Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium The Plant Press

New Series - Vol. 14 - No. 3 July-September 2011

Island Explorations and Evolutionary Investigations By Vinita Gowda

or over a century the Caribbean eastward after the Aves Ridge was formed On joining the graduate program region, held between North and to the West. Although the Lesser Antilles at The George Washington University FSouth America, has been an active is commonly referred to as a volcani- in Washington, D.C., in the Fall of area of research for people with interests cally active chain of islands, not all of the 2002, I decided to investigate adapta- in island biogeography, character evolu- Lesser Antilles is volcanic. Based on geo- tion in plant-pollinator interactions tion, speciation, as well as geology. Most logical origin and elevation all the islands using a ‘multi-island’ comparative research have invoked both dispersal and of the Lesser Antilles can be divided into approach using the Caribbean Heliconia- vicariance processes to explain the distri- two groups: a) Limestone Caribbees (outer ­hummingbird interactions as the study bution of the local flora and fauna, while arc: calcareous islands with a low relief, system. Since I was interested in under- ecological interactions such as niche dating to middle Eocene to Pleistocene), standing factors that could influence partitioning and ecological adaptations and b) Volcanic Caribbees (inner arc: plant-pollinator mutualistic interactions have been used to explain the diversity young volcanic islands with strong relief, between the geographically distinct within the Caribbean region. One of dating back to late Miocene). islands, I chose three strategic islands of the biggest challenges in understanding the Lesser Antilles: St. Kitts in the north, island colonization in the Caribbean, or over more than a decade John Dominica in the center, and St. Vin- however, has been its complex, dynamic Kress, Ethan Temeles (Amherst cent to the south of the Lesser Antilles, and variable geological history, which FCollege) and their team of research- respectively. varies both along a North-South and an ers have been investigating mutualistic On all three islands only two native East-West axis. interactions between heliconias (Heli- species of Heliconia occur in ­varying The Caribbean region is divided into conia: Heliconiaceae) and their sexually abundance: Heliconia bihai (L.) L. the Greater Antilles (northern islands) dimorphic hummingbird pollinators the and H. caribaea Lam. However, floral and the Lesser Antilles (southern Purple-throated Caribs (Trochilidae: polymorphism and abundance of these islands). The Lesser Antilles archipelago, Eulampis jugularis) throughout the two species are completely reversed on the focus of my research interests, is 850 Eastern Caribbean Islands. Based on these islands. On St. Kitts, H. ­caribaea kilometers long with a radius of curva- their studies they proposed the Caribbean is common and H. bihai is rare; on ture of 450 kilometers, and consists of Heliconia-hummingbird system as a case Dominica, both the species are common, 19 islands. The Lesser Antilles stretches for adaptive evolution between the beak but are mostly allopatrically distributed from South American continental margin morphology of the Purple-throated Caribs (commonly H. bihai can be found above (eastern Venezuela) to the Anegada and the floral morphology of the two 800 meters and H. caribaea below 800 Passage, which marks its boundary with native heliconias (Temeles et al. 2000 Sci- meters with a small overlapping zone the Greater Antilles (Puerto Rico-Virgin ence; Temeles and Kress 2003 Science). around 800 meters); and a reversed Islands platform). My involvement in this project started in distribution is observed on St. Vincent Geologically, the Caribbean region is September 2002, or more appropriately where H. bihai is common and H. car- estimated to have formed in the Cenozoic­ from July 2002 when I first met Kress at ibaea is rare. Both species have distinct era (65 million years ago), following­ the the Association of Tropical Biology and color polymorphisms that vary among separation of North and South America Conservation (ATBC) meeting in Banga- islands and serve as the primary nectar during the Mesozoic era. The volcanic lore, India. At the time, I was investigating source for the Purple-throated Caribs. islands, today’s Lesser Antilles, are a Mussaenda frondosa-insect interaction The Purple-throated Caribs are sexu- proposed to have emerged from the in the Western Ghats, India, and I was ally dimorphic birds that vary in their tectonically active Aves Arc after a series ready for new and bigger research chal- of subsiding volcanic islands migrated lenges. Continued on page 8 Travel Walter Adey traveled to Woods Hole, – 6/6) to attend a meeting on the Evolution Robert Soreng traveled to western Massachusetts (4/16 – 4/19) to present of Life on Pacific Islands and Reefs. Turkey (6/13 – 7/2) to collect grasses for several papers at the North East Algal Carlos Garcia-Robledo traveled collaborative research on the taxonomy of Society meeting; to Charlottesville, to Costa Rica (6/25 – 7/29) to collect Alopecurinae, Phleinae, and Poinae, with Virginia (5/12 – 5/13) to meet with col- Zingiberales and Cephaloleia beetles for Lynn Gillespie (CAN) and Musa Doğan leagues at the University of Virginia; and his postdoctoral fellowship project, and to and Evren Çabi (Middle East Technical to Steuben, Maine (6/17 – 9/15) to collect teach the graduate level coarse “Tropical University, Ankara). an ecological array of the coralline alga Biology: An Ecological Approach” for the Alice Tangerini traveled to Pittsburgh, Clathromorphum compactum from the Organization for Tropical Studies. Pennsylvania (5/19 – 5/21) to meet with northern Labrador Coast and the Quebec Linda Hollenberg traveled to San colleagues at the Hunt Institute. shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Francisco, California (5/22 – 5/30) to Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Barrett Brooks traveled to Curacao attend the annual conference of the Soci- Appetiti traveled to Oxford, Mississippi (6/24 – 7/6) to collect marine algae by ety for the Preservation of Natural History (4/11 – 4/14) to deliver a paper on the snorkeling, scuba diving and submarine Collections and the Natural Science Col- history of medicinal plants at the 10th for the Smithsonian’s Deep Reef Observa- lections Alliance. Annual International Conference on the tion Project (DROP). Carol Kelloff traveled to Georgetown, Science of Botanicals (ICSB); to Rome Laurence Dorr traveled to Philadel- Guyana (4/25 – 5/3) to help set up the and Piombino, Italy (5/6 – 5/19) to present phia, Pennsylvania (4/29) to attend a doc- new library at the Centre for the Study of their research on the DNA analysis of the toral defense exam at Drexel University. Biodiversity, University of Guyana; and to ancient medicines found in a shipwreck Vicki Funk traveled to Durham, North Honolulu, Hawaii (5/25 – 6/3) to partici- off the coast of Tuscany, and to take new Carolina (5/17 – 5/20) to participate in a pate at the conference Evolution of Life on samples from the discoids to continue cyber-infrastructure meeting held at the Pacific Islands and Reefs. the analysis; and Touwaide traveled to National Evolutionary Synthesis Center Nancy Kahn traveled to Honolulu, Irvine, California (5/14 – 5/16) to deliver (NESCent); and to Honolulu, Hawaii (5/24 Hawaii (5/24 – 6/3) to participate at the a lecture on Greek and Roman gardens conference Evolution of Life on Pacific at the Orange County Great Park, and to The Plant Press Islands and Reefs. meet with the director of the Greek Digital W. John Kress traveled to Dominica Texts Program at the University of Cali- New Series - Vol. 14 - No. 3 (5/4 – 5/17) to conduct field work on fornia Irvine. Chair of Botany Heliconia-hummingbird interactions; to Warren Wagner traveled to Honolulu, Warren L. Wagner Arusha, Tanzania (6/8 – 6/19) to attend Hawaii (5/24 – 6/10) as the organizer ([email protected]) the annual meeting of the Association for of the conference Evolution of Life on Tropical Biology and Conservation as the Pacific Islands and Reefs, followed by EDITORIAL STAFF Executive Director; and to Nairobi, Kenya field work on the islands of Hawaii and Editor (6/19 – 6/21) to conduct field studies. Kauai; and to Fort Collins, Colorado Gary Krupnick Sonoe Nakasone traveled to Manhat- (6/23 – 6/26) to attend a thesis defense at ([email protected]) tan, New York (5/17 – 5/20) to attend a Colorado State University. workshop at Columbia University. Jun Wen traveled to Chicago, Illinois Copy Editors Paul Peterson traveled to throughout (4/24 – 4/27) to conduct research at the Robin Everly, Bernadette Gibbons, Rose western Maryland (5/9 – 5/12) to collect Field Museum; and to Alabama, Arkansas, Gulledge, Dail Laughinghouse grasses. Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and News Contacts Rusty Russell traveled to San Fran- Texas (6/17 – 6/25) with interns Ryan MaryAnn Apicelli, Robert Faden, Rusty cisco, California (5/23 – 5/27) to give two Moraski and Matt Chansler to collect Russell, Alice Tangerini, and Elizabeth presentations at the annual conference of Vitaceae. Zimmer the Society for the Preservation of Natural Elizabeth Zimmer traveled to New The Plant Press is a quarterly publication pro- History Collections; and to the San Jacinto York City, New York (6/28 – 6/29) to meet vided free of charge. To receive notification of Mountains in southern California (6/18 – with colleagues at the New York Botanic when new pdf issues are posted to the web, please subscribe to the listserve by sending a message 7/5) to lead an Earthwatch Program study- Garden and at the American Museum of to [email protected] containing only the ing changes in plant species composition. Natural History. following in the body of the text: SUBSCRIBE PLANTPRESS-NEWS Firstname Lastname. Replace “Firstname Lastname” with your name. Visitors If you would like to be added to the hard-copy Mike Martin, Johns Hopkins University; Vinita Gowda, Indian Institute of Science, mailing list, please contact Dr. Gary Krupnick at: Ambrosia (Compositae) (1/1/09-6/30/11). Bangalore, India; Alpinia (Zingiberaceae) Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, (11/15/2010-3/31/2012). DC 20013-7012, or by E-mail: krupnickg@ Carlos García-Robledo, University si.edu. of Miami; Plant-herbivore interactions Genise Freire, Universidade Federal (7/20/10-7/19/11). Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sapin- Web site: http://botany.si.edu/ daceae (12/1/2010-12/31/2011). Page 2 Plant Conservation has 2020 Vision Editor’s Note

