Department of Botany and the U.S. National Herbarium The Plant Press
New Series - Vol. 3 - No. 2 April-June 2000
Department Profile Island of Madagaster Yields Plant Treasures By Robert DeFilipps tomentosa) and flaming Katy (K. bloss- gascar and the Comoro Islands, ot unexpectedly, Madagascar, the feldiana); crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, fourth largest island in the world, milii); the water-loving umbrella sedge Kew in 1997. It is a landmark for being Nis the home of Madagaster, a (Cyperus alternifolius); the blue-leaved the first book published by Kew, or by a genus comprising five endemic species of Chancellor’s palm (Bismarckia nobilis); Smithsonian botanist, to be provided Asteraceae. These unexploited compos- yellow butterfly palm, the most abundantly with an accompanying CD-ROM. ites represent only a fraction of the cultivated ornamental palm in the world In the book one can find the biogra- endemic plants, many others of which (Dypsis (Chrysalidocarpus) lutescens); phies and itineraries of numerous well have become cosmopolitan tropical the fenestrated Madagascar laceleaf plant, known collectors such as Wenceslas ornamentals, that were discovered in this an aquarist’s dream (Aponogeton mada- Bojer (1795-1856) who discovered gigantic island, which is only 50 square gascariensis); the Madagascar periwinkle, Delonix regia at Foulpointe in eastern miles smaller than the Brazilian state of highly decorative and containing 60 Madagascar (evidently as an introduc- Minas Gerais. Isolated in the Indian alkaloids, some valuable for treating forms tion from the west coast by Arab Ocean east of Mozambique, Mada- of cancer such as children’s leukemia settlers), and of Jacques Leandri (1903- gascar’s flora comprises around 6,000 (Catharanthus roseus, Apocynaceae); the 1982) who rediscovered the delonix in its endemic plant species, equivalent to 80 ubiquitous red-flowered “flamboyant” original habitat in the west at Antsingy percent of its total flora. There are six (Delonix regia, Caesalpiniaceae); and the Forest Reserve in 1932. That is the type endemic families, including the arbores- purple-spined, though regrettably non- of adventure that Dorr enjoys communi- cent, characteristically spiny Hum- suckering, Pandanus utilis. Carnivorous cating, and his numerous papers on bertiaceae (named for J.H. Humbert, 1887- plant fanciers seek Nepenthes mada- other figures in botanical history bear it 1967) and equally spiny Didiereaceae gascariensis. Unfortunately, by contrast, out. Additionally, under Dorr’s own entry (named for A. Grandidier, 1836-1921); scarcely any food plants originated in the in the volume, we find that he was born spineless trees would be pointless in region; seemingly as compensation vanilla in Boston, Massachusetts; received a these dry habitats. By way of contrast to growing is a major industry in both Mada- B.A. from Washington University, St. the enormous size of Madagascar gascar and the Comoro Islands today. Louis, Missouri (1976), an M.A. degree (Malagasy Republic) at 226,657 square from the University of North Carolina at ver the last few centuries, miles, the neighboring, but less fre- Chapel Hill (1980); and his Ph.D. from the Madagascar’s oddly shaped quently contacted Comoro Islands (Great University of Texas at Austin in 1983. plants with bulging trunks and Comoro, Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli), O Representations of collectors in the other adaptations, as well as their more occupy exactly the same recorded area as book include several other Smithsonian conventional and colorful cohorts, were Plymouth County, Iowa or Hyde County, botanists of the past and present who eventually discovered and collected for South Dakota (863 square miles). were privileged to visit Madagascar over scientific study, as well as for germplasm The botanical gifts once endemic to the years, including the preeminent to enhance the field of horticulture, often Madagascar, which now boldly exhibit an Pacific ecologist F. Raymond Fosberg, under very physically (and financially) “aspect dominance” wherever they have and W. John Kress, current Chairman of taxing conditions. Authoritative informa- been planted in the tropics and subtrop- the Department. The latter’s work tion on the people who strove to find ics, or when grown as indoor house involved a study of the likely pollination these plants has been ably presented by plants, are a parade of desirable species of the traveler’s tree (Ravenala) by visit- Laurence J. Dorr, Associate Curator in the including the traveler’s tree (Ravenala ing lemurs, who grasp the overlapping Department of Botany, in a comprehensive madagascariensis, Strelitziaceae); the book entitled Plant Collectors in Mada- Continued on page 8 crassulaceous panda plant (Kalanchoe Travel
