Editorial - ASPT News (ASPT Electronic Committee, ASPT Home Page, Directory Assistance, Systematic Botany Monographs) -- People -- Institutions -- Organizations -- Awards and Funding -- Job Opportunities -- Symposia and Meetings -- Courses and Workshops -- Internet News -- Deaths --New Computer Program -- New Books -- New Serials -- Newsletters
This is the last issue of the ASPT Newsletter that I will edit. In the previous issue, I announced that beginning with the present volume (i.e., volume 10), the ASPT Council had decided that the newsletter should be distributed solely in electronic form. This announcement caused a surprising number of members of the ASPT and other readers to express their concerns. Evidently, not only do many readers find it convenient to read the newsletter at home and away from a computer terminal, but also foreign readers, in particular, appear to lack the access to the Internet that would allow them to read the newsletter in electronic form either at work or at home. I wish to reassure all of you that these concerns have been shared with the Officers of the Society and the ASPT Council. What form the newsletter will take in the future is open to debate and will be one of the items on the agenda for the next Council Meeting, which will be held at the Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA, USA next August.
I had hoped to be able to announce my replacement as editor in this issue, but the search for a new editor of the ASPT Newsletter continues. I found the job to be very rewarding and interesting and would encourage anyone with an interest in making an important contribution to our Society and our profession to contact either Shirley Tucker, ASPT President, or Chris Haufler, ASPT President-Elect, to volunteer.-Editor.
ASPT ELECTRONIC COMMITTEE:
The ASPT has formed an "Electronic Committee." It is chaired by Hugh Wilson (Texas A&M University) and includes Steve Wolf (California State University at Stanislaus) and Jim Solomon (Missouri Botanical Garden). This Committee will oversee the development of the ASPT's Home Page on the World-Wide Web and it welcomes your comments, suggestions, and participation.
ASPT HOME PAGE:
Please remind colleagues that the following URLs are available for accessing ASPT materials electronically: <http://www.nmnh.si.edu/aspt> or <http://nmnhwww.si.edu/aspt>. The former URL is a more "canonical" name for the NMNH Web Server. It will make it a little easier for experienced web surfers to guess the URL. The latter URL will still work and there is no plan to ever remove that address. (An internet server can be known by more than one host name).
Information regarding Systematic Botany Monographs may be obtained at the following address: <http://www.herb.lsa.umich.edu/sbothome.html>. A link will be made connecting this information to the ASPT Home Page.
DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE:
The following change affecting the ASPT Membership Directory has been reported:
Dr. Shirley C. Tucker
e-mail: <legume2@aol.com>.
SYSTEMATIC BOTANY MONOGRAPHS:
A catalog of Systematic Botany Monographs (SBM), an order form, and a guide for authors are available now on the World-Wide Web (see also "ASPT Home Page"). Please use the following URL: <http://www.herb.lsa.umich.edu/sbothome.html>. A link is being constructed to the ASPT Home Page on the World-Wide Web.
The newly-appointed curator of the herbarium (UEC) in Campinas, Brazil, is Dra. Maria do Carmo C. Amaral. She replaces Marina Bragatto Vasconcellos.
In the last issue of the ASPT Newsletter, I announced that Dr. Enrique Forero had resigned as Director of the Institute of Systematic Botany of The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA, and returned to Colombia, where he now is a full Professor at the national university. A more complete address than was previously provided follows: Dr. Enrique Forero, Universidad Nacional, Apartado 7495, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. (fax: [57] 1/ 368-1345; e-mail: <eforero@ciencias.campus.unal.edu.co>).
On 12 December 1995, Dr. Scott Mori was appointed Director of the Institute of Systematic Botany (ISB) of The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), Bronx, NY, USA. Dr. Mori replaces Dr. Enrique Forero, who served as Director of the ISB for the past three years. Dr. Mori first came to the NYBG as a postdoctoral assistant to Prof. Sir Ghillean T. Prance in 1975. He left for two years to work as the Director of the Herbarium (CEPEC) of the Cocoa Research Institute in southern Bahia, Brazil. He returned to the NYBG in 1980 and worked his way up the curatorial scale, attaining the title of Senior Curator at the time of his appointment as Director of the ISB. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Mori will continue his research on the Lecythidaceae as well as his floristic work in central French Guiana.
Dr. John Pipoly, Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Inc. (BRIT), now may be contacted via e-mail. Please use the following address: <jpipoly@brit.org>.
