Department of Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 19 - No. 1 January-March 2016 Botany Profile Conveying Specimen Value through Digitization By Elizabeth Jacobsen and Gary A. Krupnick he United States National Her- conveyor-based project at the Smithsonian Program Office (DPO) are in charge of barium (Herbarium Code: US) (following the digitization of the National managing money for Smithsonian’s digi- Thas always been about sharing. Museum of American History’s National tization projects across the entire Institu- Initially, the “diffusion of knowledge” Numismatics Collection). tion. Per specimen conveyor costs run was achieved primarily by publishing The U.S. National Herbarium has been at less than a dollar, so it was decided to articles, hosting visitors, and sending out working towards the goal of complete begin with a portion of the collection and specimen loans. Now, the Department of collection digitization for a long time. “We move forward from there. “The hope is Botany is taking sharing to a new level have always looked out for opportunities that we find a donor,” comments Orli, by digitizing a significant portion of the to digitize,” reports Orli, even if those “but we haven’t found that resource yet.” collection’s 5 million specimens using opportunities involved the laborious pro- Though current technology makes conveyor belt technology contracted cess of punching holes into a paper card digitization more affordable than ever from Picturae, a European company that and keying them into a computer, as was before, money remains one of the pri- specializes in digitization. Using this new done in the 1970s. mary obstacles to completing the project. technology, the herbarium has begun the An inventory of the Type Collection Time, of course, is the other. “We can’t task of imaging specimens at an aver- was initiated in the 1970s to make this keep up with the level of need,” Orli age rate of about 4,000 specimens per portion of the collection easier to use. laments, proposing that we may need to day. The plan is to create an image for Over the course of almost 50 years, the rethink the current workflow. Specimen half a million plant specimens in 6 to 8 herbarium has built a digital inventory preparation is time- and labor-intensive, months. This rapid digitization project, of around 1.5 million specimens, repre- requiring experts who can provide the which began in October 2015 with the senting more than a third of the pressed correct name for a specimen, as well evening primrose family (Onagraceae), is specimens in the herbarium. Using rapid as a set of barcodes linking names to now well into the ferns, and will eventu- digitization approaches, the entire collec- EMu (Electronic Museum management ally continue with the sunflower family tion could be completed in under 10 years. database) for each specimen within each (Asteraceae). The herbarium of the Muséum folder. The ideal situation would be to The timing of the project is no National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris has complete this preparation before scan- coincidence, according to Sylvia Orli, IT already imaged about 7 million specimens ning the images, but with the speed of Manager and Webmaster for the Depart- using the conveyor technique, although the conveyor, it will be more efficient ment of Botany. The digitization project their entries, for now, contain only the to scan first, then retroactively provide “follows rapid and amazing advances image and the name on the specimen’s the correct labels and barcodes. This in computer technology,” she explains, folder. The U.S. National Herbarium has arrangement is more cost-effective, if with the U.S. National Herbarium joining its eyes on a bigger, more scientifically slightly slower. After the scanning is a worldwide digitization effort that is par- valuable prize: a complete database of finished, another company (contracted ticularly well-liked among herbaria. The label information and images with verified through Picturae) will transcribe the once insurmountable task of making mil- species names. label data and return it for inclusion in lions of specimens accessible is suddenly the EMu catalogue. feasible. The herbarium digitization he Smithsonian began exploring The improved accessibility will make project, using conveyor-based technol- the idea of using a conveyor belt to the herbarium a more influential force in ogy to image natural history collections, Timage specimens about a year and a conservation and scientific research. In is the first of its kind for a herbarium half ago. The Office of the Chief Informa- the past, the herbarium relied on speci- tion Officer (OCIO) and the Digitization in the United States, and the second Continued on page 13 Travel Pedro Acevedo traveled to Nas- seek out new populations of Phaseolus script of the Tacuinum sanitatis, in view of sau, Bahamas (12/11 – 12/14) to be a polystachios to aid in improvement of an exhibition at the Walters Art Gallery. guest speaker at a retreat of the Bahamas germaplasm collections at the USDA-ARS Mohammad Vatanparast traveled National Trust. Germplasm Resources Information Net- to Botucatu, Brazil (10/31 – 11/8) to give John Boggan traveled to Philadelphia, work (GRIN) seedbank; and to Botucatu, a talk at the symposium of the Legume Pennsylvania (10/7 – 10/9) to attend the 9th Brazil (10/31 – 11/8) to give a talk and co- Morphology Working Group. North American Natural History Special lead a workshop at the symposium of the Warren Wagner traveled to Miami, Interest Group (NHSIG) and Axiell User Legume Morphology Working Group. Florida (11/16 – 11/18) to attend the board Conference at the Penn Museum. Robert Faden traveled to London, meeting of the National Tropical Botani- Barrett Brooks traveled to Orlando, England (8/1 – 9/25) to visit the Royal cal Garden and the board meeting of the Florida (11/3 – 11/8) as a representa- Botanic Gardens, Kew, and to continue International Center for Tropical Botany. tive of the Smithsonian Scientific Diving his studies of Commelinaceae for Flora Jun Wen traveled to Shenzhen and Program to attend the Diving Equipment Zambesiaca, which covers the African Beijing, China (11/19 – 11/28) to attend & Marketing Association (DEMA) 2015 countries Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, planning meetings for the XIX Interna- Trade Show which featured diving safety Zimbabwe and Botswana, and the Caprivi tional Botanical Congress and the Journal seminars and diving equipment repair Strip of Namibia. of Systematics and Evolution, as Vice training. Vicki Funk traveled to Canberra, Aus- President of both groups. Laurence Dorr traveled to London, tralia (11/25 – 12/5) to present the opening Kenneth Wurdack traveled to St. England (11/28 – 12/12) with Rose plenary address at the annual conference Louis, Missouri (10/1 – 10/5) to conduct Gulledge to study herbarium specimens of the Australasian Systematic Botany research at the Missouri Botanical Garden. in the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Society. Elizabeth Zimmer traveled to Baton Gardens, Kew, for a treatment of the genus Caroline Puente visited Wilkes-Barre, Rouge, Louisiana (10/14 – 10/16) to Pterygota (Malvaceae). Pennsylvania (10/15 – 10/16) as an advi- attend the dedication of the new endowed Ashley Egan traveled to Hunting- sor in the creation of a DNA Barcoding Shirley C. Tucker Herbarium and to attend ton, West Virginia (10/10 – 10/12) to program at Wilkes University. a mini-symposium at Louisiana State Alice Tangerini traveled to Miami, University. The Plant Press Florida (10/14 – 10/19) to lead a work- shop, present a portfolio showing, and New Series - Vol. 19 - No. 1 attend presentations and workshops at Chair of Botany ASBA 2015, the annual conference of the Laurence J. Dorr American Society of Botanical Artists. ([email protected]) Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti traveled to Baltimore (10/30) to EDITORIAL STAFF examine a 15th century medieval manu- Editor Gary Krupnick Visitors ([email protected])
