Department of Systematic Biology - Botany & the U.S. National Herbarium The Press

New Series - Vol. 6 - No. 4 October-December 2003

Botany Profile : An Order of Magnitude By Robert DeFilipps he Head of Botany, W. John Kress, order Zingiberales, which takes its name travels. This episode was followed at is eminently adapted to function in from the gingers. This geographically various intervals by field trips to the milieu of field exploration, in widespread and morphologically diverse Colombia with Harvard’s Richard Evans Tthe laboratory while investigating the assemblage of families comprises the Schultes, and then to Amazonian Peru molecular phylogenetics of , and in cannas (Cannaceae); heliconias (Heliconi- with Timothy Plowman, during which the demanding role of an administrator aceae); prayer plants (Marantaceae); Kress saw Heliconia in the field for the whose decisions are foremost in shaping bananas (Musaceae), the worldwide first time. the progress and welfare of plant science providers of food and fiber, whose fruits These experiences were the core at the Smithsonian Institution. and leaves contain “dopamine,” a neuro- facilitators of his interest in graduate Kress was born in 1951 in Alton, transmitter also found in the human brain; studies with Stone, on classification and Illinois. His undergraduate education was the lemur-pollinated traveler’s trees pollination biology of the Heliconiaceae. pursued at Harvard University, where he () of Madagascar, as well as the Trips to Costa Rica and Panama began to graduated in 1975 with a B.A. degree South African (Strelitzia) and South instill in Kress a lifelong interest in Magna Cum Laude, and produced an American (Phenakospermum) birds-of- biological conservation and the remedies honor’s thesis, advised by P. Barry Tom- paradise (), which are for forest fragmentation. In Costa Rica he linson, entitled “The Pollination Ecology pollinated respectively by diurnal sunbirds encountered pristine rain forests, only to of Rhizophora mangle L. – the Red Man- and nocturnal bats; the horticulturally return later and witness the selfsame grove.” desirable Costus (Costaceae); and gingers areas in a state of decimation and biotic Graduate studies were undertaken at (Zingiber) with their pungent essential oils endangerment. His strong interest in Duke University (Durham, North Caro- having antineoplastic, anticholesteremic, conservation was recently manifested in lina), with advisor Donald E. Stone, and depressant, and cardiotonic effects (Zin- statistical studies focusing on hotspots culminated in a Ph.D. (1981) with a giberaceae). Work is aided by his valuable of plant endemism in 84 Indo-Pacific dissertation on “Reproductive Biology assistant, museum specialist Ida C. Lopez, ecoregions, conducted with co-author and Systematics of Central American and a host of graduate students including Gary Krupnick (Biodiversity and Heliconia (Heliconiaceae).” His profes- Chelsea Specht (New York University), Conservation 12: 2237-2253. 2003). Kyle Williams (Duke), Tanya Rehse (Duke sional career began with a position as he scope of research done by University), Norman Bourg (University of Research Scientist in the Botany Depart- Kress is, in a word, formidable. Maryland), and Vinita Gowda (George ment at Duke University (1983-1984), and That is because he has inquired Washington University). shortly thereafter he became Director of (oftenT with collaborators) into so many An interest in the Ginger Order was Research at Marie Selby Botanical Gar- different subdisciplines of botany, developed along a sort of time-line, dens in Sarasota, Florida from 1984-1988. ranging from , systematics, basically starting many years ago with The Smithsonian Institution was joined in conservation, and habitat studies, all the enrollment in Tomlinson’s summer course 1988 at the curatorial level, and he is way up to and including “cutting edge” on tropical monocot morphology at the currently a Research Scientist and Cura- molecular work with isozymes and DNA Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami, which tor in the Department of Botany, National sequence analyses, resulting in phyloge- brought with it an inspiring opportunity to Museum of Natural History. In 1997 Kress netic and cladistic evidence of interrela- stay in David Fairchild’s house for three was appointed Chairman of Botany, tionships, data which helps to inform our months with access to the fine library which he fulfills to the present day. collective appreciation of evolutionary The locus of Kress’ research essen- while seeing all the economic plants tially resides in the petaloid monocot introduced to Florida via Fairchild’s world Continued on page 10 Travel