Dr. Jacinto (Jack) Regalado is now based at the Field Museum. He may be reached at the following address: Dr. J. Regalado, Department of Botany, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605-2496, USA. (telephone: 312/ 922-9410 ext. 243; fax: 312/ 663-5397; e-mail: <regalado@fmnh.org>).
Dr. Stanwyn Shetler recently retired as a Curator in the Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. He was appointed Curator Emeritus and will continue his work on a flora of the Washington, DC area.
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, noted as a world orchid and bromeliad center and a leader in rainforest canopy research, dedicated its new library on 17 October 1995. The new facility in Sarasota, FL, USA, is available to Selby staff members and visiting scientists and scholars. Further information regarding Selby Gardens may be obtained on the World-Wide Web: <http://www.sarasota-online.com/selby>.
The Herbarium, Institute of Systematic Botany, State University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands has announced that after 10 April 1996 their telephone and fax numbers will change. The new numbers are: (telephone: [31] 30/ 253-1823; fax: [31] 30/ 251-8061).
The Association of Systematics Collections (ASC) moved its office on 1 January 1996. The new address is: Association of Systematics Collections, 1725 K St., NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20006-1401, USA. (telephone: 202/835-9050; fax: 202/835-7334; e-mail: <asc@ascoll.org>). All individual e-mail addresses will remain the same. The URL for the ASC home page is: <http://www. ascoll.org/>.
The ASC is an association of North American institutions that house systematic collections. ASC exists to promote systematics collections, the institutions responsible for them, and the biosystematics community for which they are an essential resource. ASC works toward these goals by providing representation to governmental agencies and policy makers, serving as a clearinghouse of information affecting the systematics community, organizing meetings and workshops, producing and distributing two regular newsletters and special publications, and interacting with other societies and groups both in North America and around the world. To learn more about ASC, and its current activities and projects, please contact the staff at the address above.
Dr. Warren L. Wagner, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA, was honored on 24 October 1995 with the Robert Allerton Award from the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, HI, USA, "in view of his numerous and impressive achievements in the field of tropical biology." Especially noted were his roles in editing the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i (1990) with Deryl Herbst and S. H. Sohmer and Hawaiian Biogeography: Evolution on a Hotspot Archipelago (1995) with V. Funk. The Allerton Award is given for excellence in tropical botany or horticulture, and includes a bronze medal and a cash honorarium. The award, initiated in 1975, was named to honor one of the National Tropical Botanical Garden's founding trustees and its principal initial benefactor.
The Rupert Barneby Award.-The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is pleased to announce that Gwilym Lewis of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is the recipient of the 1995 Rupert Barneby Award. Mr. Lewis will be working on the legumes of Ecuador.
The NYBG also invites applications for the 1996 Rupert Barneby Award. The award of $1000 is to assist researchers to visit The NYBG to study the rich collection of Leguminosae. Anyone interested in applying for the award should submit their curriculum vitae and a detailed letter describing the project for which the award is sought. Travel to The NYBG should be planned for sometime in 1997. The letter should be addressed to Dr. James L. Luteyn, Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, USA, and received no later than 1 December 1996. Announcement of the recipient will be made by 15 December 1996. Anyone interested in making a contribution to The Rupert Barneby Fund in Legume Systematics, which supports this award, may send their check, payable to The New York Botanical Garden, to Dr. Luteyn.
Small research grants for floristic field work in Virginia and/or travel to herbaria are available to botanists without an institutional base of support for such work. The fund permitting these grants was endowed by friends and family of the late Barbara J. Harvill to encourage floristic and revisionary work in Virginia. Most awards requested to date have been for mileage costs, but other expenses such as lodging and certain kinds of field equipment (e.g., plant presses) can also be covered. The deadline for applying is 15 May 1996 with notification on 15 June 1996. Send applications for 1996 awards to: Donna M. E. Ware, Virginia Botanical Associates, Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.
Cell Physiologist.-The Department of Biology of The University of Akron invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level beginning 26 August 1996. Candidates must hold a PhD and post-doctoral experience is required. We are especially interested in, but not restricted to, candidates with research interest in cellular and molecular processes. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Cell Physiology, one other undergraduate course, and a graduate course in a specialty area; direct Master's students; and establish an externally fundable research program. The University of Akron is an urban university and is the third largest state university in Ohio with over 26,000 students. Review of applications will begin 15 January 1996 and will continue until the position is filled.
Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching/research interests, and three references to: Dr. Jerry Stinner, Chair Search Committee, The University of Akron, Department of Biology, Akron, OH 44325-3908, USA. (fax: 216/972-8445; e-mail: <jstinner@uakron.edu>). The University of Akron is an equal education and employment Institution.
Assistant Professor-Molecular Plant Systematist.-The successful candidate will teach a course in modern plant systematics and share responsibility for teaching general botany for biology majors and a general education course in biology for non-majors. Candidates should exhibit potential for independent and innovative research involving undergraduate and graduate students and a willingness to support Ecology, Evolution and Environment specialization in Biology and the Environmental Studies Program.
Term of Contract: Continuing academic year (nine-month) to begin 16 August 1996, tenure eligible. Salary Range: Commensurate with credentials, qualifications, and experience. Qualifications Required: A PhD, preferably in botany with teaching experience; post-doctoral experience strongly preferred. Source of Funds: State of Illinois. Closing Date for Applications: Review of applications will begin on 15 February 1996, and continue until the position is filled.
Submit nominations, résumés, or letter of application to: Chair, Molecular Plant Systematist Search Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE), Campus Box 1651, Edwardsville, IL 62026-1651, USA. As an affirmative action employer, SIUE offers equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, creed or religion, age, sex, national origin, or disability.
Collections Manager.-The Department of Botany and TENN are seeking a Collections Manager to be involved in the curation and management of ca. 450,000 specimens of algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants. Primary duties will include implementation of collections database system(s); managing loans and exchanges to and from other herbaria; collection and exchange of specimens with other institutions; routine mounting, filing, repair of specimens, sorting of backlogs, etc.; and other departmental duties as appropriate.
The applicant should have a Master's degree or equivalent experience in Botany or related field, knowledge of computer database management, herbarium and field experience, and relevant course work in plant taxonomy. Starting salary is $22,000/annum plus fringe benefits. To apply, send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation before 15 February 1996, to: B. Eugene Wofford, Director of the Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. (telephone: 423/ 974-2256; fax: 423/ 974-0978; e-mail: <bewofford@utk.edu>). We anticipate filling the position by 1 April 1996. UTK is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Section 504/ADA Employer.
Director of Undergraduate Semester Program in tropical biology, language, and culture.-The Organization for Tropical Studies, a consortium of 50 universities, seeks a PhD biologist to plan and implement a new program, which teaches tropical biology in a cultural context: direct faculty, coordinate with universities, administration, and limited teaching. The successful candidate will have knowledge of Costa Rica, Spanish and English skills, experience with study abroad programs, exceptional interpersonal skills, willingness to travel 50% of the time and reside in Costa Rica. Position is full-time beginning May 1996. Salary range is $35,000 to $40,000 with Duke University benefits. Review begins 1 March 1996, and will continue until position is filled. Please send application, including telephone numbers of four references to: Dept. T, OTS, Box 90633, Durham, NC 27708, USA. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Herbarium Director.-The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, invites applications for a tenure-track 12-month position as Assistant/Associate Professor and Director of the Michigan State University Herbarium. Position is available beginning 16 August 1996. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, maintaining an active research program in plant systematics and directing the operations of the Michigan State University Herbarium, a collection of over 500,000 specimens. The area of research expertise of the successful candidate is open, but should involve modern approaches to research in plant systematics. A PhD in botany/systematics, or a related field is required. The successful candidate must have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and to herbarium development. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching interests and current and long-term goals, and three letters of recommendation by 1 April 1996 to: Professor Patrick J. Webber, Chair of Search Committee, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1312, USA. (e-mail: <webber@pilot.msu.edu>). Michigan State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Editorial Assistant, Flora of China.-The Missouri Botanical Garden seeks an individual to join its Research Division as an Editorial Assistant for the Flora of China project. The selected individual will edit manuscripts according to guidelines; verify bibliographical citations; correspond with co-authors; prepare the scientific index; prepare the project's newsletter and maintain an up-to-date mailing list; develop a database regarding the novelties, nomenclatural changes, and distribution extensions of Chinese taxa; complete and update the Chinese taxonomic literature; produce taxonomic treatments; attend editorial committee meetings and take minutes; create accounts and illustrations, in collaboration with other research staff, and make them available on the Gopher and World-Wide Web.