Copy Editors Craig Costion, University of Adelaide, Kyra Stillman, University of Chicago; Robin Everly, Bernadette Gibbons, and Australia; DNA barcoding (11/3/14 DNA barcode project (10/5 - 12/14). Rose Gulledge -10/31/15). Patrica Barbera Sanchez, Real Jardín News Contacts Liang Zhao, Northwest Agriculture and Botánico de Madrid, Spain; Aveninae MaryAnn Apicelli, Rusty Russell, Alice Forestry University, China; Dichocarpum, (Poaceae) (10/16 - 12/30). Tangerini, and Elizabeth Zimmer Pulsatilla, Trollius (Ranunculaceae) and its close relatives (2/5/15-2/26/16). Wichman Chipper, National Tropical The Plant Press is a quarterly publication pro- Botanical Garden; Collaborative research vided free of charge. To receive notification of when new pdf issues are posted to the web, please Monica Carlsen, Missouri Botanical Gar- (10/20). subscribe to the listserve by sending a message den; Araceae and Zingiberales (2/17/15- to [email protected] containing only the Lynn Gillespie, Canadian Museum of following in the body of the text: SUBSCRIBE 2/16/17). PLANTPRESS-NEWS Firstname Lastname. Nature; Euphorbiaceae and Poaceae Replace “Firstname Lastname” with your name. Morgan Gostel, George Mason Univer- (10/20 - 10/28). If you would like to be added to the hard-copy sity; Compositae and GGI-Gardens project mailing list, please contact Dr. Gary Krupnick at: (9/1/15-8/31/17). Stephen Weller, University of California, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, Irvine; Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae) pol- PO Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, DC 20013-7012, or by E-mail: krupnickg@ Warren Cardinal-McTeague, Canadian lination biology (10/29 - 10/30). si.edu. Museum of Nature; Plukenetieae (Euphor- biaceae) (9/8-12/11). Rich Rabeler, University of Michigan; Web site: http://botany.si.edu/ Caryophyllaceae (11/4). Continued on page 5 Page 2 Seduced by an Herbarium hen I interviewed for my position as Curator identifying plants, introduce me to the curators, Chair of Botany here at the NMNH the director talk to me about their research, and invite me to the Wasked me why I became a botanist. Fair seminars that were frequently held in the Garden’s enough. This is the standard sort of question one asks auditorium. With potential hires and I have resorted to similar queries While I prefer to keep my personal life private when the tables were turned. I vaguely recall answering I freely admit that my first herbarium love was the him in the way one does in these situations. I gave him Missouri Botanical Garden. Other herbaria have the safe answer: I described how I roamed the woods turned my head since and I am fond of them all. A outside Boston where I grew up, hunted for different Whether or not our relationships continued I have plants and animals, and enjoyed learning their names always tried to stay on good terms with each one. and behaviors. Eventually and mercifully he cut me off Each herbarium has allowed me to learn something View and asked me something else. In retrospect, I now think new and enriched my life. When I began graduate that I should have given him the honest answer: I was school it was in Chapel Hill and I am embarrassed seduced by an herbarium. now to admit that after being shown its herbarium I How did this happen? Serendipity was involved. I innocently asked where the rest of the collection was opted to pursue my undergraduate studies at Washing- stored. I thought every herbarium was the size of the L.J. ton University in St. Louis. I was interested in English one in St. Louis. At about the same time I became and comparative literature and Stanley Elkin, the acquainted with the combined herbaria of Harvard Dorr novelist, was my first advisor. He was gruff, impatient, University and every time I visited Boston, which intimidating, and not all that helpful as a mentor, but I was once or twice a year, I found my way to neigh- stayed the course. I read English and French literature boring Cambridge. I began to learn the nuances of and for no particular reason I fulfilled my science cred- how large herbaria differed and how their taxonomic its by taking geology classes. On a whim I enrolled in a and geographic strengths reflected a combination spring wildflower class and in retrospect realize that it of chance and design. As with Missouri, the open- was then that I began to hear the siren song of Botany. ness of the staff and researchers talking passionately Walter Lewis was the instructor and in addition to about their projects made the visits to Divinity learning about his passion, spring beauties (Claytonia Avenue exciting and intellectually stimulating. virginica) and their complicated cytology, I was intro- Continuing graduate school in Austin I better duced to floras, keys, taxonomy, systematics, and the came to appreciate the role and importance of large concept of herbarium specimens and herbaria. There university herbaria and fell in love with the Plant was something very attractive about botany and slowly Resources Center that holds the combined Univer- I became torn between art and science. Presented with sity of Texas and Lundell herbaria. Here again it was such a dilemma what does the typical undergradu- not the physical space or the specimens but the intel- ate do? He (or she) takes time off to contemplate the lectual ferment that made the herbarium attractive. conundrum. I was no different. Not only were there professors and researchers, but While I wrestled with what I wanted to do with my also scores of fellow graduate students. And, more life, be a writer or be a botanist, I built myself a plant importantly, collecting and adding to the herbarium press and headed off to Alaska and the Yukon Territory was encouraged. The mountains of northern Mexico to hike, camp, and collect plants. When I decided to were closer than those of west Texas and they were re-enroll in school I returned to St. Louis with a modest still yielding novelties so whenever we could we collection of boreal and alpine plants and innocently headed south. These trips allowed me to flirt briefly with the brought them to the Missouri Botanical