n October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, the 10th Conference Target 1 is well under way towards completion. The Plant of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity List is a working list of all known I(CBD) adopted a Decision incorporating a consolidated plant species. Version 1, released in December 2010, aims to update of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) be comprehensive for species of vascular plants and bryo- for the period 2011-2020. Over 180 countries backed the Global phytes. Version 1 contains 1,244,871 million scientific plant Strategy when it was first introduced to the CBD in April 2002. names of which 298,900 are accepted species names. Devel- They recognized that up to two thirds of the world’s plant spe- opment of The Plant List has been a collaborative venture cies could be threatened by the end of this century unless urgent coordinated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri steps are taken to safeguard tens of thousands of species. Botanical Garden, and rely on the generosity of many col- The original strategy set 16 targets in plant conservation to laborators who manage significant taxonomic data resources. be achieved by 2010. These 16 outcome-oriented targets fall One significant resource is theGlobal Compositae Checklist into five categories: understanding and documenting plant diver- , an integrated database sity, conserving plant diversity, using plant diversity sustain- of nomenclatural and taxonomic information for the second ably, promoting education and awareness about plant diversity, largest vascular plant family in the world. This checklist is and building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity. published by the International Compositae Alliance (which The new GSPC has revised targets set for 2020 . compiled from many contributed datasets. More than 100,000 The ultimate and long-term objective of the Strategy is records derived from the Global Compositae Checklist are to halt the current and continuing loss of plant diversity. The included in The Plant List. mission of the Strategy is a catalyst for working together at all A leader in plant taxonomy and evolution, NMNH’s levels – local, national, regional and global – to understand, Department of Botany and the U.S. National Herbarium conserve and use sustainably the world’s immense wealth of (USNH) together have made great strides in contributing and plant diversity while promoting awareness and building the addressing many of the 16 GSPC targets (see The Plant Press necessary capacities for its implementation. 10: 1, 9-15; 2007). These contributions take the form of sci- To help nations meet the targets, a consortium of interna- entific papers and books, electronic publications, symposiums tional and national plant and conservation agencies have formed and informal lectures, new species descriptions, conservation the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation. The Partnership assessments, and internet-accessible herbarium specimens and brings together international, regional and national organiza- collections. Much more work needs to be done towards reach- tions in order to contribute to the implementation of the GSPC ing the targets, and the Department of Botany will play an and provide tools and resources on how each country can plan active part in achieving these goals by the year 2020. and act to meet the targets. The National Museum of Natural History is a member of the Partnership. Botanists, plant taxonomists, ecologists, and conservation biologists in the Department of Botany at the Museum are play- ing a significant role in contributing to achieve the 16 targets, specifically Target 1 (an online flora of all known plants) and Target 2 (an assessment of the conservation status of all known Gary Krupnick plant species, as far as possible, to guide conservation action). Editor of The Plant Press The GSCP provides an international mandate for taxonomists to Head of the Plant Conservation Unit pursue these assessment activities.