The ideal candidate will possess a PhD in taxonomy, knowledge in word processing, databases, and spreadsheets. Editorial experience is preferred. To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae and three letters of reference to: Missouri Botanical Garden, Human Resource Management, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA.
The 1996 Sigma Xi Forum, which is entitled "Science, Technology, and the Global Society," will be held 7-8 March 1996 at the Town and Country Hotel, San Diego, CA, USA. For further information, please call: 800/ 243-6534 ext 208. For registration, please contact: Ms. Dee Windley, Sigma Xi, P.O. Box 13975, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Credit card registrations can be made by telephone (800/ 243-6534 ext. 209) from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST or fax (919/ 549-0090).
The Linnean Society of London with the Plant Sciences Department, Oxford University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will sponsor the Frank White Memorial Symposium on Floral Diversity in Africa and Madagascar. It will be held 26-27 September 1996 at the Plant Sciences Department of Oxford University. For additional information, please contact: Dr. Camilla R. Huxley-Lambrick, Picketts Heath, Ridgeway, Boars Hill, Oxford OX1 5EZ, England.
"The Natural Bridge" is the title of the 1997 International Conference of the Society for the History of Natural History, which will be held at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, from 27-30 April 1997. It will take as its theme the transatlantic exchange of flora and fauna as well as natural history collections, ideas, and philosophies. For further information, please contact: Kathryn Morgan, Special Collections Department, Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2498, USA. A circular will be distributed later in the year.
Workshop on Tropical Plant Families, NSF Chautauqua Short Courses, 18-23 May 1996.-Restricted to college faculty, the workshop is designed to facilitate instructors in incorporating tropical plant materials in their courses. It will be conducted at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, FL, USA, where participants are encouraged to photograph and collect specimens. Short lectures will provide orientation to field and technical characters, systematic placement and subdivision, and uses of the major tropical families. Costs include only travel, lodging, incidentals, and a $40 registration fee; tuition is provided by a NSF faculty development grant. Applications are available from the Science Education Center, University of Texas (telephone: 512/ 471-7354). For questions about content, please contact the instructor: Dr. Roger Sanders, Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX, USA. (telephone: 817/ 332-4441; e-mail: <rsanders@brit.org>).
During the summer of 1996, Indiana University's Department of Biology, in cooperation with the Indiana University Division of Continuing Studies, will offer two week-long laboratory courses focusing on the techniques and procedures used in recombinant DNA research and their application. Participants will also have the opportunity to work with a DNA sample of their own research organism. Both courses will be taught on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington, IN, USA.
1) Recombinant DNA Technology.-The first course will introduce participants to procedures involved in recombinant DNA work and to the molecular aspects of genetic engineering. Most of the procedures that are taught to biology graduate students in the recombinant DNA section of a graduate techniques course at Indiana University will be covered. Participants can make arrangements to isolate genomic DNA from their own research organisms during the course.
The following techniques will be included: DNA and cloning vector manipulation; PCR technology; Preparation of recombinant DNA; Transformation of bacterial cells; Selection and assay of cloned and amplified fragments of "foreign" DNA; Transfer of DNA for probing (Southern blot); and Preparation of non-radioactive DNA probes.
"Recombinant DNA Technology" is designed for those with a basic understanding of the structure of DNA and elemental genetics and with a minimal understanding of enzymes and biochemistry.
The course is scheduled for 3-7 June l996. Registration deadline is 17 May 1996.
2) Application of Recombinant DNA Technology: RFLP and Fingerprinting Analysis, RAPD Analysis, and DNA Sequencing.-This course will provide participants with the opportunity to learn about the materials and techniques used in recombinant DNA research. Participants may bring a DNA sample to sequence during the course.
The course will emphasize the following techniques: DNA sequencing using non-radioactive methods; DNA sequencing using automatic DNA sequencer; RAPD analysis of genomic DNA; Fingerprinting and RFLP analysis of genomic DNA; Electroporation of bacterial cells; Chemiluminescent detection of nucleic acids; Application of computers to DNA sequencing data analysis; Preparation of random fragment sequencing libraries and double-stranded DNA for sequencing; Use of bioneb cell and bipolymer disruption systems.
A basic understanding of the structure of DNA and elemental genetics is assumed for participants in this short course, as is a minimal understanding of enzymes and biochemistry. Previous experience with PCR or RFLP analysis and DNA sequencing is not a prerequisite, nor is completion of "Recombinant DNA Technology."