Garden, which Geo. B. Hinton Herbarium, a private collection kept at the I had never visited before, to ask how I might identify Rancho Aguililla in the hills of Nuevo León. This herbarium is them. The herbarium had recently moved into the John unlike any other I have ever known. It is small but probably the S. Lehmann Building and when I first set foot in that most beautiful herbarium in the world. The work table is a large space I was awed. One descended a half flight of stairs cottonwood tree split in half and balanced on brick feet. The and came into a brand new pristine facility. The slate specimens are stored around the margins of the room in hand- floors were spotless. The columns were glistening crafted metal boxes in arched brick alcoves covered in decora- stainless steel. The millions of specimens were housed tive tiles. Here Jaime Hinton, George Hinton’s son, married in massive red compactors and the compactor aisles science and art. opened with the press of a button. I had never seen After finishing graduate school, work took me back to anything like this. I was smitten and instantly seduced. St. Louis and my first love, but we grew distant and I spent But it was not just the facility and the collection that little time in Missouri. I was off to succeeded in seducing me. It was the graduate students more exotic localities and became who took the time to make me feel welcome, find me acquainted with tropical herbaria cabinet space, explain the nuances of collecting and Continued on page 5
Page 3 ing reverse monarch butterfly population giant among men. It makes it that much Staff decline. Krupnick served as co-chair of harder, therefore, to say good bye as he the NAPPC Federal Strategy Implementa- retires from 30 years of service to the U.S. Research & tion Task Force, which is bringing federal National Herbarium and moves on to the Activities and non-federal partners together to help second half of his life. But, fear not. Like the Federal Strategy on Pollinator Health many of his predecessors, Greg’s devotion become a reality through direct action. to, and love of, the collection (especially Robert Faden visited the Royal Botanic Krupnick also serves on the NAPPC Steer- the ferns) has inspired his plans to volun- Gardens, Kew, August 1 to September ing Committee. teer on a consistent basis for at least the near future. 25, to continue his studies of Commeli- Alain Touwaide is a visiting professor at naceae for Flora Zambesiaca (FZ), which By today’s standards, the story of the University of California Los Angeles, Greg’s arrival is atypical. Following a covers the African countries Mozam- for the fall and winter terms. During the bique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe stint in the U.S. Navy, and a civilian role fall (October and November 2015), he at the Navy Yard, he found himself, by an and Botswana, and the Caprivi Strip of taught a class on the legacy of ancient Namibia. He concentrated mainly on the unknown (to me) twist of fate, in our plant medicine, and delivered a public lecture mounting room. Here he could be seen genus Aneilema completing accounts of on the ancient Mediterranean pharmaco- 23 of the 24 species in the flora. The last carefully securing specimens to herbarium peia at UCLA Royce Hall on November paper … a meticulous but important step species will be completed from specimens 18. In the winter term (January and Febru- previously borrowed from Kew. He also in processing specimens that he never ary 2016) he is teaching two classes: one failed to appreciate. Even after he moved completed accounts of four more spe- on venoms, poisons and medicines from cies of Commelina—the largest genus on to assist David Lellinger in the fern Antiquity to the Renaissance, the other collection, Greg was a frequent visitor to in the flora—leaving only four of the 41 on history of the scientific book. During species he recognizes in the flora still to our mounting staff to pass along thanks for the stay in Los Angeles, Touwaide and a job well done. be treated. Faden also finished his stud- Emanuela Appetiti have collaborated ies of the types of 15 Commelina names Assuming the role of apprentice in the with the Huntington Library, Art Gallery fern collection, Greg studied at Lellinger’s described from the Democratic Republic and Botanical Gardens on redesigning the of Congo (formerly Belgian Congo and side for many years, soaking up the garden of medicinal plants and crafting a nuances of fern taxonomy, identification, Zaire) mostly by E. De Wildeman, and new interpretative discourse that illustrates borrowed by Kew from BR, which will and curation. And when Dave Lellinger the historical and ethnobotanical values of retired, Greg became the de facto cura- result in a number of newly recognized medicinal plants. synonyms to be cited in the FZ account. tor of one of the largest and best pteri- For the genus Cyanotis, Faden completed Departures dophyte collections in the world, a role preliminary accounts for the four remain- he embraced for almost 15 years in the absence of a Curator of Ferns. During this ing described species (of 8 in FZ) but The measure of a man is sometimes time, Greg was the fern collection. He was was unable to study the collections that described as the quality of his relation- the contact for students, post-docs, and the represent at least two undescribed taxa. ships. By this ruler, Greg McKee is a He hopes to borrow those specimens from Kew. The remaining genera of Commeli- naceae in FZ, Anthericopsis (1 species), Coleotrype (1), Floscopa (5), Murdan- nia (3), Palisota (1), Pollia (1), plus the endemic, monospecificTriceratella , were completed previously and submitted to the editor of the flora, Jonanthan Timberlake. Faden is planning another study trip to Kew in 2016 to complete his account of Commelinaceae for this flora. Gary Krupnick attended the 15th Annual International Conference of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), held at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. At the meeting, NAPPC convened 10 task forces who aim to establish goals surrounding a certain pollinator issue, from issues on honey bee health, to the development of a web application to help beekeepers diagnose and treat hive maladies, to help- Gregory McKee in Mongolia, 2004. (photo by Adiyabold) Page 4 most senior pteridologists from other her- Sohmer Receives Barbara Kreutzer and students, Mary- baria. He always demurred, saying that he mount University; Herbarium tour (12/1). wasn’t a real fern specialist. But his skills BRIT International and expertise are manifest throughout the Shelley James, Bishop Museum; New fern collection and served him very well Award of Excellence Guinean collections (12/14 - 12/15). on collecting trips to Ethiopia, Mongolia, in Conservation Jennifer Boyd, University of Tennessee and Mexico. at Chattanooga; Appalachian plant species The mistake that many people make The Botanical Research Institute of (12/16). when asked to describe themselves is to Texas (BRIT) presented its International describe their job. Greg never erred