Walter Adey traveled to Halifax and St. and to Aberdeen, Scotland (7/4–7/11) to Laurence Skog traveled to Mobile, Johns, Canada (6/15–10/1) to conduct on- attend the annual Association for Tropical Alabama (7/25–8/1) to attend the Botany going research. Biology and Conservation (ATBC) 2003 meeting; and to Sarasota, Florida (8/ Paula DePriest traveled to Mobile, meeting. 28–9/5) to conduct research at the Marie Alabama (7/26–7/29) to attend the Botany Gary Krupnick traveled to Duluth, Selby Botanical Gardens. 2003 meeting; and to Mongolia (8/12–9/7) Minnesota (6/28–7/3) to attend the annual Alain Touwaide traveled to Rome, Italy with Gregory McKee to study lichens. meeting of the Society for Conservation (8/26–10/13) for the second part of an Laurence Dorr traveled to London, Biology. Earthwatch expedition studying Renais- England (7/17–8/14) to conduct research at Mark and Diane Littler traveled to Ft. sance printed herbals at the National the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and to Pierce, Florida (6/2–7/27) to conduct Library of Rome. Caracas, Venezuela (9/10–9/25) to collect ongoing research. Warren Wagner traveled to Mobile, plant specimens in the Andes (Guirigay Dan Nicolson traveled to Bronx, New Alabama (7/26–7/31) to attend the Botany National Monument and Guaramacal York (6/30–7/3, 7/27–7/30, and 9/14–9/17) 2003 meeting; and to Uppsala, Sweden (8/ National Park) and to study plants at the to continue work on the Taxonomic 19–8/25) to attend a council meeting of the herbarium in Guanare (PORT). Literature edition 2 (TL-2) at the library of International Association for Plant Robert Faden traveled to Kenya, Ethi- the New York Botanical Garden; and to Taxonomy (IAPT). opia, and England (9/3–10/5) to do herbar- Uppsala, Sweden (8/19–8/25) to attend a Liz Zimmer traveled to Chico, Califor- ium and field work in Kenya, to deliver a council meeting of the International nia (6/19–6/27) to attend the meeting of the paper at the XVIIth Congress of the Associ- Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). Society of Systematic Biologists; and to ation for the Taxonomic Study of the Flora Paul Peterson traveled to Mobile, New London, New Hampshire (8/3–8/8) to of Tropical Africa (AETFAT) in Addis Alabama (7/27–7/31) to attend the Botany attend the Gordon Research Conference Ababa, Ethiopia, and to conduct research 2003 meeting; and throughout Mexico (8/ on “Evolutionary and Ecological Func- at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 18–9/24) to collect grass specimens. tional Genomics.” Maria Faust traveled to Ft. Pierce, Florida (7/13–7/25) to conduct ongoing Visitors research. W. John Kress traveled to Myanmar Walter Holmes, Baylor University; Neo- Tetsuo Koyama, Makino Botanical Garden, (6/9–6/30) to conduct ongoing research; tropical Mikania (Asteraceae) (7/14-7/26). Japan; Cyperaceae, Smilacaceae (8/20-8/ 22). Helen Kennedy, University of British The Plant Press Columbia; Guianan Marantaceae (7/17-8/4). Catherine Phillips, Huntington Botanical Garden, California; Humbert & Swingle Xochitl Munn New Series - Vol. 6 - No. 4 , University of Texas; Madagascar Collections (8/21). Personal Collections (7/29). Head of Botany Daniel DeBouck, International Center for K. Olusola Ogunwenmo W. John Kress , Babcock Univer- Tropical Agriculture, Colombia; Phaseolus ([email protected]) sity, Ogun State, Nigeria; African Ipomoea (Fabaceae) (8/25-8/30). (Convolvulaceae) (8/1). EDITORIAL STAFF Guillermo Pino, Universidade de San Rosa Cerros-Tlatilpa, Rancho Santa Ana Co-Editors Marcos; Peruvian Succulents (Peperomia, Botanic Garden, California; Aristida (Poa- Echeveria) (8/25). Gary Krupnick ceae) (8/11-8/16). ([email protected]) Debbie Crabtree, National Food Proces- Robert DeFilipps Cynthia Frasier, Rutgers University; ([email protected]) sors Association, Washington, D.C.; Leaf Strychnos (Loganiaceae) (8/11-8/14). Identification (9/5). News Contacts Bonnie Farrell , Rutgers University; Jerrold Davis, Botany Department, Cornell MaryAnn Apicelli, Robert Faden, Ellen Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) (8/14). Farr, George Russell, Alice Tangerini, and University; Poaceae (9/8). Elizabeth Zimmer Richard Mack , Washington State Univer- Elizabeth Hermsen, Bailey Hortorium, sity; Bromus (Poaceae) (8/15). The Plant Press is a quarterly publication Cornell University; Itea (Saxifragaceae) (9/ provided free of charge. If you would like to be Melissa Islam 15-9/19). added to the mailing list, please contact Gary , Colorado State University; Krupnick at: Department of Systematic Ziziphus (Rhamnaceae) (8/18-8/20). Mario Sousa, Universidad Nacional Biology - Botany, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, NMNH MRC-166, Washington, Darin Pennys, University of Florida, Autónoma de México (UNAM); DC 20013-7012, or by e-mail: krupnick.gary@ Gainesville; Miconeae (Melastomataceae) Lonchocarpus (Fabaceae) (9/18 - 9/22). nmnh.si.edu. (8/18-8/20). Bruce Hoffman, University of Hawaii; Web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany Shigeo Masuyama, National Museum of Suriname Lianas (9/24-10/7). Japan; Pteridophytes (8/19-8/20). Page 2 A Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Chair onservation activities can be roughly divided GSPC in our basic floristic and monographic work. With into two categories: 1) the assessment of the taxonomic specialists in a score of plant families, with conservation status of species and habitats, floristic projects in nearly a dozen countries, and with Cand 2) the design and implementation of management training programs reaching foreign students around the With strategies for conserving species and habitats. As world, we are making noteworthy progress in docu- botanists working in natural history museums, herbaria, menting and understanding the extent and distribution and botanical gardens we can make the most significant of plant diversity worldwide. A contribution to the first category: assessment of threat. In addition to the basic taxonomic documentation The recent adoption of the “Global Strategy for Plant provided by individual curators, the Department of Conservation” (GSPC) by the Sixth Conference of the Botany at NMNH is involved in a number of collabora- Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) tive projects and initiatives which directly address the View provides an international mandate for taxonomists to targets of the Global Strategy. Our Plant Conservation pursue these assessment activities. The GSPC is in Unit (PCU), the central contributor to conservation in some ways a radical departure from other initiatives our department, is the only program in any department spawned by the CBD in that it sets concrete targets to at NMNH that is dedicated exclusively to conservation be achieved in plant conservation by the year 2010. activities. The PCU serves as liaison between curators W. These 16 outcome-oriented targets fall into five working on conservation projects in the Department as John categories: understanding and documenting plant well as between Botany and non-government conserva- diversity, conserving plant diversity, using plant tion organizations external to the Smithsonian Institu- Kress diversity sustainably, promoting education and tion through partnering and participation in various awareness about plant diversity, and building capacity working groups. Recent activities of the Plant Conser- for the conservation of plant diversity. vation Unit have focused on a number of projects: To understand and document plant diversity the • Our 4.7 million specimens in the US National GSPC also sets explicit goals: “[to] document the plant Herbarium are a rich resource of information about diversity of the world, including its use and its distribu- plant diversity. To assess the conservation status of tion in the wild, in protected areas and in ex situ this diversity the PCU recently initiated a survey of collections; [to] monitor the status and trends in global the threatened, endangered, and extinct species plant diversity and its conservation, and threats to represented in our herbarium collections based on plant diversity, and [to] identify plant species, plant the listings in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threat- communities, and associated habitats and ecosystems, ened Plants and the 2002 IUCN Red List of at risk, including consideration of ‘red lists’; [to] Threatened Species. The conservation status of develop an integrated, distributed, interactive informa- species included in the various floristic projects and tion system to manage and make accessible information checklists underway in the Department can be on plant diversity; [and to] promote research on the assessed in the same fashion. genetic diversity, systematics, taxonomy, ecology and conservation biology of plants and plant communities, • Botanists spend a good portion of their research and associated habitats and ecosystems, and on social, time conducting field surveys and inventories of cultural and economic factors that impact biodiversity, plants in critical ecosystems around the globe. This so that plant diversity, both in the wild and in the exposure “on the front lines” gives our scientists context of human activities, can be well understood and first-hand conservation experience as habitats are utilized to support conservation action.” This mandate degraded and species are threatened with extinction. is highly significant and supportive of what we do as The unique and important perspective held by plant taxonomists and ecologists. curators working in the Museum is being distilled in The specific targets to reach by the year 2010 as set a volume entitled Plant Conservation: A Natural out by the Global Strategy are to produce a widely History Approach that has been coordinated and accessible working list of known plant species, as a edited through the PCU. The book manuscript is step towards a complete world flora; to make a prelimi- nearly complete and under review at the University nary assessment of the conservation status of all of Chicago Press. known plant species, at national, regional and interna- • Our partnership with the United States Botanic tional levels; and to complete the development of Garden (USBG) continues to grow with the recent models with protocols for plant conservation and addition of a Conservation Horticulturalist to their sustainable use, based on research and practical staff. This new position will serve to implement and experience. To say the least as we approach the start of facilitate conservation activities involving the living 2004 this set of targets is a tall order for six years time. plant collections at the Garden. We see a significant Botanists at the National Museum of Natural and exciting interaction between these activities at History are significantly contributing to the goals of the Continued on page 6