Allen Dawson, University of Maryland, Jeremy Berlin and Deirdre Read, Rodrigo de Stefano, Centro de Inves- and Camila Uribe-Holguín Garcia- National Geographic, Washington, DC; tigación Científica de Yucatán, Mexico; Reyes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Interview (4/7). Pithecellobium (Fabaceae) (5/6-5/20). Bogata, Colombia; Plant conservation internship (1/10-4/15). Richard Rabeler, University of Michi- Janelle Burke, Cornell University; gan; Caryophyllaceae and Scrophulari- Polygonaceae and Plumbaginaceae (5/9- Omokafe Ugbogu, Ibadan Herbarium aceae (4/11-4/12). 5/11; 5/15-9/2). Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria; Plant DNA barcodes (3/14-4/22). Nuri Benet-Pierce, San Diego State Uni- Janelle Winters, Yale University; Arizona versity; Chenopodiaceae (4/28-4/29). project internship (5/9-6/24). Charles Zartman, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Brazil; Albrecht Berger, University of Koln, William Aley, Animal and Plant Health Brazilian plants (4/1-4/30). Germany; Scientific collaboration (5/2). Inspection Service (APHIS); APHIS Con- trolled Import Permits (5/11). Fred Barrie, Missouri Botanical Garden; Andy Woo, University of Louisville; GIS project (5/2-8/26). Flora Mesoamericana (4/4-4/8). Continued on page 5