in Award of Excellence in Conservation to Doug Goldman, U.S. Department of that way. His devotion to family, his wife Sy H. Sohmer, the Institute’s first execu- Agriculture; Rutaceae (12/21 - 12/23). tive director and its current director emeri- and his parents, is one that many people Joan McConville, American Association tus, for his contributions in the field of should envy. He is a student of global cul- of Community Colleges; Historia Plan- botany over the whole of his career and in ture and different religious philosophies, tarum book collection (12/31). drawing on them for strength when facing particular his 21 years of service as head life’s difficulties. His interest in music is of BRIT. The award was given on Decem- extensive and his knowledge of “boomer” ber 9, 2015. Sohmer is the 21st recipient of pop culture extends to Walt Kelly’s Pogo the award. comics (my favorite). He speaks multiple Sohmer joined BRIT in 1993 as its languages, frequently answering my ques- first executive director. Under his leader- tions in Russian, to which I would just ship the organization grew from a staff nod. And he’s an avid fossil hunter which of three—housed in a 12,000-square foot is likely to outcompete ferns in satisfying warehouse in downtown Fort Worth with his constant need to learn. about 400,000 dried plant specimens and a Having known and worked with Greg botanical and horticultural library of some in multiple capacities over many years, 50,000 titles—to an organization with a there is one word I would use to describe staff of 30, housed in an energy efficient him. Passionate. About everything. and sustainable building adjacent to the Thanks, Greg. Fort Worth Botanical Garden. BRIT is cur- Chair with a View -Rusty Russell rently the eleventh largest herbarium in the Continued from page 3 United States, possessing over 1.1 million in Madagascar and Africa. Among the specimens and with over 150,000 titles in many herbaria I came to know in these its library. years only Tsimbazaza still holds a special Sohmer is currently a Research Associ- place in my heart. Our relationship was ate in the Department of Botany at the relatively brief, but very complicated. In National Museum of Natural History. the three years that we were intimate our His educational background includes a romance taught me a lot about botany, Bachelor of Science degree from the City but looking back I now see that it taught College of New York, a Master of Science me more about life. Work in Africa led to degree from the University of Tennessee, introductions to large herbaria in Europe and a doctorate from the University of and more relationships than I have space Hawaii. to detail. Later still I spent time in Latin America but there is not world enough and Visitors time to write about all those romances. Awards & Continued from page 2 So, what is the moral of my tale? It is Grants not that I have fallen in love with so many Manuel Lujan, Rancho Santa Ana different herbaria, big and small, tropical Alain Touwaide has been awarded a Botanic Garden; Clusiaceae (11/16 - 12/1). and temperate, nor is it that these facilities 6-month “Foreign Fellowship” by the are beautiful or plain, rich or poor, but that Robert Naczi, New York Botanical Gar- Onassis Foundation (Athens, Greece) for a the true allure of herbaria and collections den; New Manual of Vascular Plants of the research program on the history of botany is the people studying and using them, Northeastern United States and Adjacent and medicinal plants among the Greek and the ideas that they generate. Now that Canada (11/17 - 11/19). speaking communities in the Ottoman for better or worse I am married to the Empire, to be conducted in collabora- Bruce Stein, National Wildlife Federa- U.S. National Herbarium I want it to be tion with the National Hellenic Research tion; Campanulaceae (11/19). as alluring as my first love. I hope we can Foundation. Touwaide was also elected as continue to make our collection attractive an Associate of the Center for Medieval Roger Troutman, U.S. Bureau of Com- and enticing, and I hope we can seduce and Renaissance Studies at the University mercial Fisheries, Alaska; Asclepidaceae new generations to fall passionately in of California Los Angeles. (11/27 - 11/30). love with systematic Botany. Page 5 The 2016 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, May 20, to Explore Pollination The Department of Botany and the United States Botanic Garden will convene the 2016 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, “Bats, Bees, Birds, But- terflies and Bouquets: New Research in Pollination Biology,” to be held at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2016. The act of pollination, transferring pollen from one flower to another, remains food we eat is the result of an animal pol- Garden, and the Cuatrecasas Family one of the most ecologically important linating a plant. Yet recent evidence shows Foundation. interactions between plant and animal. that pollinator abundance and diversity is There will be no registration fee this It allows plants to produce seeds and on the decline. What does the threat to the year, but attendees must register online at reproduce, and provides pollen, nectar and health of pollinators hold for the future of botany.si.edu/sbs/ to attend the event. Visit other rewards to the animals that visit the native plant populations and agriculture? the website, call 202-633-0920, or email flowers. Pollination is a keystone func- Will plant and pollinator populations adapt [email protected] for more information. tion of most terrestrial ecosystems, and an to a changing climate, invasive species, estimated 87 percent of flowering plants and habitat loss? depend on animal pollination. Plant-polli- The Symposium will highlight current nator interactions have led to the evolu- research in pollination biology, from plant tionary diversification of major groups of physiology and ecology to evolution and both plants and animals. A diverse plate animal behavior. New approaches to the of foods for humans is a result of pollina- study of plant-animal interactions may tion as well: one out of every three bites of provide promise to safeguard biodiversity both here in the U.S. and elsewhere. The invited speakers will cover a wide range Recognizing Our of such approaches to illustrate the chal- lenges to plant-pollinator relationships in a Peers rapidly changing world. The National Museum of Natural A full lineup of speakers will present History presented the 2015 Peer Recogni- their talks during the day at the National tion Awards on December 8, 2015. Award Museum of Natural History’s Baird recipients are individuals who have given Auditorium. The event will be followed by their time and talent to the museum above a reception and poster session at the U.S. and beyond what their job calls for and Botanic Garden that evening. th to those who have done something that In addition, the 14 José Cuatrecasas makes a difference in the outside com- Medal in Tropical Botany will be awarded munity, for the museum, or for the larger at the Symposium. This