ASPT Newsletter
December 2003
Edited by:
Kenneth R. Robertson
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 East Peabody Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA
Phone: 217 244-2171; Fax: 217 333-4949; e-mail: krrobert@uiuc.edu
The 2004 ASPT Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with "Botany 2004," 31 July – 5 August 2004 in Snowbird, UT. For more information, see <http://www. botany2004.org>. The general theme of the meeting is "Alpine Diversity: Adapted to the Peak."
It is almost time for a call to go out for nominations for the two awards presented by ASPT and also for graduate students to submit proposals for the ASPT Graduate Research Grants. The deadlines for the receipt of materials are 5 March 2004 for the graduate awards and 2 April 2004 for the Gray and Raven awards. ASPT members will receive more detailed information in the January 2004 mailing. The contact person for these awards is Lynn A. Bohs, Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E , Salt Lake City, UT 84112; phone 801 585-0380; fax 801 581-4668; e-mail <bohs@ biology.utah.edu>.
The Asa Gray Award is given by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists to an individual for outstanding accomplishments pertinent to the goals of the society. The award is intended to be international in scope. All persons, from any country, who have made significant contributions to plant systematics may be considered. Previous recipients of the award have been Rogers McVaugh (1984), Arthur Cronquist (1985), Lincoln Constance (1986),s Reed C. Rollins (1987), Charles B. Heiser (1988), Rupert C. Barneby (1989), Warren H. Wagner, Jr. (1990), Billie L. Turner (1991), Albert C. Smith (1992), Sherwin Carlquist (1993), Hugh H. Iltis (1994), Jerzy Rzedowski (1995), Peter Raven (1996), Daniel J. Crawford (1997), Sir Ian Prance (1998), Tod Stuessey (1999), William T. Stearn (2000), Robert Thorne (2001), Nathalie Uhl (2002), and Beryl Simpson (2003).
The Peter Raven Award is given by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists to a plant systematist who has made exceptional efforts at outreach to nonscientists. Examples of outreach may include, but are not limited to, 1) workshops or seminars for K – 12 teachers, local horticultural societies, garden clubs, and schools or businesses; 2) special events for the general public, e.g., nature hikes, wildflower workshops; 3) newspaper columns or op-ed articles; 4) freelance articles in newspapers, on the World Wide Web, and in horticultural or popular science magazines; 5) taxon-oriented Web sites or books that are aimed at a lay audience; 6) TV spots; 7) legislative testimony; and 8) legal defense of rare or endangered plant species. The award is intended to be international in scope. All persons, from any country, who have made significant contributions in this area, may be considered. The first recipient of the award was Peter Raven in August 2000. Subsequent recipients were Richard C. Harris (2001), Charles B. Heiser, Jr. (2002), and Frederick W. Case, Jr. (2003).
2003 ASPT Graduate Research Grants
The ASPT is pleased to announce the society's annual competition for research grants for graduate student investigators. Support is available for students (both Master's and doctoral levels) conducting fieldwork, herbarium travel, and/or laboratory research in any area of plant systematics. No grant will exceed $1000; it is unlikely that proposals from previous recipients will be funded. Proposals will be funded on the basis of merit, regardless of the research area within systematics (e.g., if all of the best proposals emphasize fieldwork, grants will be made only in that area). Proposals will be reviewed by the society's Awards and Honors Committee and must include: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) proposal (the text of which should not exceed two single-spaced, typed pages) describing the research to be conducted and emphasizing the role the grant funds would play; (3) itemized budget; (4) two letters of recommendation, one of them from the major professor. Eligibility: Applicants must be members of the ASPT at the time of the application deadline. Details regarding ASPT membership can be found at the ASPT homepage. For guidance in proposal preparation and previous grants, see "Graduate Research Grants" at the ASPT homepage <http://www.sysbot.org/grant2.htm>.
Change in On-line Access to Systematic Botany
We are pleased to announce that with issue 29(1) (January – March 2004) Systematic Botany will available online as well as in print for all ASPT members and subscribing libraries. The first issue should be available in late February, 2004. On-line access will be provided through Ingenta, one of the leading providers of on-line periodical access, currently housing over 5,400 journals for more than 260 publishers. Below are instructions in how to set up electronic access. ♦ Step 1 — Renew your ASPT membership for 2004. ♦ Step 2 — Register with IngentaSelect. To register, go to the IngentaSelect Web site <www.ingentaselect.com/register.htm> and follow the instructions given. After you have registered with IngentaSelect, they will provide you with a Customer ID number (CID). ♦ Step 3 — Activate your individual subscription to Systematic Botany. If you registered with Ingenta using a username and password, you can go to <http://www.ingentaselect.com/vl=5307866/cl=18/nw=1/rpsv/cw/aspt/03636445/conp1.htm> and click on "Individual Subscription Activation" and fill in the appropriate details. ♦ If you have any difficulty in registering or activating your subscription, please e-mail < help@ingenta.com> for information and advice.
We would like to invite everyone to join a new e-mail list that will focus on issues related to herbaria. This idea of setting up this list was one product of a discussion on protecting and strengthening herbaria that was organized by Lynn Clark and Alan Prather and took place at our annual meeting in Mobile in late July. Maintaining support for herbaria and keeping them relevant in academia and society has long been problematic, but the pressures are increasing in the current environment. Most of us who manage herbaria are challenged with a full roster of duties besides those directly related to the herbarium, and therefore don't have time to be full-time fund-raisers, public relations gurus, or field-trip leaders. Yet to have a successful program, these are among the hats we are expected to wear. Because of the increasing pressures on herbaria, ASPT is sponsoring "HERBARIA," where we can share ideas and experiences relating to building and sustaining a broad basis of support for herbaria. To subscribe to the mailing list, go to <http://scarab.science.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/herbaria>. If you have any questions or problems subscribing, please contact the list administrator, Aaron Liston <listona@science.oregonstate.edu>. Examples of information to share: If you have recently received "good press" in your local paper, share your experience with others, from how you first made contact with the reporter to how the press was received at your institution. If you need money for a project, ask the list for options for funding sources. If you have a great public education program, tell everyone how you did it. We hope this list will facilitate building upon our success and making a stronger, more interactive, herbarium community. — Aaron Liston, List Manager; Lucinda McDade, ASPT President; Alan Prather, ASPT Collections Committee Chair.