Page 3 Naval Research Laboratory in Washing- tant species belonging to the genus Gam- Staff ton, D.C., on “The History of the Book: bierdiscus. Consequently, a major goal from Papyrus to E-Book.” of this study was to provide the research Research & community with detailed morphological Activities differences and phylogenetic analyses of the species within this important genus. “The research by Litaker et al. high- Gary Krupnick hosted a special “Scien- lights the utility and importance of alpha tist Is In” booth at the National Museum taxonomy in biological research, and a of Natural History on 18 May, to celebrate premier journal like Phycologia special- Plant Conservation Day. He also partici- izing in the description of internationally pated in the Endangered Species Day Fair significant algal species is the appropri- on 20 May, at the U.S. Botanical Garden ate venue to recognize this importance,” (USBG). The event, hosted by USBG, said Giuseppe C. Zuccarello, Chair of the the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Christensen Prize committee and IPS Vice Endangered Species Coalition, included President. “This work shows the heights tours of USBG’s endangered and native that careful descriptive research can reach, plants, talks on endangered plants, visits both aesthetically and practically, and with exhibitors from federal agencies and deserves this year’s Tyge Christensen conservation organizations, and dem- Faust ­Honored Prize.” onstrations about what can be done at home to protect native plants. In addition with Tyge to hosting a booth displaying herbarium ­Christensen Prize specimens of rare and endangered species from the U.S. National Herbarium, Krup- The International Phycological Society nick presented the talk “Losing Paradise? (IPS) has awarded the Tyge Christensen Endangered Plants Here and Around the Prize to the monograph “Taxonomy World,” featuring stories, specimens, and of Gambierdiscus including four new illustrations from the past NMNH exhibi- species, Gambierdiscus caribaeus, tion of the same name. G. carolinianus, G. carpenteri and G. reutzleri (Gonyaulacales, Dinophyceae)” American History TV visited the Smithso- sea, Maria A. Faust, Steven R. Kibler, nian’s Museum of Natural History to see Mireille Chinain, Michael J. Holmes, plant specimens collected between 1838 William C. Holland and Patricia A. Terster James J. White, & 1842 by a U.S. government funded (Phycologia 48: 344-390; 2009). expedition. In the video, Rusty Russell 1941–2011 The Tyge Christensen Prize is awarded presents several specimens and explains annually for the best paper published in On 12 April, James J. White died from the history of the United States Exploring Phycologia. The prize consists of a cash a degenerative neurological disease. He Expedition. The 19th century government award as well as commemorative cer- was supervisor of the Herbarium Services expedition commanded by Lieutenant tificates for each author. Judging of the Unit in the Department of Botany at the Charles Wilkes circumnavigated the globe, awards is based on scientific significance, Smithsonian Institution (1969–1978), charted unknown Pacific islands, and dis- originality in subject matter or techniques, where he often found original botanical covered Antarctica. The 40 tons of animal, comprehensiveness, and clarity of presen- artworks in the same drawer as herbarium plant, and ethnographic specimens col- tation. specimens. He joined the Hunt Institute lected by the expedition’s six naval vessels Dinoflagellate species in the genus for Botanical Documentation staff in 1978 became the foundation for the Smithso- Gambierdiscus have a pantropical dis- as Assistant Curator of Art and became nian Institution collections, and are still tribution and are found throughout the Curator of Art in 1982. After 32 years at used for scientific research. In the video, Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, French the Hunt Institute, he retired due to medi- several locations of the National Museum Polynesia, Australia and the Indian Ocean. cal reasons in 2010 as Curator of Art & of Natural History were toured, includ- Recently, Gambierdiscus has been found Principal Research Scholar, Emeritus. ing the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of in the Gulf of Mexico off of Texas and A native of Johnson City, Tennessee, Natural History in Washington, D.C., and North Carolina. The impetus for studying White received his B.A. (1963) and M.S. the Museum Support Center in Suitland, species in the genus Gambierdiscus is the (1968) at East Tennessee State University. Maryland. Topics included the evolution production of precursor toxins, bioaccu- After moving to Washington, D.C., in of the Smithsonian and preservation of the mulation in fish, and the cause of ciguatera 1969, he took courses in botany and art specimens. fish poisoning. This monograph represents at George Washington University and the On 20 April, Alain Touwaide delivered the first comprehensive overview of the Corcoran School of Art. the Annual Library Lecture at the U.S. morphology of the toxicologically impor- At the Hunt Institute he worked Page 4 alongside Curator of Art John V. Brindle ington; Plant conservation internship Colton Collins, University of Portland; (1911–1991) to augment the botanical art (5/16-8/19). Heliconia (Heliconiaceae) (6/6-8/12). collection and to curate a regular schedule of exhibitions. As Curator of Art, White Esa Sclafani, St. John’s College; U.S. Gracie Benson Martin, University of refined the triennial international series Exploring Expedition internship (5/16- California, Berkeley; Heliconia (Heliconi- (begun in 1964) into one of the most 8/19). aceae) (6/6-7/29). important exhibitions of contemporary Rachel Bouchillon, University of Florida; Kathryn Fenster, University of Mary- botanical art and illustration in the world. Plant conservation internship (5/23-6/17). land, College Park, and Zach Guttendorf, He was involved with the curation of over Cornell University; Historical Expeditions 50 exhibitions and contributed many arti- Sophia Lee, Baltimore County, Maryland; website (6/6-7/29). cles about items in the Art collection to the Seagrasses (5/23-8/29). Bulletin of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Michael Tims, Montgomery College; His- Sarah Miller, St. John’s College; U.S. tory of botany and ethnobotany (6/8-6/8). Documentation and articles on botanical Exploring Expedition internship (5/23- art in India to Huntia, a journal of botani- 8/19). Michelle Cho, James Madison University; cal history. White oversaw the cataloguing Plant conservation internship (6/13-8/19). of the entire Art collection, making the Casey Perkins, Beloit College; Plant information available first in a nine-part conservation internship (5/23-8/19). Sarah Geinosky, University of Chicago; print edition (1985–1998) and in 2001 as San Jacinto project internship (6/13-8/19). a database on Hunt’s Web site. In the early Hanno Schaefer, Harvard University; 1990s he began compiling the Register Cucurbitaceae (5/23-5/25). Emily Hunter, University of Maryland, of Original Botanical Art, a guide to the College Park; Field Book project intern- Katie Scussel, New College of Florida; ship (6/13-8/29). location of mostly public collections of Seeds of Success collection (5/23-7/1). original botanical paintings and drawings Nancy Ogden, Florida Institute of Ocean- from any time period done in traditional Lillian Waller, William & Mary College; ography; Algal herbarium (6/22-6/24). media, such as watercolor, pastel, ink or U.S. Exploring Expedition internship pencil, and added the database to Hunt’s (5/23-7/29). Cassandra Quave, University of Arkan- Web site in 2002. sas for Medical Sciences; History of Nicholas Woodbury, University of Mis- botany and ethnobotany (6/22). In 2007 he received the American Soci- souri; Maps project internship (5/23-8/26). ety of Botanical Artists (ASBA) Award for James Bollinger, Alexandria, Virginia; Excellence in the Service of Botanical Art Steve Muzos, University of Texas, Austin; Plant conservation internship (6/27-7/29). in recognition of his outstanding work in Bambusa (Poaceae) (5/25-5/26). support of botanical art, and in 2010 this Alexandra Berthiaume, Washington, award was renamed in his honor. Theodore Search, Skipta Pharmacist DC, and Carolina Panzardi, McLean, Society; History of pharmacy (5/26-5/26). Virginia; Youth Engagement though Sci- Richard Fischer, City University of ence (YES) internship, Zingiberaceae New York, and Jennifer Mathias, Pratt (6/30-8/5). Institute; Field Book project internship (5/31-8/29). Sarah Gardner, Tulane University; Ari- zona project internship (5/31-8/26). Robbie McInness, George Mason Univer- sity; Maps project internship (5/31-8/29). Kerri Morrison, McDaniel College; Curation internship (5/31-8/18). Jenna Zukswert, Smith College; Plant DNA Barcode internship (5/31-8/6). Visitors Paul Durham, Missouri State University; Continued from page 3 Scientific collaboration (6/2).

