Department of Botany and the U.S. National Herbarium The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 4 - No. 1 January-March 2001
Department Profile Flying Down to Rhoeo By Robert DeFilipps daughters: Oeno (wine), Spermo (grain It is rather unusual for a taxonomist to et us assemble in a spirit of seed) and Elais (oil), who were given the have an abiding interest in ferns as well forgiveness, as we review the case power to generate those crops. as flowering plants, and Faden has amply Lof Henry Fletcher Hance (1827- For someone as erudite in Greek as demonstrated an expertise in both 1886), the legendary British botanist in Henry Hance in the 1800s, it would have groups, while naming a new species of Hong Kong and later consul in Wham- been appropriate to bestow the name cycad with H.J. Beentje (Encephalartos poa, Amoy and Canton, who could not “Rhoeo” on a plant with boat-like bracts kisambo) to round out the whole have foreseen the great mystery that enclosing a seemingly hidden inflores- gemisch. Faden’s fern research began as would arise from his choice of “Rhoeo” cence, to commemorate the mythological an undergraduate in New York with an as the name of a new genus of Mexican Rhoeo’s claustrophobic maritime predica- honors thesis on the ferns of New York Commelinaceae. To this day the deriva- ment in the Mediterranean Sea. The boat- City and a paper on Staten Island tion of Rhoeo is cited in botanical lily, long known as Rhoeo spathacea, is pteridophytes (1962), and continued with reference books as either unknown or currently referable to Tradescantia his treatment of some 200 tropical East obscure. Yet this plant, with purple boat- spathacea, while Rhoeo herself lives on as African fern species in Upland Kenya shaped inflorescence bracts enclosing Tradescantia Section Rhoeo (Hance) D.R. Wild Flowers (by A. Agnew & S. Agnew, slightly emergent white flowers, is well Hunt. 1994). In a review of the known in the vernacular of gardeners and Mexico and Central first edition of the latter houseplant enthusiasts as the “boat-lily”, America, the home of the Turning up (Agnew 1974), B. “oyster plant”, “Moses-in-a-boat” or boat-lily, is along with Verdcourt (Kew Bull. “three-men-in-a-boat”. continental Asia and exciting new 30:422. 1975) noted that From E.H.M. Cox’s book on “Plant- tropical Africa a center of plants in well- Faden’s treatment was Hunting in China” (1945), we learn that diversity of the mainly “no mere compilation” but Hance “was an expert linguist, completely tropical and warm known areas was based on intensive word perfect in Latin, Greek, French and temperate monocot family collecting. He referred to German.” Inspired by that clue, a search Commelinaceae, com- Faden’s “fantastic habit of worldwide websites led me to Peter prised of approximately of turning up exciting new Hawlina, a professional genealogist 41 genera and 650 species. The family is a plants in well-known areas” as residing in Slovenia, who provided an major research specialty of Robert B. “smack[ing] almost of wizardry.” Five answer to Hance’s puzzle. It transpires Faden, curator of African plants in the species of ferns (as well as an that Rhoeo is a Greek mythological figure, Department. A native of the Bronx, New epiphyllous lichen and liverwort) now the daughter of Staphylos (father) and York, he earned a B.S. cum laude (1962) bear the epithet “fadenii” as a result of Chrysothemis (mother), and she was a from City College of New York; M.S. (1964) his field collections. mistress of the god Zeus. Staphylos from the University of Michigan; and a From graduate school in Michigan, became angry when he found out Rhoeo Ph.D. in Biology (1975) from Washington Faden joined the Peace Corps and was was pregnant, and locked her in a chest University, St. Louis. After a period of time based at Thika near Nairobi, Kenya, and put it in the sea. The chest later (1976-1980) as curator of botany at the where he taught biology for three years washed up on the coast of Euboea (or Field Museum of Natural History in and was encouraged to collect plants for Delos), after which Rhoeo gave birth to a Chicago, Illinois, he arrived at the the East African Herbarium in Nairobi. son, Anius. The “Encyclopedia Mythica” Smithsonian Institution to take up duties Many of his specimens were also sent to as curator in 1980. notes that Anius was the father of three Continued on page 8 Travel