prestigious award Smithsonian community. The Peer Rec- is presented annually to an international ognition Award Committee is composed scholar who has contributed significantly of 11 NMNH staff members representing to advancing the field of tropical botany. a cross-section of the entire museum com- The award is named in honor of Dr. José munity. Cuatrecasas, a pioneering botanist who The Department of Botany was recog- spent many years working in the Depart- nized at the ceremony when six depart- ment of Botany at the Smithsonian and ment members were presented with three devoted his career to plant exploration in different awards. tropical South America. Melinda Peters and Kenia Velasco Abstracts for poster presentations may Gutierrez from the Department of Botany be submitted online at botany.si.edu/sbs/. received the “Conserving Traditional The deadline for abstract submission is Archilochus colubris (ruby-throated Languages Award,” a team which also April 13th. hummingbird) visiting Campsis radicans included Tom Hollowell from the Informa- Sponsors of the Symposium are the (=Bignonia radicans, trumpet vine). tion Technology Office and Kate Ries- Department of Botany, the Office of the From J.J. Audubon, The Birds of Amer- tenberg from the Department of Anthro- Associate Director for Research and ica: from Drawings Made in the United pology. They were recognized for being Collections, the United States Botanic States and Their Territories, 1840-1844. diligent and dedicated members of the Page 6 large international and inter-disciplinary project, Documentation and Revitalization of the Language and Traditional Eco- logical Knowledge of an Isthmus Zapotec Community of La Ventosa in the southern Mexican State of Oaxaca. This work docu- ments the indigenous plant names of the community for inclusion in a dictionary of the local endangered language. These researchers collected and processed 1,361 herbarium samples, and distributed mul- tiple sets to partner herbaria. This project formed the pilot for the groundbreak- ing National Ethnobotanical Herbarium Online. To accomplish this, an impressive number of local volunteers and contrac- tors were assembled and trained to assist. A The exceptional commitment and remark- B able work ethic of these awardees were Recipients of the 2015 Peer Recognition Awards. (A) Melinda Peters (left) and Tom absolutely necessary to the success of this Hollowell (right) receive the “Conserving Traditional Languages Award” from complex work in a short timeframe. NMNH Sant Director Kirk Johnson. (B) Jim Harle (right) receives the “Volunteer Jim Harle from the Department of Excellence Award”. (photo by the Smithsonian Institution) Botany was awarded the “Volunteer Excel- lence Award.” Harle has worked enthusi- Vicki Funk, Ida Lopez, and Carolina Mathematics (STEM) fields, theYouth astically to create a searchable digital map Puente from the Department of Botany Engagement through Science (YES!) library. Together with a corps of volun- received the “Scientific Team Engaging mentors generously gave of their time and teers and interns that he trained, they have Young Minds (STEM) Award,” a team expertise to ignite the flame of inspira- cataloged and imaged over 28,000 maps which also included members from the tion in young minds. This eclectic team of from four different NMNH Departments Departments of Entomology, Paleobiology mentors helped to provide students in the as well as the National Museum of African and Vertebrate Zoology, Divisions of the Washington, DC area with an authentic Art. Having the information now avail- National Zoological Park, Smithsonian scientific experience, which broadened able on the Department of Botany website Gardens, Departments of the National and deepened their knowledge of science dovetails this remarkable effort with the Air and Space Museum, and the Global career fields. With the help and accom- Museum’s strategy to improve access to Genome Initiative. With youth interest in paniment of their mentors, YES! interns its collections through digitization, and its science careers at a low, the vast under- refined their research, analysis and com- commitment to training the next genera- representation of minorities and women munication skills as they each created an tion of scientific staff. in Science, Technology, Engineering and eight minute talk about the scientific work they were performing behind the scenes. These talks were given to audiences dur- ing an “Intern Is In” session in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Several interns credit this experi- ence with giving them confidence for future endeavors. Through their personal investment these staff members helped to inspire and engage a group of young people showing them the way to become our future generation of scientists.
Carolina Puente, Vicki Funk, and Ida Lopez (fourth, seventh, and eighth from left, respectively) receive the “Scientific Team Engaging Young Minds (STEM) Award”. (photo by the Smithsonian Institution) Page 7 The Quest for the Wild Kidney Bean By Ashley N. Egan ♫ Beans, beans, the magical fruit the more you eat, the more you… ♬ ... or was that musical… not magical…. Whichever it is for you, beans can definitely be both musicaland magical. I had the great opportunity of searching for a bean this autumn that may hold magic in its genes. The North American wild kidney bean, also known as the thicket bean, Phaseolus polystachios (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb., of the legume family (Fabaceae), is the only native bean species with a (once upon a time) widespread distribution across the eastern half of the United States, from Texas to Connecticut. This perennial vine prefers open areas where it can twine on thickets or climb on slopes with southern or southeastern exposures, but can also be found rarely in forests with open or shallow canopies where it often climbs its way to the top. Unfortunately, urbanization, agricultural development, and habitat destruction have caused a decline in populations, leading to widely varying estimates of conservation status across its distribution. So what makes Phaseolus polystachios so special? While I think all plants are special (ok…I’m biased), this bean is spe- cial by association. The North American wild kidney bean is a wild relative of the cultivated Phaseolus lunatus L., com- monly known as the Lima bean, which was domesticated from wild ancestors in Meso- and South America. Crop wild relatives are vital reservoirs of genetic diversity, often holding hidden potential as sources for crop improvement in disease A ripe pod of the North American wild kidney bean, Phaseolus polystachios. (Photo resistance, yield, quality, and adaptation by Ashley N. Egan). to climate change or other ecological or pathological stresses. One such stressor is Plant Germplasm System (http://www.ars- With funding support from the Smith- white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), a grin.gov/). As of August 2015, the Western sonian’s Global Genome Initiative (ggi. ubiquitous pathogen and a major problem Regional Plant