Summary: Maintaining Support for Herbaria in the 21st Century
At the Botany 2003 Meeting in Mobile, AL in July 2003, a discussion section was held to consider the current challenges facing herbaria. The discussion section was co-sponsored by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, the American Fern Society, and the Botanical Society of America and co-organized by L. Alan Prather (Michigan State University) and Lynn G. Clark (Iowa State University). Five panelists contributed to the session: Barbara Ertter (University of California, Berkley), Gerald (Stinger) Guala (National Science Foundation, NSF), Aaron Liston (Oregon State University), Muriel Poston (NSF), and Judith Skog (NSF). The program included a panel presentation, followed by a brief question and answer period, break-out sessions focused on narrower topics, and a group discussion at the conclusion. There were an estimated 80 people in attendance, with a smaller number participating in the break-out sessions and final discussion.
Maintaining support for herbaria has long been problematic, but the pressures are increasing in the current environment. In the near future, several herbaria are likely to be closed and many more are likely to have their institutional support reduced. Nearly all curators will be under increased pressure to justify the support that they receive. The panel/discussion section focused on several related issues: 1) How do we justify our existence? 2) What should our programs be doing to maintain support and demonstrate relevance? 3) How do we get the larger systematics community to discuss these issues and to promote collections-based research?
Introduction. Alan Prather briefly introduced the topic and provided an overview of specific situations where there are recent or ongoing crises. Lynn Clark introduced the five panelists.
Panel Discussion. The first panelist to speak was Barbara Ertter, who presented her ideas about using node-based interactions among regional herbaria as a mechanism to move the floristic inventory of the U.S. forward, while at the same time building community support for herbaria. The impression may be that the flora of the U.S. is well-known but current distributional data are not adequate for informed management decisions and, furthermore, one estimate suggests that 5% of the vascular plant species in the U.S. remain unknown to science. Furthermore, distributional data are woefully incomplete. Herbaria should take the lead role in completing the floristic inventory. Because most discoveries are made at the local level, what is needed is a network to support local activities. Ertter's model of increasing the effectiveness of local floristic efforts is a node-based model, incorporating local and regional herbaria. Local herbaria would provide material and intellectual resources and develop human resources, all directed to focused floristic work at the local level. Regional herbaria would provide coordination among local herbaria and would interface with other regional herbaria to facilitate communication at the national and international level. The structure would be formalized and participating institutions would have to apply to become a member and would be required to meet certain minimum expectations. The node structure would facilitate individual herbaria in presenting their mission and in acquiring support.
The second panelist to speak was Aaron Liston. He spoke about the successful program at the Oregon State University Herbarium, and commented about the lessons they have learned. He pointed out the need for herbaria to remain open and easily accessible. High visibility and the perception of access is a prerequisite for success, as is integration into the department or unit. At universities, the curator should be a tenured professor so that the herbarium has a respected spokesperson. Undergraduates should be integrated into the herbarium to fulfill the educational role of the herbarium and to provide inexpensive labor; NSF funds are available for this. Curators need to take an active role in educating administrators about the importance of collections. Workshops and outreach programs should be developed to keep the local community involved, especially in ways that enhance the herbarium. Local floristic work should be a priority for herbaria because it keeps a local constituency and provides a clearly defined role of the herbarium that administrators will appreciate.
Judith Skog then provided a NSF-wide overview of opportunities for natural history collections. She encouraged everyone to visit the NSF Web site and educate themselves about the myriad of programs that could provide support to collections. Crosscutting programs, that are sometimes overlooked, include, Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) for equipment and Science and Technology Centers (STC) to enhance intellectual and physical infrastructures within and between disciplines. Within the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research (FIBR) provides awards to support integrative research which addresses major questions in biology, and Research Coordination Networks (RCN) in Biological Sciences was established to encourage and foster communications and collaborations among scientists with common goals and interests. Both of these programs are potential sources of funds that could benefit natural history collections. Within the Division of Environmental Biology (DEB), several programs are of direct relevance: Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET), Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories Program (BS&I), and Systematic Biology. One upcoming opportunity to keep watch for is a potential new program, National Ecological Observatory Network, or NEON. Dr. Skog also stressed the need to include support for collections in research proposals, especially those requiring voucher specimens (e.g., Tree of Life).
Muriel Poston discussed the role and importance of the Biological Research Collections (BRC) program. This program provides support for biological collection enhancement, computerization of specimen-related data, and research into methods for specimen curation and collection management. This is the program that most directly supports herbaria, but the many other programs mentioned above should not be overlooked. Stinger Guala followed Dr. Poston and discussed the Biological Databases and Informatics Program, which encourages new approaches to the management, analysis, and dissemination of biological knowledge. He commented that he receives few proposals from botanists, but that digitization and imaging are critical aspects of collection enhancement. The emphasis should be on high-throughput data capture. Participants in the discussion were encouraged to learn more about all of these programs.
Break-out Sessions and Follow-up Discussion. Two break-out groups discussed the themes of 1) node-based interactions among herbaria and 2) educating administrators. For the first theme, the following points emerged in that group: many regional networks are already developing; formalization of networks by certification might provide some leverage for support; all sizes of herbaria should be involved; compilation of existing records is important but targets also need to be established (e.g., species distributions); and obtaining funds for a workshop might be a way to get this started. For the second theme, the following points emerged: a herbarium is no different from any other academic unit, all are under scrutiny; it is important to talk to administrators about grants and outreach activities; administrative structures vary in terms of the level to which the herbarium reports directly; it is important to work with native plant societies; and an obvious common characteristic is that herbaria take up a lot of space.
In the general discussion that followed the reports from the two groups, the following points were made:
Judy Skog noted that the node-based network is similar to the NEON model, and that a natural history museum could be distributed regionally and continentally. She also suggested that herbarium directors consider inviting congressperson staff to visit.
Barbara Ertter noted that there is a public expectation that mapping should be completed already; the public in general does not have an understanding of the work that remains to be done.
Robert Gropp, representing AIBS, suggested that talking with NSCA would be a good idea, and that he is interested in exploring ways to do a workshop, get information out, etc. Tim Lowrey agreed that NSCA would be a logical place to start.
Other comments and suggestions (without attribution) were:
Organization: does museum structure or independent existence provide more safety?
Many regional groups are developing already, though not necessarily for floristic inventories. Other ways networks can work besides floristic approaches?
Is certification of herbaria a good idea?
Is there some forum (e.g., SPNHC) that we can use or build to track herbaria?
What are ways that information can be shared, and how can societies help?
How can resources be distributed more effectively? A LISTSERVE was suggested as a good starting point for discussion, and Aaron Liston volunteered to set this up. (As a postscript, the new list serve has already been established by Aaron and is being served from Oregon State. As of this writing, there are over 260 subscribers, and there have been many lively discussions. To subscribe, or to learn more about the list, visit <http://scarab.science.oregonstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/herbaria>.
Publicity suggestions included making friends with your local science reporter, and getting articles into your institution's alumni magazine.