Page 3 and is now dealing with authors beginning Laurence E. Skog was inducted into the Staff with Frey- (i.e., about 37 percent through Academy of Science and Engineering at the first draft). the University of Minnesota, Duluth on 26 Research September. Paul Peterson traveled to northern Mexico (18 August to 24 September) to collect Alice Tangerini attended the Annual grasses and a few other interesting plants National Meeting of the Guild of Natural Mark Littler, Diane Littler, Barrett along the way. A pack trip to the Barranca Science Illustrators (GNSI) from 27 July Brooks, Jennifer Han (NMNH dive officer) del Cobre in western Chihuahua was through 2 August. The meeting was held and Connie Gasque (volunteer) just undertaken to study the plants and animals at the University of Denver in Denver, returned from a two-week collecting in the Sierra Tarahumara. Four Tarahumara Colorado and included field trips to expedition aboard the NSF-UNOLS ship Indians (Martin Gozalez-Diaz, Elvira nearby Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG) R/V Urraca (below). The team collected Gonzalez-Ayala, Tranquilino Gonzales, and and to Mt. Goliath Alpine Reserve, about over 800 numbered wet specimens during Eliseo Gonzales-Morales) and four 70 miles from Denver. The DBG was 100 SCUBA dives (including an additional scientists (Peterson, Pilar Catalan, Gabriel beautifully designed by landscape 175 molecular specimens and many bulk Villagas Guzman, and Celia Lopez- architects who chose theme formats collections for herbarium mounts). The Gonzalez) spent 10 days traveling within relating to climates (e.g., desert, alpine), cruise started at Bocas del Toro (close to four barrancas (Baqueachi, Corarechi, geographical areas (i.e., Japan, Midwest- the Caribbean border with Costa Rica) and Basihuare, and Osichi). Three burros were ern United States), and artistic themes (i.e., worked eastward to Escudo de Veraguas used to transport provisions, presses, “The Monet Garden”). Workshops and (know as the Galapagos of Panama) and tents, and traps. Many plants (approxi- slide lectures focused on techniques in ended at Colon, the eastern entrance to the mately 200 numbers), bats, rodents, the digital programs Adobe Photoshop Panama Canal. Escudo de Veraguas had an spiders, scorpions, and lizards were and Adobe Illustrator. A lecture on unusually rich algal flora unique to the gathered from this remote area. Grasses conservation methods for matting and Caribbean (only at Diamond Rock in from Durango and Nuevo Leon were also framing museum pieces was particularly Martinique have the Littlers ever encoun- collected with help from Georgina Tena- timely considering the recent acquisitions tered such a diverse community). The area Gonzalez, Socorro Gonzalez-Elizondo, of artworks to the Botanical Art Collection. proved to be exceptionally rich in Rhodo- Franciso Sanchez-Alvarado, Jesus Valdes- Tangerini had two of her ink drawings, phyta (red algae), Chlorophyta (green Reyna, George S. Hinton, and Rafael H. Festuca tovarensis (Poaceae) and algae) and Cyanobacteria (blue-green Cardenas. A total of 339 numbers of plants Aristeguieta glutinosa (Asteraceae) on algae). The captain and crew of the ship were collected on the entire trip. display at the GNSI Annual Exhibit at the were extremely helpful as were all the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. support staff at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), which made the Liz Zimmer attended a workshop of the expedition so successful (the Littlers had Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmen- estimated that the collection would not tal Biology (UMEB) program at the Na- exceed 500 numbers). tional Science Foundation on 25 Septem- ber. As co-principal investigator of a grant for undergraduate attendance at national meetings (with Scott Edwards, principal Staff Activities investigator), she represented the Society of Systematic Biologists and the Society Stanwyn Shetler gave his annual lecture for the Study of Evolution. on “Local Biodiversity Issues,” 15 Septem- ber, to the Johns Hopkins University Awards & graduate course on “Biodiversity and Wildlife Management,” initially organized Grants by Tom Lovejoy. He is again teaching a On 14 September Dan Nicolson visited the two-credit, eight-week course (17 Septem- John Kress, along with collaborators New York Botanical Garden to continue his ber to 5 November) on “Fall Woody Plant Peter Belhumeur, Steven K. Feiner, and work on Taxonomic Literature ed. 2 (TL- Identification” in the Graduate School, Ravi Ramamoorthi from Columbia Univer- 2), Supplement 7 (F-G). He returned six USDA. On 5 October, he was a member of a sity, and David Jacobs from the University TL-2 file boxes previously borrowed. small panel discussing the future of native of Maryland, were awarded a five-year During his 2.5 days he processed three plant societies at the Tri-state Native Plant grant from the National Science Founda- additional boxes, returning to Washington Society Fall Conference (Maryland, tion (NSF) for their research into the with six more borrowed boxes to work on. Virginia, West Virginia) at the U.S. Fish and production of the first generation of elec- During Hurricane Isabel he continued to Wildlife National Conservation Training tronic field guides. Their grant, entitled work at home, processing two more boxes Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. “An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Explora-