Walter Adey (9/28 – 10/1) traveled to Diane Littler and Mark Littler (10/16 Pedro Acevedo (11/18 – 11/26) traveled Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to present an – 10/30) traveled to Bali, Indonesia to to San Juan, Puerto Rico to provide invited talk, entitled “Alkalinity and the conduct ongoing research, and (12/14 – training to park officials and to collect Photosynthesis of Free-Living Algae: 2/20) to Fort Pierce, Florida to continue specimens and data on British Virgin Keys to Understanding Acroporid ongoing research at the Smithsonian Islands plants. Calcification and the Resulting High Level Marine Station and the Florida Keys. Laurence Skog (12/11 – 12/13) traveled of Coral Reef Biodiversity” at the Marine Maria Faust (11/2 – 11/4) traveled to to the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, Aquarium Conference of North America. Blacksburg, Virginia to give a seminar at New York to examine herbarium specimens Warren Wagner (10/12 – 10/15) the Department of Biology, Virginia of Gesneriaceae. traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to attend Polytechnic Institute and State University. Laurence Dorr (12/21 – 01/5) traveled the Systematics Symposium and examine Linda Prince (11/10 – 11/29) traveled to to Caracas, Venezuela to collect botanical collections management at the Missouri China with John Kress for specimen specimens in Guaramacal National Park as Botanical Garden. collecting and pollination biology work on part of a flora project. John Kress (10/12 – 10/15) traveled to Zingiberales. She also (12/2) visited Dieter Wasshausen (1/14 – 1/17) St. Louis, Missouri to attend a Flora of Rancho Santa Ana, California concerning a traveled to the New York Botanical Garden, China Editorial Meeting and the Systemat- Mellon post-doctoral fellowship, which Bronx, New York to examine plant speci- ics Symposium, (10/19 – 10/22) to Miami, would begin in summer 2001, to investigate mens for completion of various floras. Florida to attend the Coalition for Excel- phylogenetics and biogeography of lence in Tropical Biology Symposium, (11/ Polyspora (Theaceae). 7 – 12/7) to Kathmandu, Nepal, Bangkok, Paula DePriest (11/12 – 11/14) traveled Thailand and Kumming, China to make to Boston, Massachusetts to present an field collections and present an invited invited lecture and conduct research in the lecture at a conference on medicinal plants, Farlow Herbarium, and (11/30 – 12/01) to and (1/24 – 1/26) to Tampa, Florida to Durham, North Carolina to participate in speak at a Selby Botanical Gardens the graduate committee for Rebecca Yahr Symposium. at Duke University. Visitors The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 4 - No. 1 Cyril Nelson, Universidad Nacional, Dianxiang Zhang, South China Institute of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TEFH); Checklist Botany, Guangzhou, China (IBSC); Chairman, Department of Botany of Honduran plants (1/2-2/15). Fabaceae and Burmanniaceae of China (2/ W. John Kress 5-2/7). ([email protected]) Sergey Majorov, Moscow State University, Russia (MW); American weeds in Russia Colin Hughes, University of Oxford, EDITORIAL STAFF (1/11-1/23). England (OXF); South American Lupinus (Fabaceae) (2/22-2/27). Co-Editors Dmitry Sokoloff, Moscow State Univer- Gary Krupnick sity, Russia (MW); Loteae (1/11-1/23). Adriana Bartoli, Herbario, Facultad de ([email protected]) Robert DeFilipps Farmacia, Univ. de Buenos Aires, Argen- Charlotte Taylor, Missouri Botanical tina (BAF); Asteraceae (4/7-4/9). ([email protected]) Garden, St. Louis (MO); Rubiaceae of the Circulation Manager Guianas (1/23-2/1). Shirley Maina ([email protected]) Grants & News Contacts Awards Correction Amanda Boone, Robert Faden, Ellen Vol. 3(4):1 (Oct.-Dec. 2000): It was Farr, George Russell, Alice Tangerini, Peter Hoch (Missouri Botanical Garden), intended to note that although the and Elizabeth Zimmer Ken Sytsma (University of Wisconsin, hummingbird flower-mite species The Plant Press is a quarterly publication Madison), Jorge Crisci (Museo de La Plata, Rhinoseius tiptoni is confined to provided free of charge. If you would like to be Argentina) and Robert Raguso (University Gesneriaceae, the mite genus is added to the mailing list, contact Shirley Maina of South Carolina) were awarded $83,500 in additionally associated with several at: Department of Botany, MRC-166, National Smithsonian Mellon Fellowships to work Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian other plant families. Thanks to Jim Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0166, or in the Department of Botany over the next Luteyn (NY). by e-mail: [email protected]. three years with Warren Wagner and Elizabeth Zimmer on phylogeny of the Web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany Onagraceae.