Mark and Diane Littler (12/16 – 2/17) at the University of Guyana and govern- Gary Krupnick (3/30-3/31) traveled to traveled to Fort Pierce, Florida to continue ment agencies; and (3/27-4/9) to Belize St. Louis, Missouri to meet with Peter an ongoing research project at the City, Belize and Lincoln, Nebraska to Raven regarding the creation of a Center Smithsonian Marine Station and the conduct research and attend a National for Conservation and Sustainable Devel- Florida Keys, and (3/14 – 4/5) to Belize Science Foundation workshop. opment at the Missouri Botanical Garden. City, Belize to study the ecology of W. John Kress (3/1-3/6) traveled to Future potential collaborative projects with Siphonalean algae of the Carrie Bow Cay London, England to conduct research at the Botany Department’s Plant Conserva- area. the herbarium of the Royal Botanic tion Unit were discussed. Dan Nicolson (1/22 – 2/6) traveled to Gardens, Kew; to Durham, North Carolina Deborah Bell (4/4 – 4/27) traveled to Berlin, Germany to attend meetings of the (3/28 – 3/29) to attend the preliminary Bangkok, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma to committee to revise the International Code examination for graduate students at Duke work with Myanmar herbaria staff to of Botanical Nomenclature as a member of University; and (4/1-4/26) to the Canary database plant collections. the Editorial Committee, and Moscow, Islands, Spain to attend the “Global Ida Lopez (4/4 – 4/27) traveled to Russia to work with staff of the Moscow Integrated Plant Conservation Initiation” Bangkok, Thailand and Rangoon, Burma to University collections department. in Las Palmas, and then to Bangkok, work with Myanmar herbaria staff to Maria Faust (2/2 – 2/130) traveled to Thailand and Rangoon, Burma to conduct database plant collections. Melbourne, Australia to attend the 9th research and collaborate with Burmese Michael Bordelon (4/6 – 4/26) traveled International Conference on Harmful Algal botanists. to Rangoon, Burma to work in Myanmar Blooms in Hobart, Tasmania, and (3/26 – 4/ Barrett Brooks (3/14 – 4/5) traveled to herbaria and conduct field studies. 1) to Palm Beach, Florida to study and Belize City, Belize to study ecology and Pedro Acevedo (4/10 – 4/22) traveled to collect dinoflagellate algae in the Indian biology of Siphonalean algae of the Carrie San Juan, Puerto Rico and Tortola, Virgin River ecosystem. Bow Cay area. Islands to train Virgin Islands National Vicki Funk (3/1 – 3/17) traveled to Warren Wagner (3/29-3/31) traveled to Park Trust personnel. Georgetown, Guyana to meet with officials Kansas City, Kansas to present a lecture at Laurence Skog (4/27 – 5/3) traveled to the Department of Ecology and Evolution- Bronx, New York to examine specimens in ary Biology, University of Kansas; and (4/ the herbarium of the New York Botanical The Plant Press 17-4/20) to San Antonio and McAllen, Garden, and (5/12 – 5/15) to Baltimore, Texas to collect specimens for a molecular Maryland to participate in the Association New Series - Vol. 3 - No. 2 study of Phaulothamnus of Systematics Collections meeting. (Achatocarpaceae). Chairman, Department of Botany W. John Kress ([email protected]) New Faces Andrew Medina-Marino has joined the David Erickson, recent Ph.D. graduate EDITORIAL STAFF plant research group at the Laboratory of from the laboratory of James Hamrick at Co-Editors Molecular Systematics (LMS) as a contract the University of Georgia, has joined the Gary Krupnick worker. He worked last year for Elizabeth LMS and the University of Maryland to ([email protected]) Zimmer and this spring for Scott Wing as work on a National Science Foundation Robert DeFilipps an intern through the Smithsonian’s Office grant to Charles Fenster and Elizabeth ([email protected]) of Fellowships and Grants. Zimmer, on quantitative genetics of Circulation Manager epistasis in a species of Chamaecrista Shirley Maina (Fabaceae). ([email protected]) Visitors News Contacts Amanda Boone, Robert Faden, Ellen Arsenio Jose Areces Mallea, Instituto de Janice Saunders, Instituto Darwinion, San Farr, George Russell, Alice Tangerini, Oceanologia, La Habana, Cuba; Caribbean Isidro, Argentina (SI); Waltheria and Elizabeth Zimmer Laurencia (Sterculiaceae) (5/12-5/16). The Plant Press is a quarterly publication (Rhodophyta) (4/22-4/30). provided free of charge. If you would like to be Maurice Edwards, University of Tennes- added to the mailing list, contact Shirley Maina Ricardo Callejas, Universidad de see at Chattanooga (UCHT); Iris verna, at: Department of Botany, MRC-166, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Antioquia, Colombia; Piperaceae of the Phytolacca americana (5/15-5/19). Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0166, or Guianas (4/24-4/28). by e-mail: [email protected]. Aaron Liston, Oregon State University Ralf Bauer, Offenberg, Germany; (OSC); Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae) (5/17- Web site: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany Selenicereus (Cactaceae) (5/1-5/6). 5/21).
Page 2 Biology: Challenges for the New Millennium Chair hat lies ahead for the field of biology and technological tools as priorities for facing ecological biological scientists in the next century? For issues in the future. Wthree days in March, 500 biologists and Morphology, as the structural basis for an educators met at the Smithsonian to listen to the organism’s interaction with the environment, and With thoughts of some of the most preeminent biologists of development, as the process by which morphology is our times and to discuss among themselves this very achieved, were the topics of Professor Marvalee question. The meeting was organized by the American Wake’s address. The monogamous marriage of devel- Institute of Biological Sciences and the National opmental studies with evolutionary theory is clearly the A Museum of Natural History as an effort to address the foundation of a new, if not rejuvenated, discipline in the present and future of biology from the perspectives of biological sciences. She speculated on the future poly- evolution, ecology, morphology, development, behav- gamous relationship of developmental biology with View ior, systematics, and conservation, as well as an evolutionary, ecological, genetic and molecular sci- integration of all of these disciplines. The presentations ences as well. and interactions were a mixture of review, originality, Dr. Lynne Margulis defended the “Gaia Hypothesis” synthesis, and thoughtful speculation. as a rationale approach to understanding the relation- Discussions were initiated by one of the principal ship of the biota to the biosphere. Her explanation and W. architects of the “Modern Evolutionary Synthesis,” exploration of the microcosm was a new window onto Professor Emeritus at Harvard Ernst Mayr, who the microbial world for many of the participants. John provided a first-hand account of the efforts in the 1930s How does animal behavior intersect with modern Kress and ’40s to integrate the disciplines of natural history concepts of evolutionary and ecological theory? and genetics into a unified field of evolutionary bio- Professor Gordon Orians recognized that it is hard for logy. At 95 years of age he looked ahead to the us to admit that the concept of free will may be compro- challenge of bringing developmental biology into the mised by an evolutionary explanation of human realm of evolutionary study. He also advised that behavior. Nonetheless the growing evidence supports a students aspiring to become evolutionists should have Darwinian explanation and understanding of behavioral a firm understanding of natural history, should not be traits and characteristics (of both animals and plants!). too narrow in their study, and should be sure to “look He also stressed the recent use of phylogenetic data as over the fence into neighboring fields.” a powerful tool in the study of the evolution of behav- Professor Sir Ghillean Prance provided the first ior. reference of the meeting to our biologically stressed The “gardenification of nature” was a central theme planet and noted that we still have so much to learn in the thoughts of Dr. Dan Janzen, prince of tropical about the diversity of life. Over 20,000 new species of ecology and conservation. After years of effort in vascular plants have been described over the last 20 Costa Rica he admitted that we will never have a years, clearly indicating that as systematists we have smooth transition between society and the preservation much work to do in our inventory of