Page 4 tion and Discovery in the 21st Century,” has the aim to produce computing devices Botany Greenhouses Visited by Elite that enable a taxonomist in the field to Group remotely access critical information on plant species, which will dramatically On 2 June, the Botany Greenhouses in collection of plants was shown, with a reduce the time needed to identify and Suitland, Maryland, were visited by the high interest in Southeast Asian plants, describe new species. wives of three ambassadors of countries especially gingers. Medicinal and culinary The field guide will allow for visual and from Southeast Asia. Daw Thi Thi Ta, the uses of ginger were exchanged among the textual search through a newly created wife of Ambassador Linn Myaing of guests. Much was learned as Southeast digital collection of the 95,000 botanical Myanmar, was invited to take a tour of the Asian recipes use different parts of the type specimens in the US National Herbari- greenhouses after she expressed interest in ginger plant, besides the rhizome. For um. The proposed digital collection will the spring during a reception for the instance, in Malaysia, not only is the include images and three-dimensional release of “A Checklist of the Trees, rhizome ground into a powder, but the models of the type specimens, non-type Shrubs, Herbs, and Climbers of Myanmar” leaves are used while boiling meat, which specimens, and live plants. Using this by W. John Kress, Robert DeFilipps, Ellen brings about a very distinct taste. device, a taxonomist in the field will be able Farr and Daw Yin Yin Kyi (2003, Contribu- The event was such a success that to digitally photograph a plant and deter- tions from the United States National Daw Thi Thi Ta returned for a follow-up mine immediately if the plant is present in Herbarium 45: 1-590). Daw Thi Thi Ta was tour on 24 July to see additional flowering the collections in the herbarium or new to joined by her daughter, Amara Thiri Mya- plants. A third visit is scheduled for science. For plants that are known, the ing, Datin Faridah Ghazzali, the wife of the October. device will provide a means to ascertain Ambassador of Malaysia, and Amphanh what data currently exist about this taxon. Phommahaxay, the wife of the Ambassador The electronic field guide will be built by of Laos. The early summer months were a harnessing the combined power of remote perfect time for a visit as many dormant sensing, computer vision, computer ginger plants were in full bloom. graphics modeling, visual databases, Michael Bordelon, Greenhouse mobile user interfaces, and wireless data Manager, led the tour, and was joined by transmission. John Kress, Ida Lopez, and Museum The electronic field guide will enable Director Christián Samper. The entire live scientists in the field to quickly access current knowledge about the described species on Earth in order to identify and inventory the remaining undescribed flora, much of which may be of benefit to soci- ety. Success in this domain could serve as a model for similar devices/instruments in other areas of the sciences, commerce, and education. As a secondary goal, this project will make these resources available to students, amateur botanists, and the general public. To accomplish this, a simplified user interface to the electronic field guide will be developed. The first pilot project will focus on the flora of Plummers Island, a small reserve on the Potomac River owned by the National Park Service, but maintained by the Washington Biologists’ Field Club since 1908. The site of numerous investigations by Washington area biologists over the last 100 years and the 400+ species of plants, which are all documented by specimens at the US National Herbarium, the island will serve as a test site to develop the first prototype of the elec- Visiting the Botany Greenhouses are, from left, Christián Samper, Datin Faridah tronic field guide. Ghazzali, Ida Lopez, Daw Thi Thi Ta, Amphanh Phommahaxay, Amara Thiri Myaing, and John Kress. (Photo by Michael Bordelon)

Page 5 hypochrysoides Kränzlin is known only Book on Puerto from the original description. The article Research at Rican Vines and states, “No specimens of this species have Siempre Verde been seen . It is likely that the top set of Robert A. Braddy, head of the Upper Climbing Plants Kränzlin’s original collection was kept at School Science Department at the Lovett Published the National Herbarium in Manila and School in Atlanta, Georgia, and director of would have been destroyed in the Second The book “Bejucos y Plantas Trepa- Siempre Verde, invites all interested World War. Kränzlin’ own herbarium, doras de Puerto Rico e Islas Vírgenes” scientists to consider visiting the research which contained most of his type speci- (Vines and Climbing Plants of Puerto Rico facility at the Siempre Verde Andean cloud mens, was acquired by Berlin and would and the Virigin Islands) by Pedro Acevedo forest in Ecuador. Detailed information on also have been destroyed in the War. has recently been published (October the 520-acre portion of cloud forest, which Other duplicates may have been distrib- 2003). This book constitutes an illustrated is in one of the top 10 hotspots for uted elsewhere but have not been traced.” field guide to the native, naturalized or conservation concern in the world, is Boggan was curious about this commonly cultivated vines and lianas of available at . Braddy can be contacted by E-mail at the US National Herbarium, where he includes taxonomic revisions, discussions [email protected]. discovered duplicates of all three syntypes on the distribution and conservation of C. hypochrysoides (Foxworthy, Bur. Sci. status, as well as full descriptions and 650, 687, 2543). He also found that US has illustrations for the species. A total of 386 two duplicates of each collection, with one species distributed in 65 families and 187 duplicate of Foxworthy 650 annotated as Turning Japanese genera are treated. Of these, 274 are native, “Typus! Kränzlin! 1912” (presumably in “A New Century of Biology” (2001, 34 are endemic, 64 have been naturalized Kränzlin’s own hand), which would Smithsonian Institution Press), edited by and approximately 49 are commonly probably be a good candidate for a lecto- W. John Kress and Gary W. Barrett, has cultivated in gardens. For purchasing a type. recently been translated into Japanese. copy please contact Acevedo by E-mail at The eleven essays contained in the [email protected]. volume, contributed by Ernst Mayr, Gene Likens, Gordon Orians, Marvalee Wake, Lynn Margulis, Dan Janzen, Tom Lovejoy, The Library of Ian Prance, Edward Wilson as well as Bar- rett and Kress, consider how our discipline Congress Displays must evolve to address the problems of Specimens from the twenty-first century. Published in Japan by Tsukiji-shokan Publishing Co., the US National Ltd., Yuri Oiwa has translated the entire Herbarium text, tables, and figures into Japanese. The book is available at . Herbarium are displayed in a new exhibi- tion at the Library of Congress. “Rivers, Chair Edens, Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Continued from page 3 Revealing of America” presents a century of western exploration, beginning in 1776 the USBG and our own conservation and ending with the building of the initiatives in Botany, including public transcontinental railroad in the education and international capacity mid-nineteenth century. The herbarium building. specimens have been chosen to represent All of these tasks directly address the three major events: the U.S. Exploring objectives and targets set forth by the Expedition under the Command of Captain Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. Charles Wilkes, Fremont’s expedition to The Department of Botany at the Discovery of Lost California, and the Mexican Boundary Smithsonian Institution accepts the Survey. Another highlight of the exhibit is responsibility to play an active part in Gesneriads the display of the large 1507 world map by achieving these goals by the year 2010. John Boggan recently discovered some cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, which The Plant Conservation Unit is the center “lost” gesneriad type specimens. Accord- gave the name “America” to the new lands of these endeavors in Botany and in order ing to Atkins and Cronk (2001. The explored by Columbus and Vespucci. to facilitate these activities we hope to Cyrtandra [Gesneriaceae] in Palawan, “Rivers, Edens, Empires” is currently on enlarge and strengthen the PCU with Philippines. Edinburgh Journal of Botany display through 29 November in the additional staff and resources in the near 58: 443-458), the species Cyrtandra Thomas Jefferson Building. future.