Walter Holmes, Baylor University; Christine Rounds, School for the Visual Mikania (Asteraceae), ferns and fern allies Arts, New York; Plant Image Collection (5/11-5/13). (6/3-7/29). Brad Oberle, Washington University, St. Emily Afflitto, Temple University; U.S. Louis; Dodecatheon (Primulaceae) (5/13). Exploring Expedition internship (6/6- 7/29). Jack Folsom, University of Mary Wash- Page 5 Computer Science and Biology Come Together to Make Tree Identification a Snap Columbia University, the University of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution have pooled their expertise to create the world’s first plant identification mobile app using visual search—Leafsnap. This electronic field guide allows users to identify tree species simply by taking a photograph of the tree’s leaves. In addition to the species name, Leafsnap provides high-resolution photographs and informa- tion about the tree’s flowers, fruit, seeds and bark—giving the user a comprehen- sive understanding of the species. “We wanted to use mathematical techniques we were developing for face Leafsnap, the free mobile app automati- organization Finding Species was hired recognition and apply them to species cally shares their images, species iden- and supervised by the Smithsonian to identification,” said Peter Belhumeur, tifications and the tree’s location with a acquire the detailed species images seen in professor of computer science at Columbia community of scientists. These scientists the Leafsnap app and on the Leafsnap.com and leader of the Columbia team working will use the information to map and moni- website. on Leafsnap. “Traditional field guides can tor population growth and decline of trees The app is available for the iPhone be frustrating—you often do not find what nationwide. Currently, Leafsnap’s data- and iPad, with an Android version to be you are looking for. We thought we could base includes the trees of the Northeast, released later. redesign them using today’s smartphones but it will soon expand to cover the trees and visual recognition technology.” of the entire continental United States. David Jacobs of the University of The visual recognition algorithms Maryland and Belhumeur approached developed by Columbia University and John Kress to collaborate on remak- the University of Maryland are key st ing the traditional field guide for the 21 to Leafsnap. Each leaf photograph is century. matched against a leaf-image library using “Leafsnap was originally designed as numerous shape measurements computed a specialized aid for scientists and plant at points along the leaf’s outline. The best explorers to discover new species in matches are then ranked and returned to poorly known habitats,” said Kress, leader the user for final verification. of the Smithsonian team working on Leaf- “Within a single species leaves can snap. Kress was digitizing the botanical have quite diverse shapes, while leaves specimens at the U.S. National Herbarium from different species are sometimes when first contacted by Jacobs and Bel- quite similar,” said Jacobs, a professor humeur, so the match between a botanist of computer science at the University of and two computer scientists came at a Maryland. “So one of the main technical perfect time. “Now Smithsonian research challenges in using leaves to identify plant is available as an app for the public to get species has been to find effective represen- to know the plant diversity in their own tations of their shape, which capture their backyards, in parks and in natural areas. most important characteristics.” This tool is especially important for the The algorithms and software were Correction environment, because learning about developed by Columbia and the Univer- In “A New Look Inside Palms” (The Plant nature is the first step in conserving it.” sity of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Press 14(2): 6; 2011), the authors of the Users of Leafsnap will not only be supervised the identification and collec- article were listed incorrectly. The byline learning about the trees in their commu- tion of leaves needed to create the image should have read “By James W. Horn, nities and on their hikes—they will also library used for the visual recognition in Jack B. Fisher, and P. Barry Tomlinson.” be contributing to science. As people use Leafsnap. In addition, the not-for-profit The editor of The Plant Press regrets the error. Page 6 Flower Guide of Tibet The Flower Guide of Tibet website presents photos of plants taken during the three main expedi- tions in 2006, 2007 and 2009. The moun- tains of southern Tibet (Xizang Autono- mous Region) and its adjacent regions in China form the eastern extent of the Hima- layan range. Across this rugged landscape, high ridges uplifted from the collision of India with Asia shift from an east-west orientation to run primarily north-south; to the northwest, they give way to the highest plateau on Earth. It is a region of extreme elevational ranges compressed in short distances, with a corresponding diversity of habitats ranging from nearly untouched lowland subtropical forests (with tree ferns) in the Yarlongtsangpo River Valley, to montane tree Rhododendron cloud forests, to areas of alpine and cold desert vegetation at the highest elevations. The flora of southern Tibet is rich and “San qi long dan,“ Gentiana trichotoma Kusnezow (Gentianaceae), grows on rocky contains many endemic species. However, slopes, 3000-4600 meters, in Qinghai, northwestern and western Sichuan, and biodiversity in this region has in general Xizang. Copyright Smithsonian Institution. been little studied and poorly documented, and historically this politically sensitive, herbaria, and those tend to be over sixty The website has a gallery of photo- geographically remote region has received years old, made primarily by Griffith, graphs, as well as a search function to find few non-Chinese biologists. A paucity Rock, and Kingdon-Ward in the early part images by plant family, genus, species, of botanical collections exist in western of last century. and common name. The results provide a selection of photographs, scientific name, common name, a description of the spe- cies, phenology, distribution, and habitat. The John D. and Catherine T. MacAr- thur Foundation supported the project on the floristics and conservation research of the Himalayan part of western China, with the following principal investigators: Jun Wen (Smithsonian Institution), Rick Ree and Greg Mueller (the Field Museum), and Hang Sun (Kunming Institute of Bot- any). The treatments on the website have been contributed primarily by participants of the project as well as close associates. All images are properties of the research team of the Plants of Tibet, a collaborative effort of the Field Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Acad- emy of Sciences.