the world’s taxa. of biodiversity. We must “know it (i.e., biodiversity) and He also succinctly challenged biologists to accept the use it in order to save it.” He demonstrated and justified responsibility of addressing the political nature of what the importance of parataxonomists in biological and we do as natural historians. conservation programs as well as the recognition of The palaeontological and evolutionary perspectives ecosystem and biodiversity services to society. on the future of biology were provided by Professor Professor Edward Wilson completed the stellar cast Stephen J. Gould in a whirlwind discourse on “Darwin- of plenary speakers in his address on biology and ism Today” (also the title of a volume first published in human society. He continued his call for consilience of 1907!): the interaction of science, religion and the knowledge across disciplines and suggested that the humanities. He discussed the major successful interac- great future frontiers of biology are 1) evolutionary tions of the last 20 years in genetics and phylogeny genomics, 2) biodiversity research, 3) large scale (the “Big Tree of Life”), evolution and development, community ecology, and 4) linkage of biology to the biodiversity, and the microcosm. But he recognized that humanities and the social sciences. Human nature is the the essential question of “What is life?” is still unan- product of the epigenetic rules of our evolutionary swerable due to the fact that so far we know of only a history and must be understood within the perspective single experiment available for analysis. of our biological nature. Dr. Gene Likens recognized that interactions These exemplary presentations formed the basis of a between natural ecosystems and society must be a final round table discussion among the lecturers major focus of biologists in the near future. He stressed moderated by conservationist Dr. Thomas Lovejoy. the practical aspects of scientific team building, the Comments by the speakers were universal in that a evaluation of ecological complexity, the accumulation of consilience of societal issues and biological processes long-term environmental data, and the use of new Continued on page 9
Page 3 outbreak of shingles, the trip continued to An art exhibit, “Careers in Graphic Design Staff San José de Lourdes and Bambamarca and Visual Communication”, held at the before returning to Lima. Three hundred Community College of Baltimore County in Research thirty-nine numbers of grasses were Catonsville, Maryland from 9 March-12 obtained, including many duplicates for April, included four illustrations by Alice exchange. Tovar and Peterson have nearly Tangerini. She also participated in a panel completed a revision of Agrostis from discussion presented to students at the Laurence Dorr collaborated with Douglas Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru and revised a college on careers in graphic art. Tangerini Holland, Archivist of the Missouri manuscript describing Eragrostis ancash- and the political cartoonist for the Balt- Botanical Garden, in compiling a bibliogra- ensis, a new species from central Peru. imore Sun had the distinction of being the phy of the publications of Joseph Ewan two non-digital artists on the panel. (1909-1999) [see also Publications in this issue]. The bibliography, which contains Staff Activities A commemorative button, designed by over 450 citations, will appear in the Alice Tangerini, was distributed to October 2000 issue of the Archives of members of the Washington Biologists Natural History. Ewan, who is best John Boggan reports that members of the Field Club on the occasion of their 100th remembered as an historian of botany, was American Gloxinia and Gesneriad Society Anniversary on 15 February. The design briefly (1945-46) an Assistant Curator in (AGGS) toured the Department’s Research was based on a logo featuring some the Division of Plants and later (1984) a Greenhouses in Suitland, Maryland on 8 typical plants and animals of the area Regent’s Fellow, both at the Smithsonian. April in conjunction with a flower show by around Plummer’s Island in Washington, the National Capital Area Chapter of DC. Robert Faden continued working on AGGS, held on 8-9 April at the U.S. floristic treatments of Commelinaceae for National Arboretum. Visitors came from as Elizabeth Zimmer served on the National the Flora of Tropical East Africa and far away as Illinois, Michigan, Toronto, Science