Page 6 The 2004 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, 6-8 May, to Evaluate Botanical Progress, Horticultural Innovations, and Cultural Changes How did major developments in botany social and political conditions will be pioneering botanist who spent many years and horticulture impact gardens, garden- explored under which horticulture and working in the Department of Botany at ing, landscaping, agriculture, and science? botany gave added cultural significance to the Smithsonian and devoted his career to How did these disciplines depend upon nature. plant exploration in tropical South America. ongoing social and cultural changes? And, The final session, to be held on the In addition, the International Associa- more importantly, how did botany and third day at the Smithsonian Institution, tion for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) is proud to horticulture contribute to larger changes in will examine contemporary botany and announce that the first Stafleu Medal will social and cultural practices? horticulture in a be presented at the In order to frame interrogations about changing world. 2004 Symposium. the potential impact of present botanical Intellectual property The award is for a and horticultural changes brought about rights, globalization, publication of by molecular biology, presentations at the global warming, and outstanding work 2004 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium the problem of on nomenclatural, will offer broad perspectives, relating large invasive species are all current topics that historical, or bibliographical aspect of botanical and horticultural changes to the will be investigated in detail. The keynote plant systematics. cultural, social, economic, and political address will be presented after the For more information about the 2004 context. symposium dinner and musical entertain- Smithsonian Botanical Symposium, visit The Symposium, entitled “Botanical ment. or call 202- Progress, Horticultural Innovations, and The fourth José Cuatrecasas Medal in 357-2534. In addition, registration will soon Cultural Changes” will document major Tropical Botany will be awarded at the be available at this Web site. changes in plant introductions, techniques 2004 Smithsonian Botanical Symposium. of domestication and cultivation, breeding This prestigious award is presented practices, and naturalization of exotics, as annually to an international scholar who they relate to important changes in society, has contributed significantly to advancing and to far-reaching cultural transforma- the field of tropical botany. The award is tions. The Symposium, to be held 6-8 May named in honor of Dr. José Cuatrecasas, a 2004, will be held for the first time in con- junction with Dumbarton Oaks and the United States Botanic Garden. During the first two days at Dumbarton Celebrating Linnaeus’ Species Oaks, the Symposium will include a Plantarum 250th Anniversary synthetic analysis of a small number of situations taken in the most varied Dan Nicolson and Warren Wagner on Linnaean names and their types, with historical and geographical contexts, such attended the 250th anniversary of Linnaeus’ visits to the Botanical Garden and a as Ancient Egypt, Andalusia, China, Species Plantarum (1753) in Uppsala, Symposium dinner. The second day was in England, France, India, Japan, the Mediter- Sweden which involved three days of talks two parts: a discussion of the Future of ranean region, Persia, Turkey, the US, and and events (22-24 August). Prior to the Biological Nomenclature (including Kevin Yemen, and proceed to the present. Also celebration the International Association deQueiroz) and the pros and cons: In the examined will be contributions of botanical for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) Council met, middle was a trip to Linnaeus’s Hammarby and horticultural changes to very different including Nicolson as immediate Past which revealed unexpected things like domains of culture and social practice, President and Wagner as Adminstrator of Linnaeus’ study being “wallpapered” with such as medicine, religious practices, Finances (upon resignation of Peter illustrations from Plumier’s Plantarum eating habits, taste for exoticism, produc- Stevens in 2001). There is a good chance Americanarum (1755-1760). The third day tion and use of perfumes, conspicuous that there will be a new constitution and was on Inventorying the Flora of the consumption, and social distinction. bylaws. Two new medals were announced World. Nicolson was familiar with most of These scientific and horticultural (a Stafleu Medal and a Stebbins Medal). At the botanists and subject matter so he innovations are embedded in political and the Symposium Dinner, Scott Mori was went through the Herbarium’s reprint economic changes to which they contrib- awarded the Engler Medal in Silver for his collection for TL-2 Supplement work. The ute. Policies that were proposed or work on the Flora of Central French last event was a visit to Linnaeus’ garden attempted by different political regimes in Guiana. and museum where Nicolson and Wagner an effort to harness horticultural and The first day of the program focused saw an amazing amount of original botanical change in the pursuit of speci- on the historical aspects of the Species furniture, equipment, and clothes. fied aims will be addressed. In short, the Plantarum, including Charlie Jarvis talking

Page 7 USBG Titan Arum Inflorescence Now in the US National Herbarium On July 23, Amorphophallus titanum, the aroid family talk about the Titan arum commonly known as the Titan arum or the and see him at work. corpse flower, bloomed with a 4-foot tall Nicolson, with Deborah Bell, first inflorescence at the United States Botanic removed the spathe, measuring about 30- Garden (USBG). This species produces the inches at its widest point. It was divided largest unbranched flowering inflores- into half—one half to be pickled, and the cence in the world. other half for drying A native to the in a plant press. rainforest of Anna Weitzman Sumatra, it typically wrote notes in grows in the moist Nicolson’s collec- shaded soils on the tion book. Nicolson forest floor. On 25 then chopped off July, as the inflores- the spadix, laid it on cence approached the table, split it in its final days before half, and invited the collapse, Dan audience to come Nicolson collected and take a close and prepared look at the long- herbarium material styled female by dissecting the flowers (about one- inflorescence. inch long) and the USBG donated the strings of pollen Bell (left) assists Nicolson, as he lifts off inflorescence to the from the male the spathe to exhibit the central spadix United States flowers. bearing the male and female flowers. National Herbarium, Half the spadix (Photo by Anne-Catherine Fallen) which will preserve was used for its value far into the specimens (includ- it will live at the USBG Production Facility future. ing jars of pickled greenhouses. Eventually, it will send up USBG arranged Amorphophallus titanum in flower. (Photo material and pollen leaf stalks that will produce food until for a group of by Ida Lopez) samples for freez- enough energy is stored for another educators from the ing). The other half bloom. This could take several years. American Horticultural Society, who had of the inflorescence was put into a plastic Additional photos of the proceedings convened the 2003 National Youth bag and now is in a tank normally used for are up at the Botany Web site . Virginia, to hear Nicolson narrate the Although the above ground part of the dissection. This proved to be a once-in-a- plant is gone, below ground the corm is lifetime opportunity to hear a specialist in alive and well. In its current dormant state,