This course is scheduled for 10-14 June 1996. Registration deadline is 24 May 1996. The instructor for both courses is Dr. Stefan J. Surzycki, Associate Professor of Biology at Indiana University. Fees for these courses include all instruction, laboratory supplies, use of equipment, and lab manuals.
For additional information, please contact: Jane Clay, Division of Continuing Studies, Owen Hall 204, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. (telephone: 812/ 855-6329).
Workshop: Botany of Alpine New Mexico, SMU-in-Taos (Fort Burgwin Campus), 11-18 August 1996.-Spent primarily in the field, the workshop will focus on adaptations to physical factors and species interactions that are characteristic of alpine tundra, subalpine conifer forests, and meadows. It carries one semester credit hour and is open to anyone interested in the natural history of the Southwest. Southern Methodist University's Fort Burgwin, a reconstructed frontier cavalry fort, is an interdisciplinary research and teaching facility located at an elevation of 7400 ft in the Sangre de Cristo Range above, Taos, NM, USA. The $570 cost of the workshop includes tuition, housing, and fees. Instructor: Dr. Roger Sanders, Adjunct Professor at SMU and Research Associate of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX, USA. For more details and an application, please telephone: 214/ 768-3657.
The Association for Tropical Biology (ATB) recently announced its new World-Wide Web pages. The following URL may be used: <http://ecology.umsl.edu/atb/>. The site will include information for submission to Biotropica, Tables of Contents for Biotropica, Tropinet, announcements of upcoming symposia, subscription information, etc.
The Gray Herbarium Card Index of New World Plants and the Harvard University Type Specimen Collection Databases are now available on the World-Wide Web through the Harvard University Herbaria Web page. The URL for the Herbaria Web site is: <http://www.herbaria.harvard.edu>.
The Gray Herbarium Card index provides bibliographic details for new taxa of vascular plants, new combinations, new status, and new names of New World plants. It includes information on types (including epi-, neo-, and lectotypification) for names published after 1970. From its inception (in 1893), the Gray Index included publication information for all specific and infraspecific names, basionyms, replaced synonyms, and other nomenclatural synonyms, but not taxonomic synonyms. The Gray Index data, which were published in the form of printed cards until the mid 1980s and as microfiche until early 1992, have been made available over the Internet using Gopher since mid 1992.
The Type Collection Databases include information on type specimens in the Harvard University Herbaria (A, AMES, ECON, FH, GH, NEBC), collected from all parts of the world. The data on Type Collections also have been available on Gopher since 1991. (Presently, Internet users may access the Gray Index data and Type Collection data through either Gopher or the World-Wide Web; however, at some pint in the near future the Gopher services will be discontinued).
The accuracy and completeness of the Gray Card Index and Type Collection Databases depend largely on the input of users, who are urged to provide any relevant information (such as additions, omissions, and corrections to the data) via e-mail to either K. N. Gandhi (<gandhi@oeb.harvard.edu>) or David Boufford (<boufford@oeb.harvard.edu>).
The International Organization for Plant Information (IOPI) has a World-Wide Web Home Page. The URL is: <http://life.csu.edu.au/iopi/iopihome.html>.
An abbreviated version of J. L. Luteyn's treatment of the Ericaceae for the Flora of Ecuador (due to be published in early 1996) is available on the World-Wide Web. The URL is: <http://huh.harvard.edu:1995>. The presentation includes descriptions of the family and 21 genera, keys to the genera and 218 species, color images of about 45 species, and line-drawing images of another 10 species.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently created a Home Page on the World-Wide Web. The URL is: <http://www.macfdn.org>. The Foundation already had a Gopher site, with the following URL: <gopher://gopher.macfdn.org:3016/>. Both the Gopher, with strictly text-based content, and Web Site, with graphical and textual content, contain general "About" files and contact information, including names of Foundation board members and senior staff and "How to Apply for Grants" information. They also include information specific to each of the Foundation's eight program areas such as recent program activities, application guidelines, contact information, and a listing of grants made in the previous calendar year.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a Web Site that allows you to look up zip codes and postal rates. Herbarium curators may find this useful. The Home Page of the USPS has the following URL: <http://www.usps.gov>. The zip code information can be accessed with the following URL: <http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/>.
The Smithsonian Institution Libraries now have a Home Page on the World-Wide Web. Their URL is: <http://www.sil.si.edu/>.