Introduction Station in si.edu), my first trip in September took me for nearly 400 plant species, especially Pullman, Washington holds over 17,000 to Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana where legumes. White mold co-occurs with accessions of Phaseolus from 47 species I visited some 15 historically collected Phaseolus polystachios throughout its groups, but held only 13 accessions of sites, finding plants at only four – a suc- native range in the eastern and southeast- the North American wild kidney bean, cess rate that attests to the decline in wild ern United States. Through coevolution six of which were collected recently from kidney bean populations. But those four in its natural habitat, P. polystachios may Florida. At the behest and invitation of Ted sites yielded vital material for collec- have acquired white mold resistance – and Kisha, Phaseolus curator at USDA-ARS tions. Using a population level sampling therein lays its potential magic. GRIN in Pullman, I embarked on a quest approach, leaf material for DNA was As important as this little bean is, there to find, document, and collect as many collected to silica gel for an average of are relatively few seed collections of P. populations of P. polystachios as I could 10 plants per population and three to six polystachios held in the U.S. National across the Midwest. seeds were collected per plant, when avail-
Page 8 able. A pressed herbarium specimen for each population was taken for vouchering. These collections have enriched three federal biodiversity repositories: DNA material was placed in the Smithsonian’s Global Genome Initiative (GGI) biore- pository cryogenic long-term storage units
New Mendoncia Species Honors Hollenberg A new species of Acanthaceae, Men- doncia hollenbergiae Wassh., has been named in honor of Linda Hollenberg whose career was spent in energetic and passionate care of the plant collections in the U.S. National herbarium. The new species was discovered after National Park in Ecuador. Dieter Wasshausen in an article published the family treatment for the Flora of Presently, the new species is known in the Journal of the Botanical Research Ecuador (Wasshausen, D. C. 2013. Acan- only from the holotype and one other more Institute of Texas (9: 81-88; 2015). thaceae. pp. 1-329. In C. Persson and B. recent collection by Nancy C. Garwood. Stahl, eds. Flora of Ecuador. Department The new species is morphologically of Biological and Environmental Sciences, similar to Mendoncia sericea Leonard University of Gothenburg, Sweden.) had ex Wassh., a more widespread species in already been published. The new spe- Amazonian Ecuador and possibly Peru. cies was collected in the highly diverse, The new species was recently lowland riverside vegetation of the Yasuni described by Emeritus Research Botanist Page 11 A Year of Ferns By Spencer Goyette (Adapted from Smithsonian Libraries Unbound) The Department of Botany’s fern collection was highlighted several times last year. It was the main focus of the annual Smithsonian Botanical Symposium and was extended to a full week in June as “Next Generation Pteridology - An International Conference on Lycophyte & Fern Research”, and now is a central part of the rapid capture digitization project to digitize and make accessible online the entire fern herbarium. When I started as an intern and con- tractor in the Department at the begin- ning of 2015 I had no idea of the scale of diversity and richness that existed within this distinct plant lineage. My previous knowledge of ferns was elementary at best. In college, most of my professors glossed over the identification and ecology of ferns, opting instead to focus more les- son time on the seed plants. As a contractor I helped prepare the collection for the digitization that is cur- rently taking place within the herbarium. Most of the work was rote and mundane: NMNH Fern Team (left to right): Gregory McKee, Amanda Grusz, Eric replacing species covers, relabeling and Schuettpelz, Spencer Goyette, and Erin Sigel. (photographer unknown) making genus folders, moving cabinets of genera to reflect their more accurate phy- represented within our collection: from the “niche” by even the most eclectic of read- logeny. Not exciting work but necessary. A diminutive tree fern that inhabits the tops ers, I was pleased to discover a copy of definite perk of being around so many dif- of South American Tepuis, to the dev- Oaxaca Journal by Dr. Oliver Sacks in ferent genera and species was witnessing astatingly simple-looking but incredibly our library. Coincidentally, I read Oaxaca the global diversity of this group that was speciose Tongueferns (Elaphoglossum), Journal around the same time as the week- to the obscure Grammitids whose names long, fern-focused Botany Symposium. possess a certain mellifluous indelibility Only on rare occasions are the people who (Melpomene and Terpsichore were among populate the pages of our books presented my favorites). in three dimensions, yet there they were. Like many staff and herbarium visi- At this conference were some of the very tors, I decided to explore the resources same people mentioned in Sacks’ book. available in the Botany and Horticulture Although in retrospect it seems inevitable, Library in order to learn more about the as the world of serious fern-lovers is not life histories of these plants, and to help exactly a large one. ready myself for a two week fern-collect- Welcoming and familiar, the fern ing trip to Puebla, Mexico with a team of community becomes intertwined with pteridologists led by Eric Schuettpelz, Sacks’ narrative in Oaxaca Journal, as he Curator of Pteridophytes at the National describes the landscape of Mexico with Museum of Natural History. I thought a dynamic and colorful eye, connecting finding a book to read on the subject humans and flora through time and place. would be an easy way to build on the little Once we made it into the field I con- knowledge I had built up over the past few sciously tried to make similar connections months and prepare me for what turned of my own between the pressed specimens out to be one of the most interesting I had seen in the herbarium with what I adventures of my life. had read in Sacks’ book to the wonderful While any volume focused on the ferns array of plants we were seeing daily. In of southern Mexico could be considered one of my favorite passages from the book