Recent Additions to the Botany Art Collection The Botany Art Collection received cence of the torch ginger. Each indicated in own color scheme for the plant which three new recent acquisitions. Two pieces letters with the paintings that they were turned out to be surprisingly realistic. were gifts of artists who were featured in extremely pleased with the “Passion for the “Passion for Plants, the Shirley Plants” exhibit and this was their way of Sherwood Collection,” Leslie Berge and saying thanks. Francesca Anderson. Berge, a freelance The third piece, a watercolor by Lester artist from Rhode Island, donated with the Pancoast, was a gift whose subject was help of Shirley Sherwood a watercolor of based on a photograph by Deborah Bell Zingiber zerumbet, a study of three which appeared in The Plant Press, Vol. inflorescences showing the color variation 5(2), April-June, 2002. Bell took the picture in pastel shades ranging from soft rose to of Dicranolepis in Gabon during her field lemon yellow. After hearing of the Berge trip there in 2002. Pancoast, an accom- gift, Anderson, of Brooklyn, New York, plished artist from Florida, only saw the gave Botany a pen and ink of the inflores- black and white version and made up his

Page 8 low-growing Betula species which had (MEH), and the State University of Haiti A Trip to Mongolia turned red, and grasses which were golden (SUH). Key players on this enterprise are By Gregory McKee yellow. The hillsides tended to be boggy John E. Rawlins, Chen W. Young, and On 10 August, Paula DePriest and larch forests with some Siberian pines, a Robert L. Davidson from CMNH, Brian D. Gregory McKee departed for a month long source of pine nuts for the Tsataan. All of Farrell from MCZ, Ricardo García from trip to Mongolia. The purpose of the trip this was underlain by abundant lichens, JBSD, Carmelo Nuñez from MNHNSD, was to visit the mountains on the west the primary pasturage for the reindeer, with Joseph R. Toussaint from MEH, Jean A. side of the Mongolian province of Hovs- Cladonia stellata being the favorite, along Constant from SUH, and Acevedo. gol Aimag and document the location and with bolete mushrooms in the forests. The goal of the Hispaniola project is to vegetation of the various seasonal DePriest and McKee were able to get data document the diversity of invertebrates pastures used by the reindeer-herding on two autumn pastures and a spring especially of insects, and all vascular Tsataan people. DePriest and McKee pasture, but early snow forced them to plants present in the last remaining traveled with Steve Young, a paleo- leave the mountains before they could patches of natural vegetation on the island ecologist from Sterling College, Vermont. visit the summer pastures. Since this is a of Hispaniola. During the first trip the team After flying from the capitol of Mongolia, continuing project, DePriest intends to conducted extensive work in the Cordillera Ulaan Bataar, they were met by their return next year, perhaps in June. Central (Valle Nuevo, Ebano Verde, La Mongolian colleagues in Muron: Sukh- Nevera, and El Convento), Sierra de bataar of Chinggis Khan University; Bahoruco (Hoyo de Pelempito), and Sierra Oyumaa, a botanist; Oyumbilig, a student de Neiba (Sabana del Silencio, and along of Oyumaa; Dembril, a lichenology the border with Haiti). A very productive student; and Naraan, an anthropologist trip accounted for nearly a thousand (Mongolians generally use one name botanical collections plus tens of thou- only). The interpreter during the trip was sands of insect collections. The next trip is Adiya. scheduled to take place in Haiti sometime Traveling by jeep and van, the group during late winter in early 2004. first visited a large freshwater lake in During the second half of the summer Northern Mongolia which gives the (1 July to 15 August), Acevedo resumed province its name: Hovsgol. There are 96 his field work on the karst limestone vege- rivers flowing in, and only one flowing out. tation of Puerto Rico in order to increase After collecting specimens on the western the floristic knowledge of this region. The edge of the lake, the group crossed the collections made there during this trip Darkhat valley to get to the mountains have been analyzed and currently incorpo- where the Tsataan live. Semi-collapsed and Acevedo Explores rated into a final checklist of the vascular rickety bridges foreshadowed the trouble plants. they would have returning after heavy the Caribbean and From mid-September to the beginning rains fell, washing the aforementioned Brazil of October, Acevedo traveled to Brazil to bridges away. The rains caused trouble for conduct fieldwork in the western Amazo- travel, but made the collecting of plants This past summer, Pedro Acevedo spent nian state of Acre. He joined a team of wonderful. Oyumaa found species that had six weeks (15 May to 30 June) carrying out botanists from the New York Botanical stayed in flower longer than usual because field work in the Dominican Republic. This Garden (Douglas C. Daly and John of the abundant moisture, so the vascular is the first of a series of scheduled trips to Mitchell) and the Universidad Federal do collecting was better than expected. Gen- take place during the next three years, Acre (Evandro Ferreira, Marcos Silveira, tianaceae were particularly abundant. On aimed at documenting the biota of the and students). Although the trip occurred the lichenology front, DePriest collected montane habitats on the island of His- during the end of the dry season, they enough specimens to literally fill a duffel paniola (Haiti-Dominican Republic). The were able to make numerous collections, bag. project “Understanding Vanishing Endem- especially of Sapindaceae (Paullinia, Once the group got to the base of the ism: Survey of the Invertebrates and Plants Serjania, Talisia, Toulicia and Pseudima) mountains, the rains began to fall in of Threatened Montane Habitats in His- and numerous vine families. The trip began earnest. The mode of travel in those parts paniola” is fully funded by the Biodiver- in the town of Rio Branco, and from there is by horse, or for those who are svelte sity Surveys and Inventories Program they traveled southwest to the Municipio (less than 150 pounds) by reindeer. McKee (BSI) of the National Science Foundation of Brasileia on the border with Bolivia, fell off his horse once because he was not and is a joint effort between Carnegie then east to the Municipio of Capichaba, paying attention. The other three times, Institute (CMNH), Harvard University and finally to the Municipio of Acrelandia the horses fell under him while crossing (MCZ) and the Smithsonian Institution in in the easternmost part of the state. The rivers or slipping on boulders, which may collaboration with the Jardín Botánico trip provided Acevdo the opportunity to demonstrate how rugged the country was. Nacional de Santo Domingo (JBSD), the learn about the vegetation and flora of this Rugged as it was, Northern Mongolia is Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de extensive flattened terrain in the western breathtakingly beautiful in the late autumn Santo Domingo (MNHNSD), the Ministere Amazon region. (August). The tundra was dominated by de L’Environnement Nationale of Haiti

