Front Matter 17 (2)

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany

Volume 17 | Issue 2 Article 1

1998 Front Matter 17 (2)

Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso

Recommended Citation (1998) "Front Matter 17 (2)," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany: Vol. 17: Iss. 2, Article 1. Available at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol17/iss2/1

INTRODUCTION

J. TRAVIS COLUMBUS Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden 1500 North College A venue Claremont, California 91711-3157 e-mail: [email protected]

Welcome to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden's gonum abertianum, E. trichopes, Fraxinus velutina, Thirteenth Annual Southwestern Botanical Systemat Quercus emoryi, Spiraea californica (= Vauquelinia ics Symposium, Evolution and Taxonomy of South californica [Torr.] Sarg.), Stillingia spinuiosa, and Tet western Plants. radymia ramosissima (= Psathyrotes ramosissima On January 10, 1847, General Stephen Kearny's [Torr.] A. Gray). Torrey also positioned Fouquieria "Army of the West" took possession of Los Angeles, (Fouquieriaceae) in Polemoniaceae, a possible rela then a pueblo of about 1500 people, completing its tionship that will be addressed in Mark Porter's talk. mission: seizure of New Mexico and California from Since these events of 150 years ago, many kinds of Mexico. A year later, upon the signing of the Guada data and methods are now available to systematists and lupe-Hidalgo Treaty, Mexico ceded to the United much has been learned about the flora of the South States most of the territory now included in Arizona, west. In this Symposium, the current state of knowl California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. edge on several plant groups will be presented. I thank Texas had already been annexed in 1845. These newly Curtis Clark, Gerald Gastony, Jennifer Matos, Mark acquired lands came to be referred to as the Southwest. Porter, and Robert Wallace for accepting invitations to Under Kearny's command was William H. Emory, speak. I am also grateful to Billie Turner for agreeing a lieutenant in the Corps of Topographical Engineers. to deliver the keynote address. Emory was charged with collecting physical and bio With 129 participants, this year's Symposium is the logical data as the forces proceeded through the South best attended yet. Special thanks go to Ann Joslin, west. These data included a collection of plants, sent coordinator of the event. My colleagues Elizabeth Fri to John Torrey, and drawings of cacti, sent to George ar, Mark Porter, and Roy Taylor were instrumental, es Engelmann. Emory's report to Congress, Notes of a pecially during the early stages of organization. I also Military Reconnoissance, from Fort Leavenworth, in thank Curtis Clark, who set up the Symposium Web Missouri, to San Diego, in California, Including Parts page; Sandra Columbus, who compiled data for the of the Arkansas, Del Norte, and Gila Rivers, was pub Web page; Molly Rightmyer, who provided artwork lished in 1848. Included were Torrey and Engelmann's for the brochure, poster, and program; Garden graduate determinations and descriptions of new species. students, who assisted with various tasks; and Garden Among the species described by Torrey were Aden volunteers, who organized the bulk mailing of regis ostoma sparsifolium, Chondrosium eriopodum (= tration brochures. Finally, The Andrew W. Mellon Bouteloua eriopoda [Torr.] Torr.), Dieteria asteroides Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for its generous (= Machaeranthera asteroides [Torr.] Greene), Erio- support.