The recently discovered “mi la zi jin,“ Corydalis milarepa Lidén & Z.Y. Su (Fuma- riaceae), from Xizang (Mi La, east of Lhasa). Copyright Smithsonian Institution. Page 7 compared to inbreeding rates in H. car- ibaea, which was pollinated by territorial males, supporting the ecological hypoth- esis that traplining pollinators promote outcrossing, while territorial pollinators assist in reproductive success at the cost of higher inbreeding; and d) marked ter- ritorial male Purple-throated Caribs were observed to defend the same patch of heliconias for at least 5 to 6 years on the island of Dominica and St. Kitts, which was not known for this species or for any other territorial species of hummingbird. Although there is much to say about each of these three islands, the northern island of St. Kitts (or St. Christopher and Nevis) warrants special discussion because, despite its small size and easy access, it is biologically under-explored and offers much in terms of biodiversity and evolutionary questions. The Federa- tion of Saint Kitts and Nevis is comprised Female Purple-throated Carib (Eulampis jugularis) tagged with a unique band for of two volcanic islands that are separated individual identification. Male and female Purple-throated Caribs were monitored by a 3 kilometer wide channel called The over multiple years to understand their dependence and interaction patterns with Narrows. Comparatively, the size of St. native heliconias. (Photo by Vinita Gowda) Kitts is 1.5 times that of Washington, D.C. The island is comprised of a wet rainfor- territorial displays showed significant dif- Profile est on the Atlantic side, while the Carib- Continued from page 1 ference among the three islands, varying bean side tends to have a drier and more from a specialized interaction on Domi- xeric habitat. Mount Liamuiga (formerly body size and bill morphology: males are nica to a more generalized interaction on Mount Misery) stratovolcano is the high- 25 percent heavier than females, while St. Kitts, and almost no interaction on St. est point on the island standing at 3,793 females have bills that are 30 percent Vincent; b) female Purple-throated Caribs feet (1,156 meters), and one of its summits longer and 100 percent more curved than were the sole pollinators of H. bihai on is topped by a crater lake known as Dos males (Temeles et al. 2000 Science). all three islands; c) inbreeding rates were d’Ane pond. The mountain sides above Males also display territorial behavior significantly lower inH. bihai, which was 800 meters and the top is covered in an while females trap-line. The male Purple- pollinated by traplining females, when throated Caribs allow only conspecific females to occasionally feed on their ter- ritories in exchange for mating. Since the breeding system of the two heliconias was not known at the time one of the main focus of my dissertation research was to investigate pollination, breeding system, and phenology of the two heliconias on each island. To further understand the role of hummingbirds in promoting outcrossing within the two spe- cies on each of the islands I also measured the inbreeding rates in both H. bihai and H. caribaea on each island using mic- rosatellite markers that were developed specifically for both the species, and also measured pollinator effectiveness using manipulative field experiments. The following are some interesting results of my research on the three islands: a) male Purple-throated Caribs were indeed found to be important and effective Collecting Heliconia rhizomes in Dominica for the Heliconia experimental garden pollinators of H. caribaea, however their with Mike Bordelon in 2005. (Photo by John Kress) Page 8 The two native heliconias: Heliconia bihai (left) and H. caribaea (2 color forms; middle and right) from the island of Dominica. (Photos by Vinita Gowda) elfin woodland that is laden with moss, the heliconias whenever the cloud cover Although my doctoral dissertation epiphytes, orchids, bromeliads, and aroids. broke; sometimes this meant a mere five research focused on only three of the Some of the unique plants that can be to 10 minutes break between cloud covers. Lesser Antillean Islands, from 2004 to seen on hiking to the top of the Dos d’Ane On the island of Nevis, the scattered and 2009, I along with Kress and other col- pond are: Podocarpus coriceus Rich. & very restricted population of H. bihai was leagues also had the opportunity to collect A.Rich, Hillia parasitica Jacq., Prestoea found on the trail leading to the top of the and study heliconias on a number of montana (R. Graham) G. Nicholson, Nevis peak between 800 and 1,200 meters. other islands such as St. Eustatius, Saba, Miconia mirabilis (Aubl.) L.O. Williams, Both the climb to the top of Dos d’Ane Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Miconia laevigata (L.) D. Don, Anthurium pond and Nevis peak is a treacherously St. Lucia. In general, strong efforts were cordatum (L.) Schott, Philodendron gigan- steep trail that can get quite slippery due Continued on page 10 teum Schott, Begonia retusa O.E. Schulz., to the moist cloud cover that is persistent and Heliconia bihai. The color form of throughout the day. H. bihai on St. Kitts and Nevis is unique The largest distribution of H. caribaea to these islands, and a population was on the island of St. Kitts was found in two discovered on the edge of the Dos d’Ane localities around the town of Molineaux: pond in 2005 with the help of a local tour the rainforest trail on the south-east side guide, Gregory Pereira. Interestingly, the of Mt. Laiamuiga or the Phillips level, and H. bihai on this island are restricted to the behind the Ottley’s plantation trail. On mountaintops and have a very narrow dis- Nevis, H. caribaea was most easily found tribution. Only three accessible areas were around the trail leading to the Nevis peak, found where they were present, and even although the plants were also reported among these areas the number of individu- from other sides of the peak. Heliconia als was restricted from four to about 27 caribaea are abundant on both islands and individuals. both red and yellow morphs are found. Despite the low population sizes of H. Despite the small sizes of both islands, bihai, pollinator observations showed that the high relief (especially St. Kitts) and the Purple-throated Carib females were significant difference in weather from the Map showing the locations of St. Kitts visiting and pollinating these few widely Caribbean to the Atlantic sides results in & Nevis, Dominica, and St. Vincent scattered plants at least two to three times a world of difference in flora and fauna, within the Lesser Antillean chain of a day and against all odds of the strong and thus provides an ideal natural experi- islands. Field work and study sites were cloud cover at the mountaintops for mental garden where one can investigate set up at all three islands to study heli- most of the day. Often the female Caribs adaptive differences in plants colonizing conias and their interactions with the managed to find the opportunity to visit these islands. native hummingbirds.

