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Copyright by Joanne Lemay Birch 2004 The Gideon Lincecum Herbarium: A Floristic and Ethnobotanic Analysis by Joanne Lemay Birch, B.S. Thesis Presented to the faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts The University of Texas at Austin August, 2004 The Gideon Lincecum Herbarium: A Floristic and Ethnobotanic Analysis APPROVED BY SUPERVISING COMMITTEE: __________________________ __________________________ Acknowledgements In completing this current research I have received infinite support and inspiration from many individuals who have contributed time and energy to this academic undertaking. While it is impossible to name all of these individuals, many require a mention in recognition of their generosity. This work wouldn’t have been possible without the supervision and academic guidance of Dr. Beryl Simpson whose research in ethnobotany was the driving force behind my desire to attend the University of Texas at Austin and whose experience and willingness to bring together the academic specialties of floristics and ethnobotany has facilitated my development within my chosen field. Dr. Simpson has supported my research in many ways; by keeping her office door open for questions, in editing the numerous drafts of this document, and as a mentor of what it takes to be a successful research scientist. Her recent teaching in biogeography has inspired my interest in this field and ensured her ongoing influence in the development of my academic career and research. I extend special thanks to Dr. Thomas Wendt in his role as both reader for my thesis and mentor in my work as an assistant curator at the Plant Resources Center. My research has benefited greatly from his answers to the ‘how-to’ of floristic research, in the contribution of his ideas, and in his assistance with the identification of specimens. I hope in the near future the New Zealand population iv will increase in rank by one additional citizen welcomed home. I would also like to thank Lindsay Woodruff for her encouragement of my research and assistance with my work at the Plant Resources Center. I am very thankful for the day I ventured into the Plant Resources Center to investigate the possibility of employment there and I have learned greatly from that work, in my ongoing desire to do curatorial work, and the many hours I spent happily “lost” amongst the many specimens from all over the world collected by other botanists and deposited within the TEX/LL collections. My work towards this thesis would not have been possible without the co- operation of the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. I would like to acknowledge the role of the late Sarah Clark Moriaty (1940-2001), Head of Archives and Manuscripts at the University of Texas Center for American History, whose initial interest in the Gideon Lincecum Herbarium and recognition of the value of this historical collection played a critical role in the inception of this research. In bringing the collection to the attention of Dr. Thomas Wendt her efforts facilitated the availability of the Gideon Lincecum Herbarium for this research. This research was then made possible by a loan of the Gideon Lincecum Herbarium from the Center for American History which was kindly arranged and carried out by the Head of Collections, Brenda Gunn. The librarians from the University of Texas at Austin have provided extensive research assistance in the location of historical references and I would particularly like to thank Wendy Nesmith for her assistance locating a crucial reference in the v form of the second edition of Howard Horton’s book “An Improved System of Botanic Medicine”. Dr. Paul Fryxell and Dr. Stephen Jury contributed to this research in the confirmation of specimen identifications for which I am grateful. Dr. Jerry Lincecum, a descendent of Gideon Lincecum, and Dr. Peggy Redshaw provided encouragement during the early stages of this research and their publications on the manuscripts contained within the Gideon Lincecum Collection are extensively referenced in this work and greatly support the analysis completed in this thesis. I would like to acknowledge the comprehensive ethnobotanic research conducted by Daniel Moerman whose regression analysis of the Native American Indian pharmacopoeia provided the basis for such an analysis applied to the Gideon Lincecum Herbarium. The Plant Biology Graduate Program and The Office of Graduate Studies have contributed financially to the completion of this research. The excellent faculty and staff at The University of Texas at Austin have provided a stimulating environment for work as a graduate student. I would like to thank those professors and lecturers with whom I have worked as a teaching assistant for their roles as mentors in my development of my teaching skills. My experience as a teaching assistant for Native Plants has been an integral part of my development as a taxonomist and “doing the work of the university” has been a truly rewarding task with the supervision of Dr. Mark Bierner and company of fellow graduate student Mike Moore. Dr. Bierner’s skill and enjoyment of vi teaching has been complimented by his ability with the barbeque and the results from a field taxonomist and ex-vegetarian are truly valued! Other professors and faculty to whom I have been assigned as a teaching assistant include Dr. Andrew McDonald, Dr. Kay McMurray, and Dr. Ruth Franks. I would like to thank Dr. Kenneth Young for providing several challenging classes amongst the few at the University of Texas at Austin with ethnobotanic content. I also appreciated the references of Dr. Norma Fowler, Dr. James Mauseth, Dr. B. Simpson, Dr. T. Wendt, Dr. K. Young provided in support of my applications to graduate schools at various stages in my career. The staff of the University of Texas provides valuable support for graduate students and I am particularly grateful to Tamra Rogers for her support within her position as Botany Graduate Advisor and the staff of the SBS Instructional Services. I appreciate their ongoing work organizing and providing resources for graduate students and I have valued both their knowledge of the University of Texas at Austin bureaucracy and willingness to translate it to me. I owe a significant debt of gratitude to my parents who deserve a resounding thank-you for their endless support, encouragement and patience during my return to graduate school. They inspired and encouraged me to believe that I could do whatever I set out to do and provided me with an education which allowed this to be true. They truly have provided the foundation on which I stand and only as an adult have I realized the skills and the sacrifice that it has taken to vii provide this support to my siblings and myself. To my siblings Stuart, Gillian, and Kristen who continue be around for me across oceans, at the end of e-mail, and through telephone calls that are never long enough, I would also like to express my thanks and enjoyment of the ways we find to be together. You inspire me to “go for it” and remind me of the strength that it takes to keep to “hang in there” and to laugh through it all and I thank you for the pleasure that that experience provides. My extended family in Austin has been an integral part of this research and in numerous ways is the only reason that it has been possible to complete this thesis. I thank my partner Karen Brown, who is the best reason that I have to go home at night, for both her support of my work and the laughter that she provides during our all too infrequent leisure time. Karen has provided a much needed balance to my life through both her encouragement of my work and enjoyment of the many activities that Austin has to offer and I continue to be grateful for this balance. I also appreciate the endless work that Karen has put into editing this thesis in addition to her willingness to contribute her time and labor to the additional projects that have been a part of this research. My friend and companion Elizabete Gomes was the inspiration for my relocation to Austin, Texas, and has been an integral part of this research work not the least of which was helping me believe that it was all possible. I thank Elizabete for her ability to combine a belief that anything is possible with the skills that it requires to break tasks down into their achievable components and she continues to teach me viii exactly what it takes to “keep it simple”. Finally, I thank Reid Duke for his ability to put this work into the bigger picture of life; including meteor showers, swims in the Texas springs, and Stonewall “peach-runs”. Reid’s support and patience has made this work not only possible but inspired by the true enjoyment of a kindred spirit, recognizing that I have a way to go to achieve his ability to appreciate a less frantic and equally productive pace of life. Finally, my thanks go out to past and present graduate students with whom I have shared the experience of graduate school, in particular; Cate Bergman, Juanita Choo, Helen Cortes-Burns, Ruth Timme, Geoffrey Denny, Kate Walker, Sarah Jackson, Josh McDill, Anneke Padolina, Heidi Meudt, Sarah Simmons, Andrea Weeks, Martin Timana, Jeffrey Williams, and Mike Moore to name just a few. You have all inspired me, challenged me, worked with me, and rescued me from my research at various points and I am thankful to have you as colleagues and have enjoyed your company over the last three years.