Use collections to get information on collectors as a development database.
Property rights issues must be taken into account in creating databases; working with landowner-oriented groups is worthwhile.
We need to fully understand and document what remains to be done.
Having a coherent mission, and being able to articulate it well, is important, especially when an herbarium is under scrutiny. A good example is the herbarium at the University of Arkansas, where their mission to complete the Flora of Arkansas helped them survive closure, while other parts of the former Museum did not survive.
Sharing our experiences and ideas should help us come to a broader understanding of these issues and should be beneficial to all of us, even those of us not directly threatened in this present environment
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the five panelists who agreed to discuss their thoughts and experiences: Barbara Ertter, Gerald (Stinger) Guala, Aaron Liston, Muriel Poston, and Judith Skog. We also thank the supporting societies, and Jeff Osborn, the Program Director for the meeting. Barbara Ertter supplied us with a CD-ROM version of her presentation and Dick Jensen and Anna Monfils gave us their notes, so that the summary might be as accurate as possible.
— Alan Prather (Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University) and Lynn G. Clark (Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University).
New Issues of Systematic Botany Monographs
Volume 66. Monograph of Phoradendron (Viscaceae), Job Kuijt, 643 pp, hardback, September 2003. ISBN 0-912861-66-5. US orders: $70.00; nonUS orders: $80.00. Postage and handling included. Send orders to Systematic Botany Monographs, University of Michigan Herbarium, 3600 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-2287, USA, with checks payable to "ASPT"; VISA and MasterCard accepted. Fax: 734-647-5719; e-mail<chra@umich.edu>.
ASPT Awards Presented at Annual Meeting
The 2003 George R. Cooley Award: This award is given annually by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists for the best contributed paper in plant systematics presented at the annual meeting. The 2003 award was given to Lucia Lohmann, University of Missouri-St. Louis, for her talk entitled "A new generic classification for Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae)." The 2003 Peter Raven Award: This award is given annually by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists to recognize a plant systematist who has made exceptional efforts at outreach to nonscientists. The 2003 award was made to Frederick W. Case, Jr. of Saginaw, Michigan. The 2003 Asa Gray Award: This award is given annually by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists in recognition of outstanding accomplishments pertinent to the goals of the Society. The 2003 award was made to Dr. Beryl Simpson of the University of Texas at Austin.
Richard Alden Howard, 1917 – 2003
Richard Alden (Dick) Howard, 86, died on 18
September 2003. He was a professor at Harvard University for 50 years and
director of the Arnold Arboretum for 24 years (1954 – 1978). He was also formerly
assistant curator and later Vice President for Botanical Science at the New
York Botanical Garden, and a former professor at the University of Connecticut.
He was director of the Arnold Arboretum during the contentious period when a
portion of the herbarium collections of the Arnold were moved from Jamaica
Plain and united with the collections of the Gray Herbarium in Cambridge, a
move strongly opposed by the Arboretum's Visiting Committee; eventually, the
case was heard by the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Howard's strong leadership
was crucial during this difficult time. Born in Stamford, CT, and raised in
Warren, Ohio, he received his A.B. from Miami University of Ohio, and his A.M.
and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University. In 1977 he was awarded an honorary
D.Sc. from Framingham State College.
Howard was drafted into the Army Air Corps during World War II and served as an aviation physiologist during which time he organized and conducted the Jungle Survival Program of the School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, FL, the progenitor of the current Air-Sea Rescue Service. He prepared survival manuals that explained how to live off the land for airmen downed in the Pacific region. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for this lifesaving work. One interesting story from this period is that dermatitis was frequent among airplane mechanics in the Pacific who changed tires and serviced brakes. Howard was called in to investigate because the wartime oils were plant-based due to petroleum shortages, and the culprit turned out to be the oil extracted from cashew shells (Anacardium occidentale, Anacardiaceae) that was used in the manufacture of brake linings. He continued to serve as consultant to this program as it evolved in the different branches of the services. He also served as consultant for the Arctic Desert Tropic Information Center. During the Vietnam War, Howard was consulted on another situation — dermatitis was appearing in a wide circle around the buttocks of soldiers. Howard found that latrine seats had been covered with lacquer, the sap from Rhus vernicifera (or Toxicodendron vernicifluum).
Howard's scientific interests and accomplishments were diverse. His taxonomic specialty was the genus Coccoloba (Polygonaceae), the subject of numerous publications between 1949 and 1992. He also studied the Icacinaceae. Another area of expertise was the anatomy of the stem-node-leaf continuum of dicots, resulting in an often cited summary paper published in 1974.
As a Harvard graduate student in 1940, Howard visited the Atkins Institute garden in Cuba, then a unit of Harvard's Arnold Arboretum. (This is now the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden; Howard revisited the garden in 1999.) From his first visit grew a lifelong interest in plants of the West Indies, resulting in many publications, beginning in his graduate student days, continuing through his publication of an article listing the equivalent modern names for all of the names used in Nicholas von Jacquin's Enumeratio Systematica Plantarum, in which many plants from the West Indies are described. His most significant research in this area resulted in his six-volume Flora of the Lesser Antilles (1974 – 89). The vegetation of volcanic islands was of particular interest, resulting in a 1972 article on volcanism and vegetation in the Lesser Antilles. In 1950, he had made general collections in the vicinity of the Soufrière Hills volcano in St. Vincent. One collection seemed to be a new genus or species of either the Gesneriaceae or Scrophulariaceae. He returned to the volcano in 1972 in search of additional material. Despite indications that the volcano might be preparing for an eruption (the water temperature in the crater was 80deg. C), Howard and his son Bruce searched the area. Today, Bruce remembers trekking all day in the smoke and steam searching for a plant he had never seen before. Finally, he pointed to a plant near the rim of the volcano, and that turned out to be the right one. Numerous specimens were collected, and after further study Howard named the plant Lindernia brucei (Scrophulariaceae).
In the 1950s and 1960s, he played an active role in helping aluminum companies revegetate strip-mined ore areas in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Hawaii. This work led to effective rehabilitation of mined-out lands and proved dramatically that strip-mining for bauxite ore need not be forever damaging to the environment but could, in fact, improve the soil if better crops and land use are established after mining. Howard obtained a grant from the National Science Foundation to study the ecology of elfin forests found at high elevations in Puerto Rico, resulting in 17 publications, as well as successful collaboration with doctors at the National Institutes of Health in their search for possible cancer medicines.