Page 2 Museum Collections as Conservation Tools Chair ne of the three principal objectives of the effort to discover and catalog biodiversity for conserva- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) tion purposes was elegantly mandated by Edward O. Osigned and ratified by over 175 nations is the Wilson in a recent editorial (Science, 29 December 2000, conservation of the earth’s biodiversity. To conserve p. 2779). He outlined an effort that would be similar in With biodiversity it is imperative to know what biodiversity scope to the Human Genome Project. is and where it is found. To achieve this end the Global Ironically, these same conservation biologists who Taxonomy Initiative (GTI), which is a partnership for question the use of museum collections for contempo- A taxonomic capacity building between natural history rary conservation purposes applaud the new Species museums and botanical gardens in the developed world Information Service of the IUCN-World Conservation with similar institutions in developing countries, was Union that will provide conservationists with continu- established. The functions of the GTI include establish- ously updated biodiversity data supplied by “species View ing the infrastructure for maintaining and using specialists” and “experts”. The irony is that these biological collections, database development for specialists for the most part are housed in museums sharing biodiversity information, and the syntheses of around the world and derive their expertise from taxonomic information at various biologic and geo- studying the historical and contemporary collections graphic scales. Other global initiatives, including curated in these very institutions. A specialist does not W. Species 2000, the Global Biodiversity Information derive his or her expertise from simply reading about John Facility, and the Integrated Taxonomic Information biodiversity, but must dedicate one’s career to field work System, have also been recently founded to coordinate along with the study of collections of plants and Kress and share the biodiversity information contained in animals representing the full spectrum of morphological taxonomic sources and museum collections. All of variation and geographic distribution. The value and these efforts are aimed at sharing and utilizing taxo- multiple uses of voucher specimens that result from nomic information to achieve the first goal of the CBD: these life-long investigations are often overlooked. to conserve biodiversity. Well-documented collections comprise the data upon It is therefore perplexing that some members of the which informed decisions for conservation can be made conservation community still refuse to appreciate the and continually reassessed as habitats become further value of our collections in conserving biological altered. The biological specimens that have been diversity. In a recent letter to Science (15 December collected over the centuries and now reside in a 2000, pp. 2073-2074) several prominent conservation multitude of herbaria and museums are a treasure trove biologists made it clear that they continue to hold the of information about the earth’s biological riches. This incorrect perception of museum scientists as the information must be mobilized and made available for all custodians of an attic filled with “historical biodiversity to use in conserving and using biodiversity. data … [in]sufficient to address contemporary issues in It is time that conservationists become committed conservation” (see our response 2 February 2001, pp. partners with museum scientists to provide the most 828-829). This statement and the beliefs underlying it reliable, verifiable, and accurate data for making conser- are difficult to reconcile with the goals of the CBD, the vation decisions. Good science requires accessible data efforts of the GTI, and the rigorous collecting activities and repeatable analyses. Natural history research based of our staff in collaboration with an international cadre on documented collections provides the type of good of taxonomists and field biologists. science from which conservation activities will greatly In the Department we accession an average of 40- benefit. Museum scientists and their collections will 50,000 new collections of plants annually while the assist in finding the scientific solutions for coping with entire National Museum of Natural History logs in the massive economic and social change occurring in nearly half a million new specimens each year from the world today. areas that have been little explored and from habitats of prime conservation concern. If we multiply this number by museums and botanical gardens worldwide, the annual total amount of new biodiversity data available for conservation assessment is staggering. Our collections not only document the past, but are a continuous record of the contemporary status of biodiversity as well. The vital data contained in these collections on geographic occurrence, morphological features, phenology, and uses by local people can be effectively utilized only if they are fully inventoried and cataloged. The immediate priority for an international
Page 3 quences. tribes Mutisieae and Arctoteae. They Staff A well-resolved phylogeny of tribes began a four-day trip in the St. Francis Onagreae and Epilobieae is in itself an fynbos area, followed by a trip through Research important goal, since it provides the Baviaanskloof Conservation Area with D. essential foundation for all future taxo- Clark. The fynbos gave way to nomic and evolutionary studies, but this renosterveld as they entered the Western The goal of a major project on Onagraceae, work has additional goals. Almost all Cape Province and traveled through being undertaken by Warren Wagner, genera in these two tribes of Onagraceae Swartberg Pass down into Oudtshoorn. Elizabeth Zimmer, and four fellowship are endemic to, or have had their major On 9 September they met with Jan and participants (see Awards, pg. 2), is a basal radiation in, southwestern North Analise Vloot to inspect the vegetation of comprehensive phylogeny based on America, and the proposed analyses will sandstone