Page 12 Sacks comments on the enthusiasm with which his fellow travelers identify seem- ingly dead, dessicated plants: “It takes a practiced eye to see dried-up, withered and contracted ferns, to pick them out from the brown earth, but most of the group have had experience with this, and now, lenses in hand, careless of their clothes, they are crawling all over the ground, climbing the slopes, picking out new ferns every second. ‘Notholaena galeottii!’ some- one cries. ‘Astrolepis sinuata!” cries another, and there are no fewer than five species ofCheilanthes .” As our team began to comb through Puebla’s gullies, streams, and moun- tainsides for ferns, we became a similar symphony of excitement when we hap- pened upon another genus or species. In fact, findingScoliosorus , a Vittarioid fern and one of our main targets, was a major highlight of the trip that we celebrated Specimens from the United States National Herbarium are placed on a conveyer with hoots and hollers that visibly amused belt for rapid digitization. (photo by Ingrid Lin) a nearby Cabaña manager. Working in such species rich habitats Profile loan (and to whom). According to Curator was mind-boggling. Every day it seemed Continued from page 1 Pedro Acevedo, “The first thing we need like we found new species, uncollected to know is what we have, then we have a from the days prior. Another book, The men loans and researcher visits, limited to responsibility to put that data out there for Pteridophytes of Mexico by John Mickel those individuals who had the necessary others to use.” and Alan R. Smith, provided key insight resources to travel to study the collections. Because digitization opens up new into potentially new species records and The costs and difficulties associated with research possibilities, it will allow the col- was definitely worth its weight for field lending specimens, including packaging lections to be used more frequently and in identification (more in depth thanOaxaca and shipping costs, are compounded by new ways. As Laurence Dorr (Curator and Journal, but equally interesting and more the risks of mailing fragile specimens. Chair of the Botany Department) muses, field valuable). Between the spider bites, These risks are greatly reduced by redi- “When you collect specimens, you don’t wasp stings, sunburn, altitude sickness, recting traffic to online images and data. necessarily know what will happen in the “ditch bananas,” lightning strikes, a deluge We have already witnessed some future.” or two, and stomach bugs we managed to of the benefits of online access. When- Herbaria develop different strengths not only collect more ferns than I would ever Museum Specialist Barrett Brooks based on their location or particular col- have thought possible, but had a blast at received a loan request, he would digitize lectors’ interests. “Herbaria tend to grow the same time. the requested specimens before send- in ways that form unique collections,” It goes without saying that in this Year ing them through the mail. By creating a explains Dorr. “Information is scattered of Ferns I have been exposed to unique record of what the specimens looked like across continents and countries.” The U.S. human and scientific experiences that I before being loaned, Brooks captured National Herbarium is particularly strong will remember for the rest of my life and an image of the specimen in its original in ferns, specimens from early exploring will build upon as I make future career condition in case it got lost or dam- expeditions, types, Mexico/South Amer- choices. aged. Often, upon seeing the images, the ica, and the Philippines. Digitization will researcher who made the request decided allow researchers to integrate information that he or she can work with the high-res- from a variety of herbaria, and to keep olution images instead, saving the speci- better track of which herbaria have which mens from the dangerous journey. specimens. Digitization will benefit herbarium col- Similarly, researchers can access lections by creating a detailed inventory specimens from all over the world right of plants and records at each herbarium. from their desks. Acevedo describes how This database will allow us to track and he can access both literature and speci- group individual specimens, as well as mens online. For example, he can pull keeping record of what is currently on Continued on page 14 Page 13 Profile type specimens on his computer. Digitiza- as an inventory that allows researchers Continued from page 13 tion can lead to reduced travel costs by to identify under-collected and under- up protologues (initial descriptions of a prioritizing visits only to those herbaria researched areas. species) for species of Paullinia (Sapin- that have exactly what researchers are Using specimen images, morphological daceae), and then compare them alongside looking for. The database will also serve traits can be used in phylogenetic and evo- lutionary studies. Perhaps some research- ers will perform image analyses and morphometrics. With label data describing the time and location a specimen was col- lected, researchers will be able to easily track distributions over time to monitor invasive and endangered species. These distribution data may also be used to chart the effects of climate change or human interactions on natural populations and ecosystems. For example, because the information will be globally accessible, those working in tropical areas, such as Guaramacal National Park in Venezuela where Dorr has done some of his research, will be able to access the U.S. National Herbarium and other herbarium specimens to aid in describing new species and map- ping biodiversity across difficult-to-access areas. Herbarium specimens are especially useful in tracing botanical history. A searchable, usable catalogue of speci- men collection dates can allow research- ers to piece together itineraries of early exploratory expeditions. Additionally, when combined with early descriptions, a digitized database will make it easier to identify types for species described before the late 19th century, when the use of types became standard practice. Perhaps the most exciting possibility is the promise that the database will grow as new discoveries are made. Curator Eric Schuettpelz states that “by letting people see the specimens, we can increase their value.” As time goes on, researchers might incorporate photos from the field, addi- tional literature, or research findings into the database, adding information to and improving each herbarium specimen. Even though you cannot take a DNA sample from a digital specimen, digitiza- tion helps streamline molecular analysis The Venezuelan fern specimen, Huperzia myrsinites, collected by Julian Steyermark as well. Curator Ashley Egan, a molecular in 1944, has the distinction of being the 500,000th image captured by the Smithso- systematist and population geneticist, nian Digitization project, which has digitized objects from across the Smithsonian describes that she “would benefit from the Institution. The Smithsonian Digitization Program Office team has worked along- metadata that will come from the digiti- side staff to digitize items from nine museums: National Museum of Natural His- zation of our specimens,” as they would tory, Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian National Museum of African American allow her to integrate metadata from the History and Culture, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian’s Freer U.S. National Herbarium with data from and Sackler Galleries, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cul- other digitized collections all over the tural Heritage, National Air and Space Museum, and Smithsonian National Postal world. Further, since the database also Museum. functions