Throughout his career, Howard accumulated what he called "a miscellany of notes" that he used in lectures. He put these together into the wonderfully entertaining book, An Almanac of Botanical Trivia, privately published by the author in 1996. Rarely found in libraries, it is still available from the Missouri Botanical Garden Press <http://www.mbgpress.org/>. See a short review in ASPT Newsletter 11(1), July 1997 <http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/ASPT/newsletter11_1.html> and a longer review in Taxon 45:398 – 399, 1996 <http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~schmid/taxonHoward.html>.
Howard received many honors from professional societies as well as horticultural and scientific organizations, such as the Allerton Medal of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Medal from the American Horticultural Society, the George Robert White Medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and other awards from the American Herb Society, the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences in Denmark, and the Garden Club of America. He served as treasurer of ASPT from 1952 – 1956.
Howard and his wife Betty traveled the world looking at plants. He was a member of the Botanical Society of America delegation to the People's Republic of China, which was one of the first scientific delegations permitted into China after the revolution. An active and popular lecturer, Howard had a way of making plants interesting to his audience and he was invited to speak all over the country, illustrating his lectures with slides from his collection of 27,000 botanical images. In the Boston area his lecture "A Botanist in Your Grocery Store" was often requested, and he and colleague Carroll E. Wood, Jr. led a series of dinner lecture classes called "Botany in Boston Restaurants" where he arranged the menu with the restaurant and then described the botanical and culinary properties of the plant material being served to the dining participants. At one Greek restaurant, one dish served was dolmathes, stuffed grape leaves. Howard asked the chef where they obtained their grape leaves, not readily available in Boston at that time of year. Forgetting where the group was from, the chef replied, "Why I take them off grape vines at the Arnold Arboretum!"
Howard was a tall man with a strong voice, enormous energy, and a commanding presence. His classes at Harvard were filled, despite their reputation of being intensive and demanding; in his plant family class, he didn't cover selected families, he covered them all. Both his classes and lectures were filled with famous stories. When teaching general biology one year, he went to the grocery store for some bleu cheese for the students to examine under the microscope for Penicillium. But no Penicillium was present. Enraged, Howard took the cheese back to the grocery store, exclaiming, "There is no mold in this cheese!" The clerk replied, "Sir, we do not sell moldy cheese." Once the situation was clarified, the grocery store investigated with the cheese manufacturer and found out that the blue veins were actually dyed bread crumbs.
Botanists from around the world, staff members of the Arnold Arboretum, and graduate students at Harvard remember many occasions when the Howards entertained them at their house at the Case Estates in Weston. On one occasion they invited a new neighbor. Dick introduced him to his young son Philip as Dr. so and so. And Philip quickly responded, "Are you a sick doctor or a think doctor?" Often the meals included a variety of West Indian dishes featuring assorted fruits and vegetables so familiar to Dick from his travels, while international botanists would be introduced to American foods.
He was married to Elizabeth S. (Betty) Howard for 57 years, who predeceased him. He leaves his children Jean Howard Rodriguez, husband Ed, and grandchildren Timothy, Benjamin, and Lydia Rodriguez of New York, NY; Barbara Howard, M.D., husband Ray Sturner, M.D., and grandchildren Rebecca, Samuel, Benjamin, and Leonard Sturner of Baltimore, MD; Bruce Howard, wife Love Albrecht, and grandson Griffin Howard of Hingham, MA; and Philip Howard, USN, and wife Barbie of Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Donations may be sent to the "Richard A. Howard Fund in Botany" at Miami University, 725 East Chestnut Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056. — Based on text supplied by Jean Rodriguez and Bruce Howard, with additions by Kenneth R. Robertson and Lorin I. Nevling.
Craig William Green, 1949 – 2003
Craig William Greene, the Elizabeth Battles
Newlin Chair in Botany at the College of the Atlantic (COA) in Bar Harbor,
Maine, died on October 2, 2003 following a long struggle with pancreatic
cancer. He is missed by family, friends, students, and colleagues for his
enthusiasm, professional accomplishments, and friendship.
Craig was born in Geneva, New York, and earned a B.S. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, majoring in forest botany. He received an M.Sc. in plant taxonomy from the University of Alberta, where he worked on the taxonomy of Smelowskia calycina (Cruciferae) in North America under the guidance of John G. Packer. His Ph.D. was in biology from Harvard University, his major advisor was Reed C. Rollins, and his dissertation was "The Systematics of Calamagrostis (Gramineae) in eastern North America."
After completing his Ph.D. in 1980, Craig went to COA where he was a revered teacher and active in many other parts of the institution. Craig's teaching gift came from his broad understanding of the natural world, clarity of expression, and compassion for students. In Alberta, in Cambridge, and at COA, he taught a wide range of courses. In more than two decades at COA, he did courses in biology, economic botany, introductory botany, genetics, morphology and diversity of plants, natural history, plant taxonomy, plant systematics, population and community ecology, and woody plants. He especially enjoyed field courses and took students to many wonderful sites on Mount Desert Island (MDI). He chaired several committees at COA and, starting in 1996 was Associate Dean of Advanced Studies with administrative responsibility for the Master's of Philosophy in human ecology.
Craig's research focused on agamic complexes and the coastal flora of Maine. His work on high polyploidy, facultative agamospermy, and complex patterns of morphology in Calamagrostis (Poaceae) was a significant contribution to our knowledge of evolution in agamic complexes. His interest in Calamagrostis also included floristic treatments, such as The Jepson Manual (California), Vascular Plants of British Columbia, and Flora of North America (his treatment is in press). Craig's expertise in agamic complexes easily translated to Amelanchier (Rosaceae), which was particularly attractive because coastal Maine is a center of diversity of the genus. Craig got COA students involved in getting chromosome counts, carrying out experimental pollinations, and assessing patterns of population variability in populations of MDI shadbushes. Craig held high standards in his research and publications. His science was founded on rigorous methodology and lead to prudent conclusions that were succinctly presented and illustrated with high-quality graphics.
Not long after moving to Maine, Craig began working on its coastal flora, especially on MDI and in Acadia National Park. With students and collaborators, he carried out surveys of endangered plant species and freshwater aquatic vegetation. He worked for many years on the flora of the park, and a publication on this flora is in preparation. He was an ecological consultant for Acadia National Park starting in 1985 and a member of the Maine Endangered Plant Technical Advisory Committee (later called the Botanical Advisory Group) starting in 1987.