cliffs and quartzite areas in the molecular and morphological data for provide a powerful new model system for Little Karroo, and further collected tribes Onagreae and Epilobieae, which understanding the evolutionary history of composites at Walker Bay and the together include more than 430 of the 650 this Madrean Floristic Region, an area of Grootbos Nature Reserve. species in the family. They will be using great geological and climatological For the second part of the trip, Funk this phylogeny for new comparative complexity with a rich and highly charac- briefly visited the Kirstenbosch Botanic analyses of the chromosomal evolution in teristic biota. Garden and herbarium and the University the group, the diversification of its The results of the project will also of Cape Town herbarium before going into pollination biology, and the historical provide a new framework for interpreting the field. Marinda Koekemoer from PRE biogeography of the dramatic evolutionary some aspects of the huge body of litera- met her and together they set off for the radiation that has taken place in south- ture on the Onagraceae. Beginning at least nirvana of Compositae, Namaqualand. western North America. Major new data with the pioneering studies on Oenothera After several poor years for flowering the sets that they propose to generate will by Hugo de Vries more than a century ago, rains were late and they were uncertain include cpDNA sequence in the trnL-trnF which ushered in the study of mutation in what they would find. In good years region, matK, and possibly other regions modern genetics and its relationship to Namaqualand is a carpet of flowers, but in as necessary for adequate resolution of evolution and speciation, followed by bad years it is bare ground. They went the phylogeny. decades of cytogenetic and genetic study north to Worcester then through the The project will be organized around of such phenomena as permanent translo- mountains to the coast at Dwarskersbos. Peter Hoch and Warren Wagner, as the two cation heterozygosity, and now encom- The rains had started late but they had principal students of the systematics of passing research in anatomy, chemistry, finally begun and it was a good season for the Onagreae-Epilobieae complex, Ken developmental biology, classical and flowers. Sytsma and Liz Zimmer, as lead scientists molecular genetics, ecology and popula- The trip from Citrusdal to Clanwilliam, of molecular systematics laboratories tion biology, systematics, and even human up to Nieuwoudville and Kamieskroon, investigating Onagraceae, Jorge Crisci, as and veterinarian medicine (e.g., cardiovas- and then on to Springbok took about a an international leader in phylogenetics cular disease, mental health, and nutrition), week, and the fields of flowers were and historical biogeography with experi- research on Onagraceae has been seminal mostly made of composites. After Spring- ence working with Onagraceae, and Robert in the development of numerous critical bok they headed east to Pretoria, stopping Raguso, as an active investigator of the concepts in evolutionary biology. As a at Augrabies Falls and Langeberge to morphological/biochemical basis of measure of the breadth of contemporary collect. After two days in the well- evolution in the pollination biology of research on members of tribe Onagreae and organized herbarium in Pretoria with Hugh Onagreae. Epilobieae, a search of the online Glen, Funk was ready to return home. The They have hired Rachel A. Levin AGRICOLA database produced nearly South African trip yielded a total of nearly (recent Ph.D., University of Arizona with 1,000 citations since 1972 [Oenothera 40 species found in three genera of the Lucinda McDade) as a post-doctoral (484), Epilobium (257), Clarkia (168), eight Mutisieae and nine genera in the fellow for the next two years to carry out other genera (63)]. Arctoteae, as well as Hoplophyllum, the primary molecular sequencing work at Tarchonanthus and Brachylaena, and the Smithsonian molecular laboratory. She many specimens of other tribes. She also will work closely with all of the principals Staff Activities saw 40 species of birds for the first time on data analysis and additional studies. and a half a dozen species of antelope. Other post-doctoral fellows and students Vicki Funk spent most of September 2000 Funk was pleased to find so many people from St. Louis, Madison, and La Plata will conducting fieldwork in South Africa, her interested in botany and conservation, participate and interact with the principals second trip to that country. On arrival in and left South Africa with plans for future and the post-doc in various aspects of this Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape she collaboration and collecting trips. project, including detailed cytological in joined Richard Cowling from the Univer- Mark Littler, Diane Littler, Barrett situ hybridization studies, pollination and sity of Port Elizabeth and Kathy Brooks and two volunteers initiated a 2- breeding system studies including floral MacKinnon from the World Bank. Funk year project in September/October 2000 at scent analyses, and related molecular was searching for members of the basal the Smithsonian Tropical Research surveys involving different DNA se- groups of the Asteraceae, including the Institute laboratory in Bocas del Toro,