Page 9 Profile action as a source of national pride unique Continued from page 9 to their island, but have also included it as part of their conservation programs in the invested in collecting vouchers, obser- wake of concerned developments within vational data, population samples, and the islands. morphological data on all heliconias from Two websites proved to be useful in the other Caribbean Islands too. This has my research: (1) a catalogue of plants on resulted in a very extensively collected, each of the Caribbean Islands, ; (2) The Global Volcanism Pro- throughout the Caribbean Islands, and has gram database for the Caribbean Islands, great potential in future investigations of with thermal activity for 17 volcanoes, character evolution (especially floral) and . linators. Ecological studies of this kind is not common among scientists in the Natural History Museum; however, the results from this study highlights the importance of exploring ecological studies along with population genetic and taxonomic studies to understand the diverse tropical interac- Adey, W.H., P.C. Kangas and W. Mul- tions that define a tropical rain forest. One bry. 2011. Algal turf scrubbing: cleaning of the broader outcomes of this study has surface waters with solar energy while also been the research exchange between Publications producing a biofuel. Bioscience 61(6): the local forestry divisions on the islands 434-441. of St. Kitts, Dominica, and St. Vincent and Adey, W.H. and L.C. Hayek. 2011. Eluci- Bacon, C.D., G.J. Allan, E.A. Zimmer the Smithsonian Institution where the local dating marine biogeography with macro- and W.L. Wagner. 2011. Genome scans hosts have been significantly important phytes: quantitative analysis of the North reveal high levels of gene flow in Hawai- partners in facilitating our research in the Atlantic supports the thermogeographic ian Pittosporum. Taxon 60: 733-741. Caribbean Islands. The local forestry divi- model and demonstrates a distinct Subarc- sions and concerned citizens not only view tic Region in the northwestern Atlantic. Bacon, C.D., G.P. Johnson, H. Meimberg, the unique Heliconia-hummingbird inter- Northeast. Nat. 18: 1-128. P. Puppo, M.P. Simmons and W.L. Wag- ner. 2011. Development of microsatellites in the Hawaiian endemic palm Pritchardia martii (Arecaceae) and their utility in con- geners. Am. J. Bot. 96(6): e139-140. Benoit, L., H.E. Robinson and J. Semir. 2011. Minasia ramosa (Asteraceae: Ver- nonieae), a new species from the Serra do Cabral, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phytotaxa 25: 18-22. Bolin, J.F., E. Maass and L.J. Musselman. 2011. A new species of Hydnora (Hydno- raceae) from Southern Africa. Syst. Bot. 36(2): 255-260. Burns, J.H., R.B. Faden and S.J. Steppan. 2011. Phylogenetic studies in the Com- melinaceae subfamily Commelinoideae inferred from nuclear ribosomal and chlo- roplast DNA sequences. Syst. Bot. 36(2): 268-276. Chen, P., L. Chen and J. Wen. 2011. The first phylogenetic analysis ofTetrastigma The fresh fruit and vegetable splendor commonly found at the Saturday market (Miq.) Planch., the host of Rafflesiaceae. of Dominica. All produce are locally grown all around the island. (Photo by Vinita Taxon 60: 499-512. Gowda) Page 10 Halfar, J., S. Hetzinger, W. Adey, T. Zack, Swenson, W.J. Kress, W. Ye and X. Ge. Methods, Trends. Walter de Gruyter; Ber- G. Gamboa, B. Kunz, B. Williams and 2011. Exploring tree-habitat associations lin and New York. D.E. Jacob. 2011. Coralline algal growth- in a Chinese subtropical forest plot using a increment widths archive North Atlantic molecular phylogeny generated from DNA Touwaide, A. 2010. Pharmacy, pp. 1056- climate variability. Paleogeogr. Paleocli- barcode loci. PLoS One 6(6): 1-9. 1090. In A. Classen, ed. Handbook of matol. Paleoecol. 302(1-2): 71-80. Medieval Studies. Terms, Methods, Trends. Ren, H., L. Lu, A. Soejima, Q. Luke, Walter de Gruyter; Berlin and New York. Hong, D.Y. and J. Wen. 2011. Phry- D. Zhang, Z. Chen and J. Wen. 2011. maceae, pp. 493-494. In C.Y. Wu, D. Phylogenetic analysis of the grape fam- Touwaide, A. 2010. Transfer of knowl- Hong and P.H. Raven, eds. Flora of China ily (Vitaceae) based on the noncoding edge, pp. 1368-1399. In A. Classen, ed. Vol. 19. Science Press, Beijing; Missouri plastid trnC-petN, trnH-psbA, and trnL-F Handbook of Medieval Studies. Terms, Botanical Garden, St. Louis. sequences. Taxon 60: 629-637. Methods, Trends. Walter de Gruyter; Ber- lin and New York.