James Dent Jokerst (1956-1995), botanist at Jones & Stokes Associates, a Sacramento, CA, USA, environmental consulting firm, died in a tragic drowning on 4 August 1995. Jim was born on 27 February 1956 in Denver, CO, USA, but he spent most of his life in California. He attended California State University, Chico, where he received his BS (1978) and MS (1981) degrees in botany. His graduate thesis was based on a study of the pollination biology of Calochortus species. He joined Jones & Stokes Associates in 1985, where he served as an associate principal and leader of the botanical resources group.
Jim Jokerst will be remembered as one of the foremost authorities on the flora and ecology of California's vernal pools, which are the focus of considerable controversy between the state's conservation and development communities. He developed objective methodology for selecting and ranking candidate vernal pool preserves, based on the quality, species diversity, representativeness, and preservation feasibility of a set of candidate preserve sites. He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of California flora, soils, climate, hydrology, and geomorphology and his expert grasp of state and federal environmental laws. His outgoing, honest personality and keen sense of humor enabled Jim to develop close working relationships with environmental professionals in both the public and private sectors. These traits, coupled with his technical expertise, enabled him to resolve the most complex and controversial environmental problems with impeccable scientific data and objectivity.
Jim described two new plant species Monardella beneolens (Lamiaceae) from the southern crest of the Sierra Nevada, and Pogogyne floribunda (Lamiaceae) from the Great Basin in northeastern California. In addition to his many technical reports, he contributed articles on California floristics and conservation biology to a variety of journals, including Madroño, Fremontia, Phytologia, and Aliso. He also prepared the descriptions and taxonomic keys for Acanthomintha, Monardella, and Pogogyne for the New Jepson Manual of the flowering plants of California. His involvement in many professional organizations included his service for the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) on the Rare Plant Advisory Committee and the Natural Community Scientific Advisory Committee, and he represented CNPS on the U.S. Forest Service Issues Statewide Conservation Committee. He was a volunteer preserve manager at The Nature Conservancy's Vina Plains Preserve near Chico; an important contributor to the California Department of Fish and Game's Natural Diversity Data Base; a field associate with the California Academy of Science; and a member of the Natural Areas Association, the Ecological Society of America, the California Botanical Society, and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Jim received the Chevron National Environmental and Conservation Award in 1988 for his many voluntary contributions to conservation, and he received the CNPS Rare Plant Conservation Award in 1992 for his outstanding contributions to rare plant conservation in California.
Throughout his life, Jim was drawn to the wilderness and he felt most comfortable there. He was an accomplished backcountry skier, mountaineer, and whitewater canoeist. Mountain peaks and desert lowlands were of equal interest, as long as rare plants could be found and wild landscapes were available to explore.
His many colleagues remember Jim Jokerst as a world-class botanist and ecologist, author, teacher, leader, and cherished friend. He is survived by his wife, Jeri Ann Donovan, and two sons, Devin Reed and Nicholas Quinn. Donations to the James Dent Jokerst Memorial Fund, established for his children, can be sent to: 685 Placerville Dr., Suite 356, Placerville, CA 95667-4298, USA.-Edward C. Beedy and Robert E. Preston, Jones & Stokes Associates, 2600 V St., Sacramento, CA 95818-1914, USA.
Bostick, Peter. 1995. TRANSLAT. Anonymous FTP: <ftp:/www.mobot.org/pub/DOS/Latin/>.-This is a Botanical Latin translation program written by Peter Bostock, Queensland Herbarium. The program has "codified" much of what is in Stearn's Botanical Latin, and will translate descriptions and diagnoses from Latin into English. Peter Bostock has made the program available as free-ware, but requests that users notify him, so that he can alert them of any problems or updates.-Robert Sims, Department of Botany, NHB-155, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0001, USA.
Allred, Kelly (ed.) with numerous contributors. 1995. A Working Index of New Mexico Vascular Plant Names, Supplement 1:2. Pp. 1-21. Available from: Dr. Kelly Allred, New Mexico State University, Animal & Range Science Department, Box 30003, Dept. 3-I, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. ISBN not given. Price not given.-The scope of this ongoing project was described in ASPT Newsletter 9(4): 114-115.