Page 4 Panama. The project “Controlling Factors In mid-January, Nicolson also hosted USSR. Six volumes have now appeared in for Colonization and Competitive Domi- the visit of Drs. Sergey Majorov & Dmitry print, and the page proofs of the seventh nance on Coral-reef Habitats,” supported Sokoloff from the Department of Higher (vol. 28) went back to the printer in by a Smithsonian Scholarly Studies grant, Plants, Moscow State University, Russia. December 2000. He is now nearing the end will look at the role of nutrients and Our visitors arrived 10 January to do of editing the galleys of the 30th and final herbivory as the controlling factors research on North American Loteae, check volume, with the page proofs yet to come. affecting coral reef communities. This the current nomenclature of American Shetler lectured on 11 January to the project also provides the opportunity for weeds in Russia, and compare notes on Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native extensive investigations in an area with a how type specimens are imaged and made Plant Society on “Spring Birds and unique and especially rich marine flora that available. They presented a talk, “Linnaean Wildflowers of the Potomac Valley” and he has not been previous collected. Specimens and Digital Herbarium Project at will lecture on the same subject to a At the end of October, the Littlers Moscow University,” to the Department on number of garden clubs in March. He also participated in the 9th International Coral Thursday 11 January. During the next week spoke on “The New Jersey Pine Barrens” Reef Symposium in Bali, Indonesia. Mark they traveled with Nicolson to New York to the monthly Members’ Meeting of the Littler presented their joint paper “Top- Botanical Garden and Harvard University Audubon Naturalist Society on 18 down vs. Bottom-up Controls of Coral where they continued their work. They January. On 3 February, Shetler taught a Reef Community Structure” while Diane returned to Moscow on Tuesday 23 one-day class on “Winter Botany” at the Littler presented their joint paper on January, after what they felt was a reward- Rust Sanctuary of the Audubon Naturalist “Marine Plant Identification for Coral Reef ing trip. Society in Leesburg, Virginia. In April and Research.” The ecological paper was the May he will be teaching two sections of lead talk in the ecological section, while Paul Peterson with Jacques Cayouette, the U.S. Department of Agriculture the taxonomic paper was the lead talk in former visiting scientist from DAO (USDA) Graduate School 8-week course the taxonomic section. (Canada), conducted fieldwork (24 Septem- on “Spring Wildflower Identification,” a During 20 December—20 February, the ber—16 October 2000) in the mountains of course that he initiated in 1962 and has Littlers conducted research at the northern Baja California (Sierra San Pedro intermittently taught since then. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Martir), in Arizona, and in NW Mexico Florida. They continued ongoing projects (Sierra Madre Occidental) in Sonora, with colleagues Dennis Hanisak and Brian Chihuahua and Durango. Two hundred Lapointe at the Harbor Branch Oceano- sixty-four numbers of grasses were graphic Institution. The two also pre- collected and seeds of 73 populations of sented two invited talks for Harbor Bromus spp. (primarily Bromus sect. Branch’s 2001 Ocean Science Lecture Bromopsis) were obtained for later Series “New Discoveries in Marine molecular, cytological, and morphological Botany” and will give guest lectures in studies. Currently, Cayouette, Bruce Florida Atlantic University’s “Aquatic Coulman (SASK), Yasas Ferdinandez Botany” course in February. (SASK), and Peterson are preparing a paper analyzing the important morphologi- New Faces Dan Nicolson was recently invited (27 cal and molecular characters that distin- November—14 December 2000) by Drs. guish Bromus ciliatus L. from B. Jing-Ping Liao, a visiting scientist from Maria do Carmo E. Amaral and Volker richardsonii Link. Cayouette and Peterson the South China Institute of Botany (SCIB) Bittrich to teach nomenclature to 20 also verified that the ceremonial corn-beer and sponsored by the Chinese Academy graduate students and staff of the Univer- [tesquino (Spanish); batari (Tarahumara)] of Sciences (CAS) in Guangzhou, China, is sity of Campinas in São Paulo State of prepared by the Tarahumara Indians is working with W. John Kress on the Brazil. This was Nicolson’s first visit to inoculated (to begin fermentation) initially palynology of the Zingiberales. Using a South America, and the first time he has with Bromus anomalus Rupr. ex E. Fourn., recent new phylogeny of the family based taught since he was a graduate teaching which occurs locally on cliffs above the on molecular data, Liao, Kress, and assistant at Cornell University almost 40 Rio Verde near Guachochi, Chihuahua. Dr. research assistant Ida Lopez are investi- years ago. Each of six days he lectured Yolanda Herrera Arrieta (CIIDIR) and gating the evolution of pollen characters from 9-10, 11-12 a.m., with discussions of Socorro Gonzalez Elizondo (CIIDIR) in all the genera of the Zingiberaceae. At exercises from 2-6 p.m., i.e. six hours per accompanied them in the field for portions SCIB, Liao, an associate research profes- day. On the last day the students pre- of their time collecting in Durango. sor, is the director of the Cytology and sented him with a bouquet of origami Molecular Biology Laboratory, deputy Stanwyn Shetler and Sylvia Orli continue flowers, Origamia nicolsonii, providing a director of the Research Center for Plant to work on Part 2, Monocotyledons, of validating Latin diagnosis and citation of Systematics and Phylogeny, and a Ph.D. their Annotated Checklist of the Vascular the type, making sure that the holotype candidate at the institute. He leads a Plants of the Washington-Baltimore Area remained there and that the presented research group in the study of the and are now well into the grasses. In 1995, material involved only isotypes so that he anatomy, embryology, palynology and would not be arrested by the Brazilian Shetler began editing the translation of the authorities. final eight volumes of the Flora of the Continued on page 7