Page 9 Kress US Botanical Garden and Dumbarton Oaks. National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Continued from page 1 Again the scope of the symposium will be Kress, either alone or with collabora- broad: how societal and cultural changes tors, has published floristic treatments of alliances and changes. While involved have affected the sciences of botany and the Heliconiaceae of Hawaii and Nicara- largely with gingers and heliconias, Kress horticulture, from ancient Egypt to the 21st gua; Cannaceae and Heliconiaceae for the has also produced a significant body of century. Flora of North America; the Musaceae, work on orchids, bromeliads and other As chair of Botany, Kress was recently Lowiaceae and Cannaceae for the Flora of epiphytes. A total of 240 plant species instrumental in developing a protocol of China; and recently prepared Heliconia- named or co-named by him are listed in cooperation, a memorandum of mutually ceae for a Manual of the Plants of Costa Index Kewensis 2, to which should be beneficial understanding, between the Rica. However, on a number of occasions, added several recently published Myan- National Museum of Natural History and the research of Kress and co-workers has mar Acanthaceae. the U.S. Botanical Garden in Washington, resulted in surges of unusual public Kress observes that due to our D.C. The memorandum is vibrantly facili- interest, in addition to attention from the position as a federal (national) museum, tating jointly sponsored exhibits, educa- scientific community. including the US National Herbarium and tional planning, public display projects, For example, his recent series of field botanical department, the Smithsonian and programs such as the annual botanical trips in Myanmar (Burma) inspired a write- responsibilities to leadership, service and symposia, which have venues at either or up in Sports Illustrated featuring modern- research are necessarily of a larger scale, both of the large facilities. Smithsonian day explorers (“SI Adventure,” 99(9): A26. more encompassing than most organiza- botany staff often lectures to the public in 8 September 2003). It mentions that in tions and universities. As a national entity, the newly refurbished Garden. Burma, Kress was trekking in forests we have, he says, a responsibility to A program of botanical exploration in inhabited by tigers, “lost a colleague to the conserve the environment as well as the tropical Southeast Asian nation of bite of a poisonous snake, and spent a understand it. A rigorously applied global Myanmar (known until recently as Burma) harrowing night after mistakenly eating a dimension, or implied application, is often was initiated by Kress several years ago, leaf from a poisonous, hallucinogenic evident in the scientific work of the and he has traveled there, principally to plant” (well, he is a vegetarian). Over the department, because there are such under-explored areas, many times with years he has conducted field work in 35 enormous resources and systematic botany staff specialists to collect for the tropical and subtropical countries, some- collections of organisms at its disposal. herbarium as well as bring back living times for stretches of two to 12 months at a And that is what motivates curators to specimens, the latter destined for the time. His manifesto is clear (loc. cit.): “I do shoulder large, often seemingly over- Smithsonian Botany Research Green- this to know how natural ecosystems whelming, projects such as those of V. house. “Botanical Exploration in Myan- work My job is to discover the natural Funk in the Guianas, P. Acevedo in the mar” is a long-term collaborative effort world – or what’s left of it.” Caribbean and Brazil, L. Dorr in Venezuelan involving persons from the US National Every botanist, horticulturist and national parks, W. Wagner in Hawaii, the Herbarium, the Forest Department of gardener interested in tropical plants has Marquesas and other Pacific areas, R. Myanmar, and the University of Yangon. heard of the stately and alluringly colorful Faden in east and west Africa, and P. Its progress has been followed with genus Heliconia, the subject of a book by DePriest in Outer Mongolia. interest by His Excellency the Ambassador Fred Berry (deceased) and Kress entitled As chairman, Kress reformulated a plan of Myanmar, and his wife who has “Heliconia: An Identification Guide.” The for collections management, formulated a botanical training. Kress initiated a “Average Customer Review” at thoughtful method for allocating federal database of information on Burma plants Amazon.com mega-booksellers gives it a 5- resources based on productivity, estab- (which is continually receiving new infor- star rating, and it is ranked among the 50 lished the Botanical Exploration Fund to mation), while the US and Burma herbaria most popular books about plants, right up increase resources for field work, and were inventoried for relevant specimens, there with tomes on the opium poppy and initiated a successful series of annual and Washington has been visited several marijuana, but also in company with titles Smithsonian Botanical Symposia. The first times by Myanmar colleagues. These including “The New Oxford Book of Food three symposia covered overarching endeavors, plus a great deal of information Plants,” “The Besler Florilegium,” and themes of nomenclature and cladistics; sharing by Smithsonian and international David Attenborough’s “The Private Life of scientific issues surrounding the Conven- botanists, resulted in preparation of a Plants: A Natural History of Plant tion on Biological Diversity; and progress checklist that updates four previous Behaviour.” In fact, one reflection of the in Southeast Asian botany, respectively. editions going back to 1912. Information recent increase in the ecotourism industry These have generated feedback that on the project may be sought on the is that the Heliconia book, now in its fifth resonates in the form of numerous articles Botany Website, and the checklist, which printing and easily slipped into well- in Taxon, critical assessments of concepts covers gymnosperms and angiosperms, stuffed backpacks, is widely disseminated in follow-up workshops and meetings, and introduced as well as indigenous taxa, was all over Latin America, the natural geo- international stimulation of research. We published as: Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., graphical range of heliconias. look forward to the fourth symposium, to Farr, E. and Daw Yin Yin Kyi. 2003. A National press coverage has also been be held in May 2004, on “Botanical Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, and accorded to research that Kress has Progress, Horticultural Innovation and Climbers of Myanmar. Contrib. US performed, for example, on the gender- Cultural Changes,” in conjunction with the