Foundation Neon II panel at the Flora Zambesiaca at the Royal Botanic and Tennessee, as well as from the District University of California San Diego Super- Gardens, Kew on 14 February-18 March. of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, computer Center, and visited colleagues at Spirit material of flowers of an undescribed New Jersey, and New York. The following Hitachi Genetic Systems, Caltech and the Commelina, from a 1937 Zambian collec- plants grown at the Department green- Huntington Gardens on 8-15 March. tion, enabled him to complete a description houses won blue ribbons in the competi- of the species, which is to be called tively judged flower show: Chirita gemella Commelina milne-redheadii, in recogni- (“Best Chirita”), Chirita speciosa (special tion of the collector, E. Milne-Redhead, award for “Best New Introduction”), Staff Talks first editor of the Flora of Tropical East Gesneria pedicellaris (“Best Fibrous- Africa, for his many invaluable specimens rooted Gesneriad”) and Monopyle macro- of Commelinaceae with detailed floral carpa (“Best Lesser-known Gesneriad”). Molly Nepokroeff, Warren Wagner, descriptions and liquid-preserved flowers. The Department’s plants enhanced the Kenneth Sytsma and Elizabeth Zimmer will present a poster entitled “Biogeogra- Paul Peterson visited Chihuahua, Mexico educational aspects of the show, which phy, Dispersal and Evolution in Pacific on 27 February-4 March to attend a was very well attended by the general Psychotria (Rubiaceae) Inferred From planning meeting for the Tarahumara public. Nuclear and Chloroplast Non-Coding Biodiversity Project spearheaded by Leslie Brothers entered slides in the Sequences” at the annual Society of National Museum of Natural History photography part of the AGGS show and Systematic Biologists/Society for the anthropologist, William Merrill. A group won several ribbons, including a blue Study of Evolution/American Society of visited the Sierra Mohinora in the south- ribbon (first place) for Nematanthus Naturalists meeting in Bloomington, western corner of the state to assess its ‘Tropicana’ (USBRG #96-137). Indiana, 23-27 June. suitability for biological study. The desert and mountains at this time of year in Robert Faden was a judge in botany at the As part of an ongoing discussion regard- northern Mexico were very dry. Peterson Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair ing the licensing of plant images for use continued to northern Peru on 8 March-11 held in Arlington, Virginia on 15 April. on the Internet, Rusty Russell visited the April to collect grasses and collaborate Norcross, Georgia headquarters of Alice Tangerini participated, on 16 March, with Oscar Tovar of the Museo de Historia Planetgarden.com in early April. While in “Technology: Futures Unlimited”, an Natural San Marcos (USM), Nancy Refulio there, he spoke to a group of 30 garden annual science career exploration day for Rodriguez (USM), and Isidoro Sanchez writers from around the country on 6 secondary school girls held at Fairfax High Vega at Universidad Nacional de Caja- April, and used this opportunity to School in Fairfax, Virginia. The event, marca (CPUN). Field work and collecting impress on them the importance of the sponsored by the American Association of were concentrated in Departamento herbarium as a baseline of information University Women, is designed to interest Cajamarca, north of Ciudad Cajamarca, up about plants and its critical role in girls in mathematics and science careers. to the border with Ecuador. Many remote maintaining vouchers. She presented a workshop on botanical locations were visited. After spending five illustration to 45 girls including a hands-on days in San Ignacio, precipitated by an demonstration with pen and ink. Page 4 sessions and synthesis groups. At the Plants of Washington, DC and Vicinity synthesis groups, group leaders and March was a red-letter month for the average flowering. Of the more than 125 meeting attendees discussed past ad- local flora of the Washington-Baltimore persons who have contributed to the vances and future challenges in the fields area. On 21March, the Annotated database of first-flowering records, depart- of behavior, biodiversity and conserva- Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the mental botanists Aaron Goldberg and the tion, development and morphology, Washington-Baltimore Area. Part I. Ferns, late John J. Wurdack have been the