Page 5 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium features keynote address by Edward O. Wilson Edward O. Wilson, the renowned student poster session is being organized The Symposium is being hosted by the entomologist, conservationist, and that will run concurrent to the presenta- Department and is sponsored by the provocative science writer at Harvard tions and be featured during the reception, Cuatrecasas Family Foundation, Richard University, has accepted our invitation to breaks and lunch. Graduate students and and Priscilla Hunt, the Roy A. Hunt present the keynote lecture at the first post-docs are encouraged to register for Foundation, the Hunt Institute for Botani- annual Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, the meeting and participate in the poster cal Documentation, the United States 30-31 March 2001. The symposium, session. They can indicate their interest in Botanic Garden, and the International “Linnaean Classification in the 21st presenting a poster on the web-page Association for Plant Taxonomy. Century,” will focus on the relevance of registration form. the Linnaean system of binomials and A nominal registration fee of $50 ($40 hierarchical ranks to contemporary students and postdoctoral fellows) will phylogenetic classification, monographic cover the cost of the receptions, a box and floristic treatments, and biodiversity lunch on Saturday and the symposium conservation. Dr. Wilson’s address is dinner on Saturday evening. Through our entitled “The Future of Life” and is the on-line registration at http:// subject of his next book. persoon.si.edu/sbs/ you can arrange In addition to the keynote address, the lodging at our official hotel the Hyatt two-day event that will include six sympo- Arlington located just across the Potomac sium presentations, a student poster River in Rosslyn, Virginia. session, reception, a symposium dinner, For more information and on-line and an exhibit featuring historical botanical registration (through 1 March) see http:// texts, including some original Linnaean persoon.si.edu/sbs/. Students can submit materials from Hunt Institute for Botanical poster abstracts on-line through the site Documentation. Symposium speakers until 15 February (note revised date). We include Dr. Paul Berry (University of look forward to seeing everyone at the Wisconsin), Dr. Richard K. Brummitt symposium! (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Dr. Jim Carpenter (American Museum of Natural History), Dr. Paul Kenrick (The Natural History Museum, London), Dr. Dan José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence Nicolson (Smithsonian Institution), and Dr. Peter F. Stevens (Missouri Botanical in Tropical Botany Gardens). The Department has initiated a new The winner of this prestigious award is The symposium will be held at the award that will be presented to a botanist selected by a committee made up of three Smithsonian Institution’s National and scholar of international stature who botanists on the staff of the Depart- Museum of Natural History. On Friday 30 has contributed significantly ment, in consultation with March we will host an opening reception to advancing the field of other plant scientists in and poster session at 7:30 p.m. “around tropical botany. The José the Washington area. the elephant” in the Museum’s Rotunda. Cuatrecasas Medal for Nominations for the On Saturday 31 March, the symposium will Excellence in Tropical Medal are accepted be held in Baird Auditorium at NMNH Botany is named in from all scientists in between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with lunch and honor of Dr. José the Department. poster viewing between 12 and 2 p.m. A Cuatrecasas, a The award, which is mixer will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the pioneering botanist made annually and symposium dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. and taxonomist who will be presented for in the Rotunda, followed by the keynote spent nearly a half- the first time at the address at 8 p.m. again in Baird Audito- century working in the Smithsonian Botanical rium. We hope that the systematics Department. Cuatrecasas Symposium on 31 March community can join us for all of these devoted his career to plant 2001, consists of a bronze events. exploration in tropical South medal bearing an image of José In order to engage students in Sympo- America and this award serves to keep Cuatrecasas on the front with the sium activities and to provide them with vibrant the accomplishments and memory awardee’s name and date of presentation the opportunity to meet the large group of of this outstanding scientist. on the back. systematists who will be attending, a
Page 6 New Faces allows the carriages to start more slowly, speed up, then slow down before stop- Botany Featured in Continued from page 5 ping. The premise is that this will create NMNH Staff Day 00 phylogeny of Zingiberales and heads the less jarring of the specimens within the projects on “Reproductive Organ cabinets. Later it will be decided whether On 14 November 2000, the Department Anatomy and Palynology of Zingiberales to retrofit the other bays by replacing a was one of three participants in the NMNH and Their Phylogenetic Significance” and few programming chips. Staff Day Open House, “Symbiosis at the “Phylogeny of Banana Families.” His six- While funds have not yet been allotted Museum: Research, Collections and Public month visit will end April 2001. to additional compactor equipment, we Programs.” Botany’s displays included have received support for designing the interesting and unique specimens, rare Denise Mix started in December 2000 as books, Caribbean reef plants, and the research assistant to Warren Wagner. She necessary sprinkler relocation, electrical, etc. of the five bays left to be compac- compactorization of the collection. Other is a graduate of George Washington exhibits addressed the Burma Project, University with an M.A. in museum torized, and for designing the ‘main street’ (center aisle) which will contain the study spring flowering date research and global studies, focusing on collections manage- warming, Biological Diversity of the ment. As part of the program, she interned carrels and layout space. Decompression and expansion are much needed in the Guianas Program, and the legacy from at the NMNH with Paleobiology collec- mercuric chloride treatment of specimens. tions manager, Jann Thompson. Denise is remaining areas. Map cases previously located within the Bay 3 area have been Demonstrations on plant mounting, type originally from upstate New York and specimen digitization, and plant illustration earned an undergraduate degree in biology relocated to the center aisle. Other map cases remain outside the Palynology were also presented. Twenty people from and anthropology from SUNY Albany. She the Department participated in prepara- spent several years