as an inventory, it will be easier Page 14 to manage requests for DNA samples endemic from Bahia State, Brazil. Brit- bly of the global herbaceous flora: evi- when they are needed. tonia http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12228- dence from the paper daisies (Asteraceae: While digitization is widely accepted 015-9397-x Gnaphalieae). New Phytol. http://dx.doi. as positive and necessary for moving org/10.1111/nph.13740 forward, some have expressed concerns Calahan, D., D. Blersch and W. Adey. that will need to be considered. First the 2015. Weeds in the algae garden – A Robinson, H. 2015. The genus Fleis- creation of a database could place rare source of biomass for the algae-to-biofuels chmannia in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and endangered plants at risk by reveal- program. Ecol. Eng. 85: 275-282. http:// and Paraguay (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae). ing their georeferenced locations, mak- dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.10.014 PhytoKeys 57: 61-92. http://dx.doi. ing them susceptible to illegal poaching. org/10.3897/phytokeys.57.5784 Fan, Y.L., W.J. Kress and Q.J. Li. 2015. It is possible, however, to mask critical A new secondary pollen presentation Schuettpelz, E., K.M. Pryer and M.D. location information to protect vulner- mechanism from a wild ginger (Zingiber Windham. 2015. A unified approach able species, limiting this knowledge to densissimum) and its functional roles in to taxonomic delimitation in the fern experts with approved access. Another pollination process. PloS One 10(12): genus Pentagramma (Pteridaceae). concern involves the management of the e0143812. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/jour- Syst. Bot. 40(3): 629-644. http://dx.doi. collections themselves. Curators might be nal.pone.0143812 org/10.1600/036364415X689366 reluctant to lend type specimens if they are available online, though some research Grusz, A.L. and K.M. Pryer. 2015. Skog, L.E. 2015. 107. Coriariaceae. In G. requires direct interaction with the physi- Development of microsatellite markers Davidse, M. Sousa S., S. Knapp, F. Chiang cal specimen. Some might argue that once for the apomictic triploid fern Myriopteris and C. Ulloa Ulloa, eds. Flora Mesoamer- specimens are digitized there is little lindheimeri (Pteridaceae). Appl. Plant Sci. icana, Volume 2 (Part 3): Saururaceae reason to maintain the actual herbarium 3(11): 1500061. http://dx.doi.org/10.3732/ a Zygophyllaceae [Spanish]. Missouri collections, which may impact funding apps.1500061 Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. or other management decisions. Yet, with Touwaide, A. 2015. Il manoscritto più new technology in molecular biology and Huang, C.H., R. Sun, Y. Hu, L. Zeng, N. Zhang, L. Cai, Q. Zhang, M.A. Koch, I. misterioso - L’Erbario Voynich, pp. 139- DNA barcoding, the actual specimens 156. In M. Formica, ed. Villa Mondrag- have proven useful in ways that a digitized Al-Shehbaz, P.P. Edger, J.C. Pires, D.Y. Tan, Y. Zhong and H. Ma. 2015. Resolu- one. Seconda Roma. Palombi Editori, image cannot. Rome. It is important to realize that digitized tion of Brassicaceae phylogeny using databases are not a replacement for exist- nuclear genes uncovers nested radiations Wen, J., S. Ickert-Bond, M.S. Appelhans, ing herbaria, but simply another tool to and supports convergent morphological L.J. Dorr and V.A. Funk. 2015. Collec- expand the possibilities of research. “You evolution. Mol. Biol. Evol. http://dx.doi. tions-based systematics: opportunities and can ask questions you couldn’t possibly org/10.1093/molbev/msv226 outlook for 2050. J. Syst. Evol. 53(6): 477- ask before,” Dorr says. “Specimens are Ickert-Bond, S., J.M. Gerrath, U. 488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jse.12181 here so you can form ideas about the Posluszny and J. Wen. 2015. Inflores- world and how things are related.” Wiersema, J.H., J. McNeill, N.J. Tur- cence development in the Vitis–Ampelocis- land, S.S. Orli, and W.L. Wagner. 2015. sus clade of Vitaceae: the unusual lamel- Elizabeth Jacobsen was a 2015 under- The foundation of the Melbourne Code late inflorescence ofPterisanthes . Bot. J. graduate student intern in the Plant Con- Appendices: Announcing a new paradigm Linn. Soc. 179(4): 725-741. http://dx.doi. servation Unit, Department of Botany for tracking nomenclatural decisions. org/10.1111/boj.12348 Taxon, 64(5): 1021-1027. http://dx.doi. Laughinghouse, H.D., K.M. Müller, org/10.12705/645.11 W.H. Adey, Y. Lara, R. Young, and G. Zhang, K.M., Y. Shen, Y.M. Fang and Johnson. 2015. Evolution of the northern Y. Liu. 2015. Changes in gametophyte rockweed, Fucus distichus, in a regime of physiology of Pteris multifida induced by glacial cycling: implications for benthic the leaf leachate treatment of the invasive algal phylogenetics. PloS One, 10(12): Bidens pilosa. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. e0143795. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/jour- Int. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015- nal.pone.0143795 5589-x Liu, X.Q, S. Ickert-Bond, Z.L. Nie, Z. Zhang, L., C.J. Rothfels, A. Ebihara, E. Zhou, L.Q. Chen and J. Wen. 2015. Schuettpelz, T. Le Péchon, P. Kamau, Phylogeny of the Ampelocissus–Vitis H. He, X.M. Zhou, J. Prado, A. Field, G. clade in Vitaceae supports the New World Yatskievych, X.F. Gao and L.B. Zhang. Publications origin of the grape genus. Mol. Phylo- 2015. A global plastid phylogeny of the genet. Evol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. brake fern genus Pteris (Pteridaceae) ympev.2015.10.013 Aona, L.Y.S., R.B. Faden, V. Bittrich and and related genera in the Pteridoideae. M. C. E. Amaral. 2015. Four new spe- Nie, Z.L., V.A. Funk, Y. Meng, T. Deng, Cladistics, 31(4): 406-423. http://dx.doi. cies of Dichorisandra (Commelinaceae) H. Sun and J. Wen. 2015. Recent assem- org/10.1111/cla.12094
Page 15 Art by Alice Tangerini
Oenothera riskindii W.L. Wagner
The U.S. National Herbarium has begun a rapid digitization project, starting with the digitization of plants specimens in the family Onagraceae (evening primrose). Onagraceae has developed over the past half century as a model system for the study of plant evolution. At present, systematic revisions are available for virtually the entire family of 660 species in 22 genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses have resulted in a major new classification of the family with a comprehensive monograph completed in 2007 by Warren Wagner and collaborators. Once imaged and databased, the herbarium’s collection will provide more than 25,000 specimen records across the family to be utilized in tandem with ongoing research projects world-wide. Over 130 species are rare or endangered, including the narrowly endemic Oenothera riskindii, known only from montane open oak woodland in Rincón de María and adjacent Serranias del Burro in northern Coahuila, Mexico (Syst. Bot. 30: 332-355; 2005).
Department of Botany PO Box 37012 NMNH, MRC-166 Washington DC 20013-7012
Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300
Page 16