ecosystems, evolution, integration, Fern Allies, Gymnosperms, and Dicoty- biggest contributors. The present database regulation, and systematics. In collabora- ledons by Stanwyn G. Shetler and Sylvia of 650 native and naturalized, and more tion with the National Association of Stone Orli was released. The Annotated than 1900 cultivated spring-flowering Biology Teachers, a “Town Meeting on Checklist is a complete revision of Fred- species, was created by Sylvia Stone Orli. Teaching Evolution” was also held, erick Hermann’s A Checklist of Plants in More information on the “Early focusing on methods to teach high school the Washington-Baltimore Area (1941, Flowering” newspaper article can be found and undergraduate college students about 1946) for the taxonomic groups covered. at the Museum’s Website
Page 5 Research on the Flora of Myanmar Continues Members of the Department once again At the same time W. John Kress and also search by state or division name to see traveled to Southeast Asia to continue our Michael Bordelon continued their efforts a list of plants known to occur in that collaboration with the Myanmar Forest on field collections in Myanmar by region. The current focus of the project is Department on a new list of the plants of travelling to Alaungdaw Kathapa National on the monocotyledons and will continue that country. Deborah Bell and Ida Lopez Park and Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary with the rest of the flowering plants and concentrated their efforts on an inventory on the west side of the Irrawaddy River. gymnosperms in the near future. Visit the of the specimens in the only two existing Although the end of the dry season limited Myanmar Project at
New Web Site on Conserved Plant Names Molecular By Dan Nicolson Over 4,400 proposals have been made Bot. Gard. 78: 33-56. 1991) with an enor- Evolution to conserve and/or reject botanical names, mous annotated bibliography. This mostly of family, genus and species names. database was used to produce the Fellowship Information on all names proposed has synopsis of proposals on conservation/ Awarded been compiled and is currently available rejection for the Tokyo Congress (Taxon on the Web at http://persoon.si.edu/ 42: 435-446. 1993) and the St. Louis Eric Roalson, graduate student at codes/props/index.cfm. The site includes Congress (Taxon 48: 391-406. 1999). Rancho Santa Ana Botanical information on the author and place of Thanks to the help of my assistant, Garden, has been awarded a two- publication of each proposal, as well as the Sally Eichhorn, we mined the accumulated year Molecular Evolution Fellow- place of publication of the committee literature to compile data on all proposals ship from the Smithsonian Institu- decision, the general committee report, (which began in 1892). It seemed appropri- tion. Roalson is conducting where cited in a synopsis of proposals, ate that this data (accounting for 4,432 molecular, morphological and where ratified by an International Botanical proposals!) be made available so that chromosomal studies of members of Congress, and where it first appeared in a anyone interested in a particular name can the genus Carex for his Ph.D. At Code. The web site also allows queries. check to see if a proposal has ever been the Laboratory of Molecular There were a number of events that led made. Even if a proposal is approved and Systematics and in the Department, to my building a database to account for the name appears in an appendix to the he will work with Elizabeth Zimmer the key events in processing all proposals Code it is very difficult to track its history. and Laurence Skog on a project to conserve and/or reject names. The first If the proposal failed there is no clue. entitled “Floral evolution in was becoming editor of Taxon (1979) and Shortly after putting it up on the Web I Gasteranthus (Gesneriaceae): having to assign numbers to proposals. received an inquiry concerning a con- Phylogenetic relationships and As a member of the editorial committee served name of a fossil. Not only could I ontogenetic development of floral (1981) I took a particular interest in the tell her what she wanted to know but I also spurs.” He is expected to arrive at appendices. The final influence was now could direct her to this tool where she the Smithsonian in September 2000. accumulating the literature for a history of reported that she herself found the needed botanical nomenclature (Ann. Missouri information.