working as a labora- Laboratory. [by Deborah Bell] tions for the open house and program. In tory technician in biomedical research at addition to our own staff, docents and various institutions including the New staff from other areas in the museum York State (NYS) Department of Health. visited botany’s displays. While working as a lab technician, Mix [by Linda Hollenberg] also served as a volunteer in the herbarium Herbarium News at the NYS Museum, where her interest in botany and museum work developed. The Annual Statistics Summary of specimen transactions has been completed Gisela Sancho, a visiting scientist from La for fiscal year 2000 (1 October 1999—30 Rupert C. Barneby Plata, Argentina, is working with Vicki September 2000). Acquisitions totaled (1911 - 2000) Funk on a revision of Tribe Vernonieae, 30,346, of which institutional exchange Subtribe Elephantopodinae (Asteraceae). (18,385) accounted for more than half, On 16 January 2001 the New York Currently, she has a one-year external followed by donations (8,898), including Botanical Garden held a memorial service fellowship from CONICET, the government gifts for names, SI transfers (1,596) and for our friend and colleague, Legume institution of science in Argentina. Sancho staff collections (860). specialist and Latin expert, Rupert received a Ph.D. (1997) from the University The Department processed 76 more Barneby. In attendance were over 100 of La Plata, with a dissertation on the incoming loan transactions than the people including five scientists from the “Cladistics, Systematics and Biogeogra- previous year, and borrowed specimens US National Herbarium—Pedro Acevedo, phy of Gochnatia sect. Moquiniastrum doubled over last year. Outgoing loan Laurence Dorr, Vicki Funk, Dan (Tribe Mutisieae, Compositae),” and later transactions and specimen totals remained Nicolson, and Dieter Wasshausen. At the did similar studies of Onoseris in the same nearly constant. beginning of the service several letters tribe. She is employed in the Department of Foreign institutions were responsible were read that had been sent from around Vascular Plants of the Museo de La Plata for almost 45% of the total loan and the world, including one from W. John Herbarium (LP). borrow transactions for the year, but only Kress that expressed the sentiments of the 32% of the loan and borrow specimen Department. Kress described Barneby as total, with Brazil, Germany, the Nether- “a man of knowledge, wit, and generosity Compactorization lands, and the United Kingdom leading the who pursued his craft with intense way. engagement and love.” Personal comments Update Finally, during the fiscal year 2000, the from Dorr and Funk were read as well. The In the 4th floor herbarium range, the two Department processed 1,531 specimen service was interesting as well as informa- newly compactorized areas, Bay 3 [Poa- transactions involving over 125,000 tive, revealing many humorous and ceae C-S (in part)] and Bay 8 [Fabaceae - specimens, a total larger than 80% of the touching aspects of Barneby’s life. He was Euphorbiaceae (in part)] are essentially world’s herbaria. a wonderful colleague, one that we have complete. We are experimenting with a [by Rusty Russell] depended on for many years. We will all speed control modification in Bay 8, which miss him. [by Vicki Funk]
Page 7 Lending Support for Brazilian Medicinal Botany Web Site Plants Update 1 Medicinal Plants of Brazil , by Walter the Foreword; W. J. Kress who supplied Two new presentations have been Mors, Carlos Rizzini and Nuno Pereira, is a the dust jacket photo of Heliconia added to the Department’s Web site: http:/ synthesis of information on the medicinal angusta; and staff authorities on various /www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/. and pharmacological utilization of approxi- plant groups who checked the taxonomy For the past year our greenhouse staff mately 1,500 species and varieties of plants and nomenclature of plants in their areas has displayed a “plant of the week” image in 148 families ranging from lichens, ferns of specialization: P. Acevedo (Sapinda- showcasing a specimen from our research and fern allies to gymnosperms and ceae), L. Dorr (Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae), greenhouse. A searchable archive of the flowering plants. They represent the C. Feuillet (Aristolochiaceae), W. J. Kress previous photos is now available. Look for diverse botanical heritage of an immense (Costaceae, Heliconiaceae), D. Lellinger links to the archive under the “Images” nation where, for economic reasons, many (Ferns, Fern Allies), D. Nicolson (Araceae), section or on the “Plant of the Week” of the people cannot fully afford the J. Pruski (Asteraceae), H. Robinson display page. benefits of healing systems based on (Asteraceae), L. Skog (Gesneriaceae) and Electronic records for the 42,500 Western medicine and expensive pharma- D. Wasshausen (Acanthaceae). specimens in the Wood Collection have ceuticals. Locally available medicinal Two illustrators from the Smithsonian been available on the Gopher server for plants are the answer to immediate health Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program several years. We are pleased to announce problems in many cases. This volume is made significant contributions. For the that the records for wood specimens are part of a series on Medicinal Plants of the Foreword, Anna DiCarlo provided draw- now available through a Web based search World that now includes treatments for ings of Amerindians of the Bororo, interface. Follow the existing link to West Africa, West Indies, North Africa, Botocudos, Coeruna, Juri, Jurupixuna, “Wood” in the “Collections” section of China and India. Karaja, Maua, Mauhe, Mayoruna, our Web site. A cooperative effort by three Brazil- Mongoyo and Mura tribes. Of the 88 ians, Mors (a natural products chemist), botanical plates, 19 are originals by Rizzini (a plant taxonomist) and Pereira (a volunteer Rufus Toomey, and are inter- pharmacologist), this book distills their spersed among those from other sources Faden decades of experience and research, including Cecilia Rizzini. Continued from page 1 evidence of which is especially manifested 1Mors, W.B., Rizzini, C.T. and N.A. the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic by the inclusion of abundant references to Pereira. 