Craig balanced his commitment to his profession with devotion to family and friends. He also sustained passionate interests in fly-fishing, home-brewing, bicycling, and nature photography. He had a life-long love of fishing mountain brooks, especially those near the Adirondack cabin built by his great grandfather and grandfather in 1911. Many friends delighted in his high-quality home brews, which were also home-labeled with names such as Otter Ale and Badger Beer. His beer-brewing log records a total of 1,535 gallons, with production extending into the last year of his life. In the late 1980s Craig took up bicycling. He helped organize and rode in the annual Tour de Cure fund-raising ride on MDI every year that it was held, including 2003. Except for this year, he always rode the 100-kilometer option in the tour, a beautiful ride near the shores of MDI. During his many botanical field trips, Craig took pictures. In the past couple of years he developed some of his favorites, and they reflect his love of the natural world and his creativity. There was a show of his photographs at COA in 2002. The high esteem held for Craig was clearly evident on 21 May 2003 when the Botany Lab at COA was dedicated to him. The event packed an auditorium with COA faculty and staff, current and former students, family, as well as many professional colleagues and friends from near and far. For almost three hours, there was heart-felt gratitude, fond recollections, and praise for all Craig did for so many people. The words on the bronze plaque outside the Botany Lab summarize his stature: "His knowledge, excellence in teaching, and enthusiasm for the role of plants in human affairs have inspired two decades of students and beautified the landscape of our campus."
Craig was supported throughout his illness by family and many friends, and he died at home among them. — Christopher S. Campbell, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722.
George H. Ward, 1916 – 2003
In 1940, when George Ward was a young man and had just recently earned his Bachelor's degree from Washington State College, he bicycled from his home in Chelan, Washington, to White Salmon where he had accepted a position to teach Vocational Agriculture at Columbia Union High School. His responsibilities included animal husbandry, farm management of crops and soils, and farm shop. He also trained judging teams and organized a camera club. His classes were taught downstairs in the building now locally called the Park Center. To come full circle, his final honorifics also were held in the Park Center.
He taught at White Salmon for two years, and then, being invited by Dr. Marion Ownbey, returned to Washington State College to continue his scientific education. George, who was endowed with a natural ability for plant identification, was excused from formal classes to do an independent study of the conifers on campus. The result was an identification key which still is used by botanists. The main part of his work towards a Master's degree was collecting and identifying the flora of Chelan County, Washington. For two summers he covered the rugged, mountainous area north of Lake Chelan. He traveled by foot and was supported by two pack-horses to carry supplies, equipment, and continually enlarging bundles of dried plants.
His first summer's collection was interrupted the day he found a note from Uncle Sam tacked to a Forest Service telephone pole. As he was near the head of Lake Chelan, he and his horses, with some encouragement, leaped aboard the mail boat and answered the call which cannot be ignored. After basic training in Utah, he was sent to Africa and Italy, where he was in the campaigns of Naples, Foggia, Roma-Arno, Northern Apennines, and the Po Valley. He was Information Specialist for all Quartermaster Troops in Italy, and held responsibility for helping soldiers obtain educational and vocational training at foreign universities.
After his discharge in December 1945, he returned to Washington State College to fulfill requirements of a Master's Degree in Science. In December 1946 he and Ann Markgraf, of White Salmon, were married in Pullman, Washington. In the summer of 1948 they moved to Palo Alto, California where George was enrolled in Stanford University's graduate school. Following detailed research his doctoral thesis, on biosystematics of the sagebrush complex, Artemisia section Seriphidium, in North America, was published in 1953 in Contributions from the Dudley Herbarium. They lived on the Stanford campus six years while he earned his Ph.D., was on the faculty for two years, and became the father of two wonderful little girls, Karen and Barbara.
Quite adverse to crowds, he avoided Stanford's graduation ceremonies, packed for his summer's commitment, and traveled by bus and plane to the northernmost point of Alaska, Point Barrow, where he and fellow scientists engaged in research for Johns Hopkins University. His summer was spent collecting plants and fighting off the mosquitoes on the north slopes of the Brooks Range. There were ample opportunities to associate with the local Eskimo population, to take many photos, and to examine artifacts of the area. In the fall of 1954, after being accepted as Assistant Professor of Biology at Knox College, George moved his family to Galesburg, an historic town settled in 1837 on the then vast prairie of northwestern Illinois. The amazing scope of his educational background, giving him the ability to teach nearly anything in the field of science, fitted him well into the teaching requirements of a small liberal arts college. He was for 17 years chairman of the Biology Department and held an endowed Chair.
He was deeply aware that science should not be enslaved by consumer technology. He carried deep concerns for our earth's serious pollution of air and water; and for the disregard of humans to recognize the need for world-wide human-fertility control. As a scientist and scholar, he was aghast at those practicing ecology while having no knowledge of ecosystem relationships. George was instrumental in restoration of Knox's 760 acre nature preserve and field station, where strip-mine spoil banks were planted to recreate the tallgrass prairie and delicately balanced ecosystem that once covered much of America's mid-section. [See <http://www.knox.edu/greenoaksfieldstation.xml> — editor] He was also involved in the planning and designing of Knox's new Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center.
Dr. Ward taught at Knox for nearly 30 years. He then returned to his native state, designed and built a post-and-beam house in the lower Trout Lake Valley. Since retirement he retained his scholarly habits. Those of us around him all came to him with our questions on plants and animal identifications, on ecology and geology — the amazing scope of his knowledge, his gentle way of sharing, will be deeply missed.
Loren Rieseberg, Indiana University, was named a MacArthur Fellow for 2003. The announcement said that, "Loren Rieseberg is a botanist who uses research on sunflowers to address the oldest and most vexing problem in evolutionary biology — how species originate. One longstanding debate is whether geographic isolation is required for speciation, and if not, how new species occupying a single territory ('sympatric') can become both viable and reproductively isolated from parent species. Rieseberg was able to show that one sunflower species, Helianthus anomalus, results from an ancient natural hybridization of two other older species. Remarkably, Rieseberg has been able to replicate this hybridization under controlled conditions, in effect, reproducibly reenacting the creation of a new species. These results suggest that some factor intrinsic to the chromosomal structure of the sunflower facilitates a recombination process, leading to viable, reproductively isolated sympatric species. His genetic mapping studies support this hypothesis, and similar reports of others in different species indicate that hybridization-induced chromosomal rearrangement may be a widespread phenomenon. Throughout his work, Rieseberg applies a full range of theoretical and experimental approaches, from classical crossing experiments to contemporary molecular biologic techniques, to answer key questions of evolutionary genetics. Loren Rieseberg received a B.A. (1981) from Southern College, M.S. (1984) from the University of Tennessee, and Ph.D. (1987) from Washington State University. He was an assistant professor at Claremont Graduate School and Research Scientist at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont (1987 – 1993). Rieseberg was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Indiana University, Bloomington (1993). In 1996, Rieseberg was named Director of the Plant Sciences Program, and in 1997, he became the Class of 1954 Professor in the Biology Department. He has published more than 150 articles in professional journals." Funded by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, each fellow will receive $500,000 in "no-strings-attached" support over the next five years.