Page 6 The Conservation Column
By Gary A. Krupnick In my second report for the Plant databases should include not only the restaurant in a new city, one would be able Conservation Unit, I would like to share images, but also significant information on to look up a species and find all the wild with you my thoughts and reflections on location, date, population size, and other places where it grows; or type in a desired the Annual Meeting of the American information that will be useful in preserv- locality and get a catalogue of all species Institute of Biological Sciences. The theme ing and maintaining high biodiversity. co-existing together at that site. Unlike a of the meeting was “Biology: Challenges Computerized and web-based data- phone book, a web-based database can be for the New Millennium,” and we heard bases will be useful to the conservation dynamic, in which species can be added or talks from some of the most prominent biologist in many ways. A multitude of subtracted as natural areas gets explored, scientists around today. A number of the questions exists that herbaria can help destroyed or restored. speakers, including Professor Edward O. answer, such as “Does a certain species Many discoveries of new species still Wilson and Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, still exist today where it was originally await us. But an abundance of meaningful stressed the importance and the use of collected?” and “How has a certain plant data is buried in our collections. It is up to biological collections found in herbaria community changed since the time of us to see that the stored information is and institutions such as the Smithsonian collection to the present?” It is the highly accessible and widely utilized. for conservation purposes. As the challenge to the botantist, systematist, continued destruction of the environment conservation biologist, and field ecologist persists, the information stored in these to ask the meaningful questions that can collections will become ever more valuable help save biodiversity. One challenge at than in the past. Wilson and Prance both hand today is to have a biodiversity highlighted the importance of digitizing the “phone book” (in the words of Dr. Daniel collections, and making these databases H. Janzen) of all extant species and their available on the web to all researchers. The localities. Like looking up a favorite
Department Begins Type Specimen Imaging Project The United States National Herbarium prior to being loaned out of the country. is developing another tool to improve This process replaces the former task of access to its fully inventoried collection of transporting these specimens to the Photo over 93,000 type specimens. Using state- Services Laboratory and dramatically of-the-art digital photography equipment, reduces the turnaround time. high-resolution images of individual type A dedicated space is being prepared in specimens have been generated. These Room W427, formerly the “rug room” images are being stored locally at present, under the domain of the Building but eventually will be placed on the Manager’s Office. This renovated space Institution’s Image Archive server. As this will be designated the Botany Digital project unfolds, smaller versions of each Laboratory. Our contract photographer is image will join their data record on the Susan Hunter, a graduate of the Savannah Department web site. The high-resolution School of Design, and a former intern in images may be made available to research- the Photo Services Laboratory, NMNH. ers upon special request. When the initial test phase, using a number of smaller families, is completed, work will commence on the families for which staff expertise exists. This is expected to be done within 12 months (excluding the entire Poaceae and Aster- aceae type collections). The target for completion of the entire type collection is 5 years. As work through the type collection proceeds, specimens will also be digitized
Page 7 Dorr Tiliaceae (jute, linden tree); and Bombac- basis of all other studies, and should be aceae (baobab, durian, balsa wood). He encouraged among alpha and evolutionary continued from page 1 had to lectotypify the well-known Linnean disciplines alike. Perhaps it is time to heed inflorescence-bracts with their strong genus of the cacao tree, Theobroma, in his perceptorial injunction for the new hands and vigorously open them up like a 1993, but by and large, in order to pin millennium. farmer doing a corncob; the lemur then down the taxonomy, nomenclature and makes a face-first meal of the copious systematics of the components of the nectar inside the flowers. Lemur visitation order as a whole, Dorr frequently finds is only one of the mysterious syndromes himself delving into the relations of in the Madagascar flora. Another is the obscurely understood tropical