsonian Sporolithon yoneshigueae sp. nov. as evidenced through a report compiled in publication both fulfills Stahl’s request and (Sporolithales, Corallinophycidae, 1899 by the special commissioner Henry honors his legacy through restoring, updat- Rhodophyta), a new rhodolith-forming K. Carroll to the President of the United ing, and printing this critical contribution coralline alga from the southwest Atlantic. Page 10 Phytotaxa 224(2): 140-158. http://dx.doi. nales, Rhodophyta). J. Phycol. 51(4): 791- ferns inferred from 25 low-copy nuclear org/10.11646/phytotaxa.224.2.2 807. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpy.12319 genes. Am. J. Bot. 102(7):1089-1107. http://dx.doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1500089 Bastin, J.-F, N. Barbier, M. Réjou- Hoch, P.C., W.L. Wagner and P. Raven. Méchain, A. Fayolle, S. Gourlet-Fleury, 2015. The correct name for a section of Skog, L.E. and J.L. Clark. 2015. Novae D. Maniatis, T. de Haulleville, F. Baya, Ludwigia L. (Onagraceae). PhytoKeys Gesneriaceae Neotropicarum XIX: A H. Beeckman, D. Beina, P. Couteron, 50: 31-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/ third, new species of the elusive Anetan- G. Chuyong, G. Dauby, J.-L. Doucet, V. phytokeys.50.4887 thus found in Guyana. Phytotaxa 218(2): Droissart, M. Dufrêne, C. Ewango, J.F. 177-183. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/ Gillet, C.H. Gonmadje, T. Hart, T. Kavali, Holzmeyer, L., M. Duretto, D. Crayn, phytotaxa.218.2.8 D. Kenfack, M. Libalah, Y. Malhi, J.-R. E. Hörandl, M. Heslewood, J. Jayanthan Makana, R. Pélissier, P. Ploton, A. Serckx, and M.S. Appelhans. 2015. Phylog- Soreng, R.J., B.L. Wilson, R.E. Brainerd B. Sonké, T. Stevart, D.W. Thomas, C. eny of Acronychia (Rutaceae) and first and N. Otting. 2015. Poa Bluegrass, pp. De Cannière and J. Bogaert. 2015. Seeing insights into its historical biogeography 449-468. In S.C. Meyers, T. Jaster, K.E. Central African forests through their larg- and the evolution of fruit characters. Mitchell and L.K. Hardison, eds. Flora est trees. Sci. Rep. 5: 13156. http://dx.doi. PloS One 10(8): e0136296. http://dx.doi. of Oregon, Volume 1. BRIT Press, Fort org/10.1038/srep13156 org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136296 Worth. Budd, C., E. Zimmer and J.R. Freeland. Lu, J.M., N. Zhang, X.Y. Du, J. Wen and Touwaide, A. 2015. Medicine, pp. 954- 2015. Conservation genetics of Magnolia D.Z. Li. 2015. Chloroplast phylogenom- 998. In A. Albrecht, ed. Handbook of acuminata, an endangered species in Can- ics resolves key relationships in ferns. J. Medieval Culture. Fundamental Aspects ada: Can genetic diversity be maintained Syst. Evol. 53(5): 448-457. http://dx.doi. and Conditions of the European Middle in fragmented, peripheral populations? org/10.1111/jse.12180 Ages, Volume 2. De Gruyter, Berlin and New York. Conserv. Genet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ Mandel, J.R., R.B. Dikow and V.A. Funk. s10592-015-0746-9 2015. Using phylogenomics to resolve Wagner, W.L., P.C. Hoch and J.L. Zaruc- Costion, C.M., L. Simpson, P.L. Pert, mega-families: An example from Compos- chi. 2015. The correct name in Oenothera M.M. Carlsen, W.J. Kress and D. Crayn. itae. J. Syst. Evol. 53(5): 391-402. http:// for Gaura drummondii (Onagraceae). 2015. Will tropical mountaintop plant dx.doi.org/10.1111/jse.12167 PhytoKeys 50: 25-29. http://dx.doi. org/10.3897/phytokeys.50.4886 species survive climate change? Identify- Nazareno, A.G., M. Carlsen and L.G. ing key knowledge gaps using species Lohmann. 2015. Complete chloroplast Wasshausen, D.C. 2015. New species of distribution modelling in Australia. Biol. genome of Tanaecium tetragonolobum: Acanthaceae from Ecuador. J. Bot. Res. Conserv. 191: 322-330. http://dx.doi. The first Bignoniaceae plastome.PloS Inst. Texas 9(1): 81-88. org/10.1016/j.biocon.2015.07.022 ONE 10(6): e0129930. http://dx.doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0129930 Wen, J., J. Liu, S. Ge, Q.Y. Xiang and Dorr, L.J. and J.G. Carvalho-Sobrinho. E.A. Zimmer. 