John P. Janovec has joined the staff of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) as head of the Andes-Amazon Program. He has a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and a B.S. from Kansas State University. Most recently, he was a postdoctoral research fellow with Scott Mori at the New York Botanical Garden. He goes to BRIT with considerable field research in Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, the Great Plains of the United States, and East Texas. His systematic expertise is in the Myristicaceae, and he is co-founder of "The Neotropical Botany Pages" <http://www.botanypages.org/>. His new contact information is <jjanovec@brit.org>; 817-332-4441, ext. 34; Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 509 Pecan Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4060.
Amanda K. Neill was hired in June, 2003 by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) as Collections Manager and Head of Botanical Information. Her primary responsibility is the direction of the BRIT Herbarium (BRIT/SMU/VDB Collections), the second largest in Texas, with approximately 1 million specimens. Neill was previously a doctoral fellow at the New York Botanical Garden and the City University of New York, where she has completed her candidacy. She continues her monographic work on Gurania (Cucurbitaceae) at BRIT. Contact Neill directly for loan requests at <aneill@brit.org>; 817-332-4441, ext. 17; Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 509 Pecan Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4060.
Sarah E. Edwards, a student of Dr. Michael Heinrich at the Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy in the School of Pharmacy at the University of London, is the recipient of the 2003 Lawrence Memorial Award. For her dissertation research, Ms. Edwards has undertaken a study on the medical ethnobotany, from plant systematics to indigenous taxonomy, of the Wik and Kugu people of Cape York Peninsula. She will use the proceeds of the award for travel in Australia to conduct field research. For information on how to apply for the 2004 Lawrence Memorial Award, see "Funding and Award Opportunities." This award honors Dr. George H. M. Lawrence, founding Director of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation.
Persons in the job market should consult the Newsletter/ "Current News" section of the ASPT homepage <http://www.sysbot.org> for detailed descriptions. Below are very abbreviated listings of job notices that have appeared on that source; complete information needed for applications is not included here. For many positions, the deadlines have passed and the positions may be filled. The listing here is primarily for readers who might be interested in which organizations have had openings in the general area of plant systematics. The date the positions were posted is in square brackets [day/month/year]. Nearly all announcements have been edited to conserve space — be sure to obtain complete descriptions before applying.
Director/Curator of the Deam Herbarium (IND) of Indiana University: An individual with herbarium experience and a Ph.D. in the area of systematic botany is sought to direct and curate the Deam Herbarium (IND) of Indiana University, Bloomington, with present holdings of over 140,000 specimens. This nontenure-track, research-scientist position will be a 10-month appointment (comparable to faculty appointments), with summer months salaried by teaching a local flora course and carrying out externally funded research. Ten-month salary will be commensurate with experience. See Web site <http://www.bio.indiana.edu/events/jobs/index.html#research> for more complete information; direct technical questions to Gerald J. Gastony <gastony@indiana.edu>. Applications are sought by 30 January 2004 for a position starting 1 August 2004. Send curriculum vitae, letter of application addressing training qualifications and research plans, and three letters of reference to: Herbarium Search Committee., Department of Biology, Indiana University, Jordan Hall 142, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-3700 U.S.A. [Posted 2 December 2003]
Collections Manager, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont California: We are seeking a Collections Manager (Curatorial Assistant III) to manage day-to-day operation of the herbarium, including administration of the specimen label and record keeping databases (custom FileMaker Pro format) and herbarium's computer network; coordinating and/or performing routine collection management (preparation of plant specimens for inclusion in herbarium, specimen filing, sending, and receiving of loans, gifts, exchanges, and other transactions, record keeping activity associated with specimen transactions and accessioning); training and supervision of curatorial interns, lower level curatorial assistants, graduate student research assistants, and volunteers; and associated record keeping activity. Assists the curator with coordinating and executing special curatorial projects, including organizing, coordinating, and participating in field collecting and research activities; identification and labeling of field collections; and writing or assisting in the writing of technical reports, scientific publications, grant applications, etc. Qualifications include a Master's degree in botany, biology, or equivalent environmental science, and/or two years experience in an active herbarium or similar museum or collection-oriented facility strongly preferred. Demonstrated understanding of basic taxonomic principles and characteristics of major plant families and a working knowledge of California flora desirable. Strong writing and verbal skills, the ability to type, and basic computer skills (word processing, databases, simple graphics) essential. Manual dexterity sufficient to prepare specimens neatly and quickly. Physical strength sufficient to safely lift and carry boxes of specimens and supplies (50 – 60+ lbs.). Ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork under a variety of environmental conditions desirable. Ability to follow instructions, work successfully with others, and work independently with minimal supervision critical. See the complete job description at <http://www.rsabg.org/herbarium/job>; refer technical questions about the position to either Michael Denslow e-mail <michael.denslow@cgu.edu> or Steve Boyd e-mail <steve.boyd@cgu.edu >. [Posted 2 December 2003]
Faculty Member in Botany/Plant Biology, College of the Atlantic: College of the Atlantic (COA) is a small, accredited, private college offering the B.A. and M.Phil. in human ecology. Founded in 1969, the ocean-front campus is located in Bar Harbor, Maine, adjacent to Acadia National Park. Faculty organization is nondepartmental, and the college has a system of self-governance. The innovative curriculum includes: self-directed, interdisciplinary study; team teaching; involvement of undergraduates in research; and a commitment to prepare students to address environmental and social problems. COA seeks a full-time faculty member in plant biology, to begin in August 2004. The position involves teaching five classes a year, advising students, and directing senior projects and independent studies. All COA faculty collaborate in democratic governance, committee work, and crafting a shared vision of human ecological education. The position requires excellent teaching skills, the ability to engage students at all levels, and the motivation to collaborate with faculty in all areas of the college. Learn more about COA by visiting our Web page <http://www.coa.edu>. COA is seeking a botanist with strong taxonomic skills and field experience whose interests and expertise will enhance our strength in field-based instruction. The successful candidate must offer courses in local flora, plant systematics, and plant taxonomy. Also desirable is the ability to offer courses in some of the following: economic botany, ethnobotany, evolutionary history of plants, forest ecology, and interdisciplinary courses that help make connections to other areas of the curriculum. The position requires developing projects and field experiences for students that utilize local resources, e.g., Acadia National Park, the college's arboretum and field stations on two islands in the Gulf of Maine, Beech Hill Organic Farm and Forest, and the college's museum of natural history. The new faculty member will also share responsibility for curating our herbarium. The position requires a Ph.D. in biology or a closely related area, teaching experience, and research and/or teaching experience in the field. Send a cover letter, a statement of teaching philosophy, vita, and three letters of reference to: Plant Biology Search Committee, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Review of applications will begin 5 January 2004 and continue until the position is filled. [Posted 26 November 2003]