Krayesky, D.M., J.N. Norris, J.A. West Robinson, H.E. and J.J. Skvarla. 2011. th and S. Fredericq. 2011. The Caloglossa A new monotypic genus Ananthura, from Touwaide, A. 2011. A 15 -century treatise leprieurii complex (Delesseriaceae, Rho- Tropical Africa (Asteraceae, Vernonieae). on kidney affections and their treatment? dophyta) in the Americas: the elucidation Novon 21(2): 251-255. A first approach. J. Nephrol. 24: 108-113. of overlooked species based on molecular Soltis, D.E., S.A. Smith, N. Cellinese, Westbrook, J.W., K. Kitajima, J.G. Bur- and morphological evidence. Cryptogam. leigh, W.J. Kress, D.L. Erickson and S.J. Algol. 32(1): 37-62. K.J. Wurdack, D.C. Tank, S.F. Brocking- ton, N.F. Refulio-Rodriguez, J.B. Walker, Wright. 2011. What makes a leaf tough? Littler, M.M. and D.S. Littler. 2010. M.J. Moore, B.S. Carlsward, C.D. Bell, Patterns of correlated evolution between Health of coral reefs: measuring benthic M. Latvis, S. Crawley, C. Black, D. Diouf, leaf toughness traits and demographic indicator groups and calculating tipping Z. Xi, C.A. Rushworth, M.A. Gitzendan- rates among 197 shade-tolerant woody points, pp. 175-191. In N.W. Pollock, ed. ner, K.J. Sytsma, Y. Qiu, K.W. Hilu, C.C. species in a neotropical forest. Am. Nat. Diving for Science. 2009 Proceedings of Davis, M.J. Sanderson, R.S. Beaman, R.G. 177(6): 800-811. the American Academy of Sciences 28th Olmstead, W.S. Judd, M.J. Donoghue and Willyard, A., L.E. Wallace, W.L. Wag- Symposium, Atlanta, Georgia. American P.S. Soltis. 2011. Angiosperm phylogeny: ner, S.G. Weller, A.K. Sakai and M. Academy of Underwater Sciences, Dau- 17 genes, 640 taxa. Am. J. Bot. 98(4): Nepokroeff. 2011. Estimating the species phin Island. 704-730. tree for Hawaiian Schiedea (Caryophyl- Littler, M.M. and D.S. Littler. 2011. Touwaide, A. 2010. Botany, pp. 145-181. laceae) from multiple loci in the presence Algae — blue-green boring, pp. 18-20. In In A. Classen, ed. Handbook of Medieval of reticulate evolution. Mol. Phylogenet. D. Hopley, ed. Encyclopedia of Modern Studies. Terms, Methods, Trends. Walter Evol. 60(1): 29-48. Coral Reefs: Structure, Form and Process. de Gruyter; Berlin and New York. Zhang, Z.Q., W.J. Kress, W.J. Xie, P.Y. Springer Verlag, Berlin. Touwaide, A. 2010. Byzantine sciences, Ren, J.Y. Gao and Q.J. Li. 2011. Repro- Littler, M.M. and D.S. Littler. 2011. pp. 195-239. In A. Classen, ed. Handbook ductive biology of two Himalayan alpine Algae — coralline, pp. 20-30. In D. of Medieval Studies. Terms, Methods, gingers (Roscoea spp., Zingiberaceae) in Hopley, ed. Encyclopedia of Modern Trends. Walter de Gruyter; Berlin and China: pollination syndrome and com- Coral Reefs: Structure, Form and Process. New York. pensatory floral mechanisms.Plant Biol. Springer Verlag, Berlin. 13(4): 582-589. Touwaide, A. 2010. Codicology and Littler, M.M. and D.S. Littler. 2011. paleography, pp. 266-329. In A. Classen, Algae — macro, pp. 30-38. In D. Hopley, ed. Handbook of Medieval Studies. Terms, ed. Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs: Methods, Trends. Walter de Gruyter; Ber- Structure, Form and Process. Springer lin and New York. Verlag, Berlin. Touwaide, A. 2010. History of botany Littler, M.M. and D.S. Littler. 2011. as ethnobotany. Proposals toward a new Algae — turf, pp. 38-39. In D. Hopley, approach, pp. 55-63. In M.L. Pochettino, ed. Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs: A.H. Ladio and P.M. Arenas, eds. Tradi- Structure, Form and Process. Springer tions and Transformations in Ethnobot- Verlag, Berlin. any/Tradiciones y Transformaciones En Etnobotanica - Proceedings of the ICEB Luebert, F., G. Brokamp, J. Wen, M. 2009. CYTED - Programa Iberoamericano Weigend and H.H. Hilger. 2011. Phylo- Ciencia y Tecnologia para el Desarrollo; genetic relationships and morphological San Salvador de Jujuy. diversity in Neotropical Heliotropium (Heliotropiaceae). Taxon 60: 663-680. Touwaide, A. 2010. Pharmaceutical literature, pp. 1979-2000. In A. Classen, Pei, N., J. Lian, D.L. Erickson, N.G. ed. Handbook of Medieval Studies. Terms,

Page 11 Art by Alice Tangerini

Prestoea montana (R. Graham) G. Nicholson

Endemic to the West Indies, Prestoea montana (Arecaceae) can be found while climbing Mount Liamuiga, the highest mountain on St. Kitts (see cover story, “Island Explorations and Evolutionary Investigations”). This illustration of P. montana was part of the exhibit, “Palms of the Lesser Antilles,” on display in the Rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History from 24 May to 20 July 1980. The exhibit featured 15 illustrations by Alice Tangerini and three palm herbarium specimens from the U.S. National Herbarium. The exhibit was the idea of Robert Read who had the drawings previously published in Flora of the Lesser Antilles for which he contributed the section on palms. The exhibit traveled to the Hunt Institute at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in November 1980, at the invitation of their Curator of Art, James White.

Department of Botany PO Box 37012 NMNH, MRC-166 Washington DC 20013-7012

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