Page 10 bending flowers of Alpinia (Zingibera- tion, in conjunction with Chinese scientist Golding, J. and D.C. Wasshausen. 2002. ceae) that switch from male to female or Aizhong Liu, for the study of a genome Begoniaceae, Edition 2. Part I: Annotated vice-versa in unison at mid-day to avoid map of the banana (Musa) recently Species List. Part II: Illustrated Key, self-pollination; and on the discovery of discussed in collaboration with the Insti- Abridgement and Supplement. Contribu- the new genus Smithatris (), tute for Genomic Research, a study likely tions from the U.S. National Herbarium published with Kai Larsen (Denmark), a to have potential for future plant breeding 43: 1-289. plant first seen in a Singapore flower purposes. Krupnick, G.A. W.J. Kress market and then traced to the wild lime- In addition to those endeavors, he is and . 2003. Hot- stone hills near Bangkok, Thailand, truly working on a book about tropical pollina- spots and ecoregions: a test of conserva- an instance of “horticulture informing tion and frugivory, with bat specialist Ted tion priorities using taxonomic data. Bio- botany”: its botanical affiliations were Fleming, which will probe the influences of diversity and Conservation 12: 2237-2253. confirmed by DNA analysis, and a second vertebrate pollinators and seed dispersers; Wasshausen, D.C. 2002. Acanthaceae. Pp. new species for the genus was later and, he is planning the production of an 31-39. In: Mori, S. A., et al. (eds.). Guide to encountered near Mandalay, Burma. electronic field guide to neotropical plants the Vascular Plants of Central French A recent study of co-adaptation has that will permit field workers to identify Guiana, Part 2. Memoirs of the New York found widespread appeal among scientists species by means of comparing digital Botanical Garden 1-776. and the public alike (evidenced by the photo images of a wide assortment of volume of press reports), and was high- databased type specimens, with the digital Wasshausen, D.C. 2002. Mendonciaceae. lighted on the cover of Science for 25 April image of a plant being generated far away Pp. 472-474. In: Mori, S. A., et al. (eds.). 2003. It involves the intricate evolutionary during field work, and accessed by means Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central partnership of Heliconia species and of a palm pilot-like satellite communication French Guiana, Part 2. Memoirs of the New birds, resulting from a combination of the device (see “Awards and Grants” in this York Botanical Garden 1-776. plants’ altitudinal preferences and juxta- issue). Wasshausen, D.C. 2002. New species of posed inter-insular geographical ranges, Fossil bananas of the genus Ensete Ruellia (Acanthaceae) from French Guiana inflorescence-color morphs and differing have been found in Oregon (Manchester and adjacent Brazil. Proceedings of the flower shapes (bearing on their role as & Kress, Amer. J. Bot. 80: 1264-1272. 1993), Biological Society of Washington 115(3): nectar-food plants), when placed into a mute evidence that the complicated but 696-700. functional context of the differences and fascinating potentials for exploring the polymorphisms in bill length and curva- natural history of Zingiberales are literally Wasshausen, D.C. 2003. New species of ture, sexes and body sizes of the sole endless, and will most likely be studied by Justicia (Acanthaceae) from the Guianas. pollinator, the Caribbean purple-throated Kress far into the foreseeable future. Brittonia 54(4): 286-297. carib hummingbird. Wasshausen, D.C. This phenomenon was studied as a and J.R.I. Wood. 2003. team by ornithologist Ethan Temeles and The genus Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae) in Kress in the Lesser Antillean islands of St. Bolivia and Argentina. Brittonia 55(1): 10- Lucia and Dominica. Kress notes that 18. these Caribbean islands are a compara- Wasshausen, D.C. and J.R.I. Wood. 2003. tively simpler laboratory in which to study Notes on the genus Ruellia (Acanthaceae) such co-adaptations, compared to the in Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. Proceedings of complex mainland systems, which can be Publications the Biological Society of Washington exemplified by field sites in Costa Rica with 116(2): 263-274. 10 sympatric species of Heliconia and 15 Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2003. Melicocceae species of hummingbird. So the Neotropi- Zim, H.S. and A.C. Martin. 2002. Wildflow- (Sapindaceae): Melicoccus and Talisia. cal mainland and Caribbean islands will ers: A Guide to Familiar American Flora Neotropica Monograph 87: 1-179. continue to be a repository of evolutionary Flowers (A Golden Guide). Revised by phenomena awaiting future research. Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2003. Sapindaceae, J.P. Latimer and K.S. Nolting with R.A. Among the next projects that Kress has Pp. 653-667. In: Mori, S. A., et al. 2003. DeFilipps. 159 pp. New York: St. Martin’s under preparation are: Heliconiaceae for Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Press. Flora Mesoamericana; research for a book French Guiana. Part 2. Memoirs of the New Zuloaga, F.O., Morrone, O., Davidse, G., on the gingers of Myanmar (Burma); York Botanical Garden 76(2). Filgueiras, T.S., Peterson, P.M., Soreng, publication of a book with Krupnick and Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. 2003. Proposal to R.J. and E.J. Judziewicz. 2003. Catalogue of Smithsonian contributors demonstrating a New World grasses (Poaceae): III. subfami- natural history approach to plant conser- conserve the name Tina (Sapindaceae) with a conserved type. Taxon 52: 373-374. lies Panicoideae, Aristidoideae, Arundino- vation; molecular studies to unravel ideae, and Danthonioideae. Contributions problems of delimitation at the species Aliotta, G., Piomelli, D., Pollio, A. and A. from the U.S. National Herbarium 46: 1- level among Zingiberales, needed as Touwaide. 2003. Le Piante Medicinali del 662. precursors to continuing adaptive radia- ‘Corpus Hippocraticum’. Guerini Associ- tion studies; and the provision of informa- ati, Milan, Italy. 479 pp.

Page 11 Art by Alice Tangerini

Distichochlamys rubreostriata W.J. Kress & Rehse Distichochlamys rubreostriata W.J. Kress & Rehse, a recently described species of the Zingiberaceae, was first collected in Vietnam by Henk van der Werff of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Kress saw it in cultivation in the Climatron in St. Louis on a visit several years ago. He immediately recognized it as distinct from the other two species of the genus. Tanya Rehse, a graduate student at Duke University, made the critical comparisons that clearly demonstrated that it was a distinctive new species, and together with Kress published it in a recent volume of Brittonia.

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