Systematic Botanist, Auburn University: The Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in the area of vascular plant systematic botany. Individuals applying must have a Ph.D. in biological sciences or an equivalent field and be currently authorized to work in the United States. Postdoctoral training is preferred and the candidate must have communication skills necessary to be an effective teacher. Candidates must have demonstrated skills in field identification of plants. The candidate will serve as the Director of The Freeman Herbarium, Alabama's state herbarium, and must be well versed in the curation of plants. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an externally funded research program, and candidates that incorporate molecular methodologies in their research are preferred. The candidate will teach systematic botany and also teach in the general biology program. For information about the Department of Biological Sciences and for links to the campus and the Auburn community, see our Web site <http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/biology/>. Candidates should send a curriculum vitae, statements of research interests, curatorial experience, and teaching philosophy along with three names of references (including mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail) to: Professor Joe H. Cherry, Chair, Systematic Botanist Search Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, Room 101 Life Sciences Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5407. The review of applications will begin on 15 December 2003 and continue until a candidate is selected. Auburn University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. [Posted 14 November 2003]
Two Plant Biology Positions, Kent State University: The Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University invites applications for two tenure-track assistant professorships. Position one is for a plant evolutionary biologist with interests in population genetics, molecular evolution, or related areas. Position two is for a plant biologist with interests in developmental biology, genomics, or related areas. Both positions are to commence in fall 2004. We seek candidates using molecular approaches in their field who will complement existing departmental strengths in evolutionary biology, ecology, or physiology. The successful candidates will be expected to develop a vigorous extramurally funded research program and to contribute to departmental teaching at the undergraduate and graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) levels. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field and postdoctoral experience. Applications should include a curriculum vitae, concise statements of research and teaching goals, and recent reprints. Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference sent in support of the application. A review of completed applications will begin on 30 November 2003 and will continue until the position is filled. More information about the Department of Biological Sciences is available at <http://www.kent.edu/biology>. Please send all materials to: Chair, Plant Evolution Search Committee or Chair, Plant Developmental Biology/Genomics Search Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001. Kent State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. [Posted 5 August 2003]
Molecular, Evolutionary Systematics, University of Mississippi: The Department of Biology at The University of Mississippi seeks tenure track assistant professors in molecular evolutionary systematics; specialization open. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a biological field; the ability to establish and maintain a nationally competitive research program; and a commitment to teaching excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To apply, please submit (1) statement of research and teaching interests, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) reprints of up to five recent published or submitted papers, and (4) names and contact information for four references to: Dr. Murray Nabors, Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled or an adequate applicant pool is established. See <http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/biology/index.html> for more information. Please visit our on-line employment service at <www.jobs.olemiss.edu>. The University of Mississippi is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. [Posted 8 October 2003]
Evolution and Systematics of Fungi, University of Michigan: The Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the University Herbarium solicit applications for a tenured faculty position in evolution and systematics of fungi to fill the Wehmeyer Chair. We seek accomplished individuals whose primary research interests are in aspects of fungal evolutionary biology such as molecular evolution and systematics, evolution of adaptations, or evolution of development. We are also interested in individuals who place fungal evolutionary processes in ecological contexts by collaborating with plant and microbial ecologists in the department. Teaching may include a course in fungal evolution or diversity, and contributions to courses in evolution, systematics, and the individual's research specialization. The candidate will also work with a collections coordinator and provide scholarly leadership in the use of the herbarium's outstanding research collection of fungi and lichens. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. The university is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples. To apply, send a curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests and experience, evidence of teaching excellence, copies of publications, and names and addresses of three references to: Chair, Fungal Evolution and Systematics Search Committee, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 830 N. University, Room 2019X, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048. Review of applications will begin 24 November 2003. The University of Michigan is a nondiscriminatory, affirmative action employer. [Posted 8 October 2003]
Plant Systematics, University of Texas-Pan American: The Department of Biology at UTPA <http://www.panam.edu/dept/biology/> is seeking a plant systematist. This is a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level for fall 2004. Research emphasis on evolutionary relationships among plants and/or plant ecology desired. Successful candidates will have a Ph.D. in a relevant field; post-doctoral experience preferred. Successful candidates will teach introductory and advanced undergraduate and Master's courses, develop courses in their area of expertise, and conduct externally funded research. It is desirable that the successful candidate has research interests that complement existing (e.g., Center for Subtropical Studies) or planned (e.g., Ph.D. in biomedical sciences) programs, or that exploit UTPA's setting. Research lab space is available; salary and start-up are negotiable. UTPA is located in a region of unusual biological diversity and interest, the subtropical Rio Grande Valley, near the Gulf of Mexico. UTPA is the 10th largest university in Texas, with undergraduate enrolment of 16,000 and rising, and is developing initiatives to become the premiere research institution in south Texas. Complete applications consist of a cover letter, statement of research interests, curriculum vitae describing research and teaching experience, and three reference letters sent separately. Review begins 1 November 2003. Only complete applications will be considered. Position open until filled. Send inquiries and applications to Zen Faulkes, e-mail: <zfaulkes@panam.edu>. Post: Department of Biology, University of Texas -Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX, 78539, U.S.A. UTPA is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, and welcomes applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. [Posted 24 September 2003]
Plant Biology/Botany Assistant Professor, Central Michigan University: The Department of Biology invites applications from broadly trained individuals for a tenure-track position at the rank of assistant professor, beginning August 2004 or before. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a biological science, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and a strong commitment to teaching, research, seeking external funding, and service. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. Teaching responsibilities may include: general botany, field botany, courses in the individual's area of expertise at the undergraduate and/or graduate (M.S.) level, and contribution to the department's introductory program. Preference will be given to candidates who use current approaches to research field botany, plant systematics, ecology, or conservation. Submit a letter of application, C.V., copies of all transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy, statement of research interests, and three letters of recommendation to: Plant Biology Search Committee, Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859. Review of applications will begin 1 November 2003. Departmental information is available at <http://wwwcst.cmich.edu/units/bio>. CMU, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity within its community; see <http://www.cmich.edu/aaeo/>. [Posted 10 September 2003]
FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS, POST-DOCS
Nearly all announcements have been edited to conserve space, be sure to obtain complete descriptions before applying. Please see notice at top of "Job Opportunities."