Burdet, H. M. (translator). 1995. Code International de la Nomenclature Botanique (Code de Tokyo). Adopté par le Quinzième Congrès International de Botanique, Yokohama, Août-Septembre 1993. Boissiera 49: 1-185. Available from: Rédaction "Candollea-Boissiera", Conservatoire botanique, Case postale 60, CH-1292 Chambésy, Switzerland. ISBN 2-8277-0065-4. ISSN 0373-2975. Paper. Price not given.-It seems appropriate that this French translation of the Tokyo Code should come from Geneva since one can easily trace many of the concepts in our present Code back to the "laws of botanical nomenclature" published in 1867 by Alphonse de Candolle, who also resided in Geneva.
Chomchalow, Narong & Hans V. Henle (ed.). 1995. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Asia. Breeding and Improvement. RAPA Publication: 1993/19. Available from: Science Publishers, Inc., 10 Water St., Room 310, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA. ISBN 1-886106-52-5. Paper. Pp. vii + 196, illus. $35, plus postage & handling.
Churchill, Steven P., Henrik Balslev, Enrique Forero, & James L. Luteyn (eds.). 1995. Biodiversity and Conservation of Neotropical Montane Forests. Proceedings of the Neotropical Montane Forest Biodiversity and Conservation Symposium, The New York Botanical Garden, 21-26 June 1993. Scientific Publications Department, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, USA. (telephone: 718/817-8721; fax: 718/817-8842). ISBN 0-89327-400-3. Cloth. Pp. 702, illus. $85, plus postage & handling.
Churchill, S. P. & E. Linares C. 1995. Prodromus Bryologiae Novo-Granatensis. Introducción a la Flora de Musgos de Colombia. Biblioteca José Jerónimo Triana 12: 1-924. (2 volumes-Parte 1:1-453, Parte 2:454-924). For ordering information, contact: Dr. Steven P. Churchill, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, USA.
Janick, Jules (ed.). Horticultural Reviews 17: i-xiv, 1-456. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. (telephone: 212/ 850-6336). ISBN 0-471-57335-3. ISSN 0730-2207. Cloth. Illus. $120, plus postage & handling.
Janick, Jules (ed.). Plant Breeding Reviews 13: i-ix, 1-383. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. (telephone: 212/ 850-6336). ISBN 0-471-57343-4. ISSN 0730-2207. Cloth. Illus. $120, plus postage & handling.
Paynter, Raymond A., Jr. 1995. Ornithological Gazetteer of Argentina. Edition 2. Available from: Bird Department, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. ISBN not given. Paper. Pp. x + 1045, illus. (2 maps). $68, plus $3 postage & handling (US funds only).-Gazetteers for all of the other countries of South America also are available and are useful in deciphering plant-collecting localities (see review by Dorr, Taxon 42(1): 285-286. 1993).
Pringle, James S. 1995. The History of the Exploration of the Vascular Flora of Canada; The History of the Exploration of the Vascular Flora of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon; and The History of the Exploration of the Vascular Flora of Greenland. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 109(3). Available from: Business Manager, The Canadian Field-Naturalist, Box 35069, Westgate P.O., Ontario, Canada K1Z 1A2. $10, plus $2.50 postage and handling.-These benchmark reference papers cover major floristic studies from the late 18th to the end of the 20th centuries for Canada, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (France), and Greenland. The major depositories of all key botanists are discussed for each area.
Sawyer, J. & T. Keeler-Wolf. 1996. A Manual of California Vegetation. California Native Plant Society, 1722 J St., Suite 17, Sacramento, CA 95414, USA. (telephone: 916/ 447-2677; fax: 916/ 447-2727). ISBN 0-943460-26-3 (paper). ISBN 0-943460-25-5 (cloth). Illus. (incl. color). $39 (paper), $55 (cloth), plus $3.75 shipping 1st book & $1 each additional book. Visa, check, or purchase orders accepted. California residents add local sales tax.-This book describes 275 vegetation series, habitats, unique stands, and vernal pools based on plot data analysis. Thirty-two pages of color plates provide an overview of the vegetation diversity of California from grasslands to subalpine forests with 162 vegetation types photographed. Each series is defined, with distribution, general references, comments, plot-based descriptions, and additional associations. A table of taxa commonly found in each series is provided. Easy keys are provided to identify a series based on species dominance. This book will be of value to all who are interested in California vegetation and field work in the Golden State.
Schwab, Glenn O., Delmar D. Fangmeier, & William J. Elliot. 1995. Soil and Water Management Systems. 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. (telephone: 212/ 850-6336). ISBN 0-471-10973-8. Cloth. Illus. $75.95, plus postage & handling.