2015. Phylogenomic 2015. On the identity of Sterculia laxiflora Ochyra, R., H. Bednarek-Ochyra and approaches to deciphering the tree of life. Rusby (Malvaceae: Sterculioideae). Phy- R.R. Ireland. 2015. Valid publication and J. Syst. Evol. 53(5): 369-370. http://dx.doi. toneuron 2015-45: 1-4. typification ofTaxiphyllum deplanatum org/10.1111/jse.12175 (Hypnaceae) and other new names of Egan, A.N. and B. Pan. 2015. Resolution Wolf, P.G., E.B. Sessa, D.B. Marchant, of polyphyly in Pueraria (Leguminosae, moss taxa distributed in Sullivant’s Musci Alleghanienses. J. Bryol. 37(3): 215-227. F.W. Li, C.J. Rothfels, E.M Sigel, M.A. Papilionoideae): The creation of two Gitzendanner, C.J. Visger, J.A. Banks, new genera, Haymondia and Toxicopu- http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1743282015Y.0 000000008 D.E. Soltis, P.S. Soltis, K.M. Pryer and eraria, the resurrection of Neustanthus, J.P. Der. 2015. An exploration into fern and a new combination in Teyleria. Peterson, P.M., K. Romaschenko and genome space. Genome Biol. Evol. 7(9): Phytotaxa 218(3): 201-226. http://dx.doi. Y. Herrera Arrieta. 2015. A molecu- 2533-2544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gbe/ org/10.11646/phytotaxa.218.3.1 lar phylogeny and classification of the evv163 Egan, A.N. and B. Pan. 2015. Puer- Eleusininae with a new genus, Micrachne (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae). Zhang, N., J. Wen and E.A. Zimmer. aria stracheyi, a new synonym to Apios 2015. Expression patterns of AP1, FUL, carnea (Fabaceae). Phytotaxa 218(2): Taxon 64(3): 445-467. http://dx.doi. org/10.12705/643.5 FT and LEAFY orthologs in Vitaceae sup- 147-155. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/ port the homology of tendrils and inflo- phytotaxa.218.2.4 Rothfels, C.J., F.W. Li, E.M. Sigel, rescences throughout the grape family. J. Hernandez-Kantun, J.J., F. Rindi, W.H. L. Huiet, A. Larsson, D.O. Burge, M. Syst. Evol. 53(5): 469-476. http://dx.doi. Adey, S. Heesch, V. Peña, L. Le Gall and Ruhsam, M. Deyholos, D.E. Soltis, C.N. org/10.1111/jse.12138 Stewart, S.W. Shaw, L. Pokorny, T. Chen, P.W. Gabrielson. 2015. Sequencing type Zimmer, E.A. and J. Wen. 2015. Using material resolves the identity and distri- C. dePamphilis, L. DeGironimo, L. Chen, X. Wei, X. Sun, P. Korall, D.W. Steven- nuclear gene data for plant phylogenet- bution of the generitype Lithophyllum ics: Progress and prospects II. Next-gen incrustans, and related European species son, S.W. Graham, G.K.S. Wong and K.M. Pryer. 2015. The evolutionary history of approaches. J. Syst. Evol. 53(5): 371-379. L. hibernicum and L. bathyporum (Coralli- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jse.12174 Page 11 Art by Alice Tangerini
Cyperus pulguerensis M.T. Strong
Cyperus pulguerensis (Cyperacae) was published in “Monocots & Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands” (Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 52: 1-415; 2005). The brush and ink illustration was drawn in 2005 from the holotype at the U.S. National Herbarium (Proctor & Thomas 43804, June 24, 1987, El Pulguero, Manati, Puerto Rico) and an isotype from the herbarium of the Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales in San Juan. Originally identified as Cyperus confertus, the type differed in the spikelet scales which have the carina prolonged at the apex as a straight thickened mucro versus a distinctly to slightly excurved cusp in C. confertus. This species and the beak-rush Rhynchospora depressirostris, are sedges endemic to the white sand areas of the Manati-Vega Baja area, north-central Puerto Rico. This is an area of high diversity where other rare and endemic plants are known to occur as well.
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