2000. Medicinal Plants of Brazil. Gardens, Kew, an institution with which he the active chemical constituents and 501 pp. Algonac, Michigan: Reference continues to maintain a close working pharmacology of the plants. This “hard Publications, Inc. relationship. core” data is particularly welcomed in [by Robert DeFilipps] In Kenya, Faden found new national books of this nature, and in many in- records for the genus Baphia, a legumi- stances is derived from literature sources nous tree, the verbenaceous genus not generally accessible outside of Brazil. Karomia (first described as References are given in the text at the end Holmskioldia), and many other genera and of each family write-up, where, for example, species. Eventually, Andrew Agnew of the one may find 117 articles cited for University of Nairobi invited him to Asteraceae, 36 for Apocynaceae, 48 for undertake a treatment of the abundant Fabaceae and 23 for Solanaceae. Evidence Kenyan Commelinaceae for Agnew’s book of the many uses to which locally available on Kenya wildflowers. This he did, and plant-derived medicines are put by from it followed numerous other studies of traditional herbal practitioners may be Commelinaceae on a worldwide basis over ascertained by the huge swatches of the years, including publications in Flora species listed in the comprehensive of North America (to which he also Medicinal Index, which was computer- contributed Mayacaceae), and the floras generated as a useful cross-reference for of Ecuador, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Sri various related illnesses. Lanka, Somalia and Southern Africa. Department staff who participated in Faden has performed fieldwork in a the preparation of the book include volume large array of countries, much of it with his editor R. DeFilipps who also contributed wife Audrey, including the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Pakistan, Sri
Page 8 Lanka, and 11 African nations from patterns in species with dimorphic Cameroon and Ghana to Somalia, Uganda, (bisexual and male) flowers, chromosome Publications Zimbabwe, Zambia and beyond. Attesting counts, DNA sequencing (with Tim to his remarkable “eye” for spotting Evans), seed germination, and occasion- novelties during field collecting trips are 12 ally as parent material for hybrid crosses. DeFilipps, R.A. 2000. Foreword, pp. xxiii- Kenyan angiosperm species named in his Faden has performed the cross of Trades- xxxix. In: Mors, W.B., C.T. Rizzini and N.A. honor by specialists, including new cantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’ x Trades- Pareira. Medicinal Plants of Brazil. Edited members of the families Dichapetalaceae, cantia buckleyi (from Texas-Mexico) in by R.A. DeFilipps. 501 pp. Algonac, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae (such as Coffea both directions. The extent of natural Michigan: Reference Publications, Inc. fadenii), Rutaceae, Urticaceae, hybridization in the family remains a large Dorr, L.J. 2000. Review of: Plantes utiles Amaranthaceae, Capparaceae and question to be probed by all interested des hautes terres de Madagascar by J. M. Crassulaceae. They are crowned, as it researchers. Samyn. Taxon 49(4): 845. were, by the genus Fadenia Aellen & C.C. More fieldwork and collections of Townsend (Chenopodiaceae), although living material will follow. We might hope Dorr, L.J., B. Stergios, A.R. Smith and N.L. Faden once wrote: “I maintain that Audrey that perhaps some of Faden’s future Cuello A. 2000 [2001]. Catalogue of the was the best collection that I ever made in studies could involve medicinal plants, Vascular Plants of Guaramacal National Africa!” Kenya-born Audrey Faden is a encouraged by the fact that a remedy for Park, Portuguesa and Trujillo States, landscaper, master gardener and children’s eye infections using the spathe- Venezuela. Contributions from the United Smithsonian volunteer for the intensive liquid of Commelina, which was originally States National Herbarium 40: 1-155. cultivation and maintenance of numerous recorded by someone from Bolivia, was Evans, T.M., R.B. Faden and K.J. Sytsma. commelinads used for research, growing in independently noted by Faden in use in 2000. Phylogenetic relationships in the the departmental greenhouse in Silver Hill, Tanzania; absence of calcium oxalate plant family Commelinaceae. I: A cladistic Maryland. Both people are also intensely crystals in the spathe-liquid make it analysis of morphological data. Systematic involved with the Potomac Valley Chapter soothing in contrast to the crystal-bearing Botany 25: 668-691. of the North American Rock Garden liquid found in other tissues of the plant. Society. Strangely enough, reports from the fairly Farr, E.R. and P.T. DePriest. 2000. PEET Commelinaceae is the family of the new (to botanists) discipline of III: The Monographic Process. URL: bright blue dayflower (Commelina), the zoopharmacognosy indicate that in
Page 9 Art by Alice Tangerini
Commelina disperma Faden
Commelina species are difficult to distinguish from herbarium specimens alone. Thus it is most un- usual for Robert Faden to describe a new species based on a single dried collection. Faden made an exception for Commelina disperma Faden, the type and sole collection of which, Bidgood, Sitoni, Vollesen & Whitehouse 4153, came from near Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, because the material was unusually complete, includ- ing base of the plant, mature capsules and seeds, and kodachrome slides of the flowers, taken by Kaj Vollesen. This enabled an accurate description and contrast with other African forest Commelina species with two-seeded capsules, C. macrosperma J. K. Morton from West Africa and C. zenkeri C. B. Clarke, which ranges from Uganda to Cameroon. The new species has been submitted to the journal Novon.
First-Class Mail Postage & Fees - PAID - Department of Botany MRC-166 Smithsonian Washington DC 20560-0166 Institution G-94 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300