taxa foot-long nectary spur of the Christmas variously ascribed to the Sterculiaceae Star orchid Angraecum sesquipedale, a (such as Aethiocarpa, Humbertiella, species which Charles Darwin correctly Nephropetalum), the Tiliaceae (such as predicted would be pollinated by a then- Pentaplaris, Riddelia), and the Malvaceae unknown moth with a foot-long proboscis (Nesogordonia). Convincing evidence Upcoming Symposia (subsequently identified as the sphinx from molecular botany and the expression A symposium on “The Computational moth Xanthopan morgani subsp. of clades within the expanded Malvaceae Challenges of Green Plant Phylogeny” will praedicta). Much of the Madagascar flora are also being taken into consideration. be held 2-3 June at the University of is now under threat of major dismantling, Concurrent with his efforts to advance Maryland - College Park, sponsored by the and significant portions of it have been our understanding of the Malvales, he is Green Plant Phylogeny Research Coordi- impacted to the point of obsolescence for preparing a treatment of the flora of a very nation (Deep Green) Group and University decades by the requirements of agriculture interesting 21 square kilometer area of the of Maryland Computing. Research in green and economic development. Fortunately, northern Andes Mountains, namely the plant phylogeny has advanced greatly in theme parks are unheard of there. Guaramacal National Park, Venezuela, on recent years. Following the 1999 Interna- Dorr’s treatise of collectors took him the slopes of the Sierra Nevada proper tional Botanical Congress in St. Louis, ten years to write, and initially was based which face the llanos. Supporting around Missouri, several large datasets relevant to on his three-year period of living and 500 genera and 1,200 species of vascular green plant phylogeny have been pub- collecting plants in Madagascar (1983- plants, already some 35 new species have lished, and several biological questions 1986) while an assistant curator of the been described from the area. In this have emerged as critical to an understand- Missouri Botanical Garden, charged with enterprise, Dorr’s principal collaborator is ing of the evolution of green plants. establishing a program of research and Basil Stergios of UNELLEZ, Guanare, Speakers will include Pam Soltis (Washing- exploration based in Antananarivo. Venezuela, with whom he edited the recent ton State University), Mike Sanderson Successfully fulfilling the mission, he went festschrift in honor of J.J. Wurdack in the (University of California, Davis), Tandy on to an appointment as a research assist- journal BioLlania (1997). A measure of Warnow (University of Pennsylvania), ant at the New York Botanical Garden Dorr’s versatility is expressed by his John Huelsenbeck (University of Roches- (1988-1991) before arriving in the Depart- interest in the applications of computer ter), and Sean Graham (University of ment of Botany in the National Museum of technology in data processing and making Alberta). For further information contact Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in scientific information available to a wider Elizabeth Zimmer (Steering Committee late 1991. readership. To this end he was fortuitously member of Deep Green) or visit
Page 8 Ivanova, N.V., P.T. DePriest, V.K. Bobrova, Chair Publications continued from page 3 and A.V. Troitsky. 1999. Phylogenetic analysis of the lichen family Umbilicar- are at the forefront of our goals for the next Davidse, G., T.S. Filgueiras, E.J. Judziewicz, iaceae on the basis of nuclear SSU, ITS1, century. Investigations in developmental P.M. Peterson, R.J. Soreng, and F.O. 5.8S and ITS2 rDNA sequences. biology linked with the disciplines of Zuloaga. 2000. Catalogue of New World Lichenologist 31:477-489. evolution, ecology and systematics will be grasses (Poaceae). URL:
Finn, M., P. Kangas and W. Adey. 1999. Mangrove ecosystem development in Biosphere II. Ecological Engineering 13:173-178.
Page 9 Art by Alice Tangerini
Pentaplaris huaoranica Dorr & C. Bayer and P. davidsmithii Dorr & C. Bayer
Until recently, Pentaplaris was known from a single collection made in Costa Rica. A new emphasis on collecting all trees en- countered in forest plots of fixed dimensions led to the discovery of two new species in South America; P. huaoranica Dorr & C. Bayer (figs. A, B) and P. davidsmithii Dorr & C. Bayer (figs. C-E). All three species are very large trees (up to 50 m tall) and probably would not have been collected casually. Pentaplaris was placed in Tiliaceae, but morphologi- cal, palynological, and molecular evidence sug- gest that it is more closely related to what had traditionally been considered Malvaceae and Bombacaceae. This was one of four plates pub- lished in a synopsis of the genus (Brittonia 51: 134- 148. 1999).
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