Science Publishers, Inc. 1996. Biological and Agricultural Sciences. 1996 Catalog. Pp. 78. Science Publishers, Inc., 10 Water St., # 310, Lebanon, NH 03766, USA. (telephone: 603/ 448-0317; fax: 603/ 448-2576).-The botanical list for this publisher continues to expand. Of note is their commitment to publish the Flora of the USSR, with Vol. 22 (Solanaceae, Scrophulariaceae) due out in April 1996, and the Flora of Ceylon, with Vol. 10 also due out in April. (Both titles were formerly handled by the Smithsonian Institution).
Smith, C. Wayne. 1995. Crop Production. Evolution, History, and Technology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, NY 10158-0012, USA. (telephone: 212/ 850-6336). ISBN 0-471-10972-3. Cloth. Pp. xv + 469, illus. $59.95, plus postage & handling.
Trehane, Piers et al. 1995. International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. Quarterjack Publishing, Wimborne, United Kingdom. Available from: Send your name and address with the message "details" to <qp@indhort.demon.co.uk>. ISBN 0-948117-01-X. Paper. Pp. 192. £18.-This volume is indispensable for those concerned with the nomenclature of cultivated plants. It includes some extremely useful appendices, such as directories of registration authorities.
Vázquez G., J. Antonio, Ramón Cuevas G., Theodore S. Cochrane, Hugh H. Iltis, Francisco J. Santana M., & Luis Guzmán H. 1995. Flora de Manantlán. Sida, Botanical Miscellany 13: i-xxxvii, 1-312. Sida/Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 509 Pecan St., Fort Worth, TX 76102-4060, USA. (telephone: 817/ 332-4441; fax: 817/ 332-4112; e-mail: <sida@brit.org>; World-Wide Web <http://www.brit.org/sida/sbm/sbm13.htm>). ISSN 0833-1475. Paper. Illus. (incl. color). $45, plus postage and handling.-This work provides an account of 2575 species of flowering plants and ferns in one of Mexico's biologically richest protected areas, the Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra de Manantlán, which is situated in Jalisco and neighboring Colima states.
Akeroyd, John (ed.). Plant Talk. Plant Conservation Worldwide 3: 1-36. October 1995. Plant Talk, P.O. Box 400, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7KJ, U.K. Available from: P.O. Box 65226, Tucson, AZ 85728-5226, USA. Subscription: US$ 25 (individuals), US$ 60 (organizations).-
This new serial provides an interesting mix of news and views of plant conservation worldwide. A great deal of the information published appears to be of interest to the plant taxonomist.
Dubs, Balthasar (ed). 1994. "Differentiation of woodland and wet savanna habitats in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil." The Botany of Mato Grosso, Series B, No. 1: 1-103. Available from: Dr. Balthasar Dubs, Hinterzelg 35, 8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland. (fax: [41] 1-9100757).-This first number of this new series is based on the PhD Dissertation of the editor. The "Botany of Mato Grosso" is a cooperative project of the members of the Mato Grosso Botanical Committee (MGBC) for a critical and illustrated flora of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Publication is proposed to take place in occasional numbers. Series A will include revisions of single families or a group of related families of phanerogams occurring in Mato Grosso (MT) or Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). Series B will consist of miscellaneous publications (e.g., catalog of flowering plants from Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, major vegetation studies, history of botanical research in Mato Grosso, etc.).
Sangrey, Mary (ed.). 1995. The Plant Press 23, Suppl.: [1-12]. 31 December 1995. Available from: The Plant Press, Department of Botany, NHB-166, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA. ISBN not given. Free.-Initiated in 1973, this departmental newsletter has been issued 795 times! This supplement provides detailed information on the publication history of the newsletter as well as the current distribution list.
Ceska, Adolf (ed.). 1995. BEN. Botanical Electronic News No. 125. 4 February 1996. Dr. A. Ceska, P.O. Box 8546, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 3S2. ISSN 1188-603X. Submissions, subscriptions, etc., via e-mail: <aceska@freenet.victoria.bc.ca>. BEN is archived on gopher freenet.victoria.bc.ca. The URL is: <gopher://greenet.victoria.bc.ca:70/11/environment/Botany/ben>.-
The focus of BEN is botany in British Columbia, Canada, and the adjacent Pacific Northwest of the USA. Separate numbers of BEN are relatively short and distributed electronically to subscribers. It is a nice example of how a botanical newsletter can be distributed in a completely electronic form.
14 February 1996