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Undergraduate Research Training Program: The Research Training Program (RTP) of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) features a 10-week summer internship for 10 – 15 undergraduate students to engage in studies on the formation and evolution of the earth and similar planets; discovery and understanding of life's diversity; and the study of human diversity and cultural exchange. Research projects are conducted in-residence at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. This museum-based program is exclusively for English- proficient undergraduate students interested in a career in natural history research, especially systematic biology, geology, and anthropology. Through the Research Training Program, museum staff share the science of the National Museum of Natural History with students interested in becoming the next generation of natural history researchers. The RTP introduces undergraduates to the diversity of scientific disciplines, research techniques, and career choices available in the field of natural history. The structured 10-week curriculum covers all the NMNH natural history disciplines and includes a personalized research project plus group lectures, workshops, discussions, demonstrations, and tours of the NMNH specimen collections. The deadline for applications is 1 February 2004. For more information, see the Program's Web site <http://www.nmnh.si.edu/rtp/> or contact: Mary Sangrey, Research Training Program, BLDG NHB MRC Room 60A, PO Box 37012, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012; 202 357-4548; e-mail <sangrey.mary@nmnh.si.edu>.
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Spirit Collection
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (MSBG) announces the completion of an NSF-funded project (NSF DBI-0138615) to curate its Spirit Collection of Vascular Plants. The MSBG Spirit Collection is the largest in the western hemisphere and the second largest in the world (after Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). The collection comprises more than 26,000 vials of flowers or entire small plants of Orchidaceae (24,000), Gesneriaceae (2000), and Bromeliaceae (300). The preservative used is a combination of 70 parts denatured alcohol, 27 parts water, and 3 parts glycerin. Important collections in the Spirit Collection are from Carlyle Luer, G.C.K. Dunsterville, Alexander Hirtz, and Calaway Dodson. The NSF grant allowed for the purchase of plastic storage containers and for the replacement of metal caps and poor-quality liners. Bar codes were applied to the bottles for inventory and tracking purposes. More than 450 type specimens were identified, a list of which is available on the Internet at <http://www.selby.org/research/herb/types.htm>.
Preserving plant specimens in spirit fluids maintains the flowers in a form as close to nature as possible, which is critical to understanding the nuances of orchid taxonomy and pollination. It obviates the need to rehydrate flowers from herbarium specimens, especially type specimens that may have only one or few flowers, and thus better protects herbarium specimens for future types of analyses. Spirit preservation also provides a method to preserve voucher specimens resulting from scientific studies and it provides a resource to more fully understand the morphological range and geographical distribution of a species. Selby Gardens encourages the use of its Spirit Collection and provides low-cost visitor quarters to botanists wishing to consult the specimens. Limited, short-term specimen loans are also available. Complementing the Spirit Collection at Selby Gardens are 9,000 greenhouse accessions, 3,300 display and grounds accessions, 88,000+ herbarium specimens, including 27,000 orchids, 8,000 bromeliads, and 1,700 type specimens. The Selby Gardens Research Library has 6,500 volumes (including a 543-volume rare book collection), 300+ active periodicals, and a microfiche collection of many early botanical references. For more information, contact Bruce Holst, Research and Conservation Department, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236-7726. Voice: 941 955-7553 extension 312; e-mail <bholst@selby.org>; web site <http://www.selby.org>.
FUNDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Evolution
The Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship in molecular evolution is offered to support research at the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian's molecular research facilities are located at National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in the Washington, D.C. area, and at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in the Republic of Panama. Applicants must propose to conduct research in residence for a period of 12 to 24 months. Applicants must have completed or be near completion of the Ph.D. Recipients who have not completed the Ph.D. at the time of application must provide proof of completion of the degree before the fellowship begins. Applicants interested in conducting research at these facilities are strongly encouraged to contact potential advisors/hosts at any of the Smithsonian's various museums and research institutes prior to proposal preparation and submission. The application deadline is 15 January 2004. More information and applications can be found at <http://www.si.edu/ofg/fell.htm#fofg>.
New England Botanical Club Graduate Student Research Awards
The New England Botanical Club offers each year up to $2,000 total in support of botanical research to be conducted by graduate students. The awards are made to stimulate and encourage botanical research on the New England flora, and to make possible visits to the New England region by those who would not otherwise be able to do so. It is anticipated that two awards will be given, although the actual number and amount of awards will depend on the proposals received. The awards are given to the graduate student(s) submitting the best research proposals dealing with systematic botany, biosystematics, plant ecology, or plant conservation biology. Guidelines for the preparation of proposals can be found on ASPT's Web site <http://www.sysbot.org/grant2.htm>. Where competing proposals are judged to be of equal merit, those from applicants who are members of the NEBC will be given preference. Papers based on the research funded must acknowledge the NEBC's support. Submission of manuscripts to the club's journal, Rhodora, is strongly encouraged. Applicants must submit: (1) Proposal of no more than three double-spaced pages; (2) budget with brief justification, on a single page; (3) curriculum vitae (C.V.);(4) literature cited on a singe page; (5) three paper copies of the proposal, budget, C.V., and literature cited must be submitted; and (6) two letters in support of the proposed research (one from the student's thesis advisor) should be sent directly to the Awards Committee by the sponsors (rather than accompany the application). All materials are sent to: Awards Committee, The New England Botanical Club, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-2020. Reference letters ONLY may be sent by e-mail or fax to the Graduate Student Research Awards Committee Chairperson listed on the Committees Web page. Contact the Chair for fax number. Proposals and supporting letters for the 2004 award are due no later than 1 March 2004. The recipient(s) will be notified by 30 April 2004. See our web page <http://www.huh. harvard.edu/nebc/index.html> for more information.
2003 – 2004 Native Plant Conservation Initiative
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the Plant Conservation Alliance, is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for the 2003 – 2004 Native Plant Conservation Initiative (NPCI). Through this initiative, grants of federal dollars will be provided to nonprofit organizations and agencies at all levels of government to promote the conservation of native plants. This Request for Proposals includes two separate grant cycles, with application dates in December 2003 and July 2004. The NPCI grant program is conducted in cooperation with the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA), a cooperative partnership between the foundation, 10 federal agencies, and nearly 200 nongovernmental organizations. PCA provides a framework and strategy for linking resources and expertise in developing a coordinated national approach to the conservation of native plants. All NPCI proposals are reviewed by members of the PCA National Steering Committee. For additional information about PCA, please visit the PCA Web site <http://www.nps.gov/plants/>. NPCI grants are modest, ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 with an average grant size of $15,000. It is expected that all grant funds will be matched by nonfederal contributions from project partners. In-kind contributions of goods or services are eligible as match for this program. There is a strong preference for "on-the-ground" projects that involve local communities and citizen volunteers in the restoration of native plant communities. Projects that include a pollinator conservation component are also encouraged. NPCI funds cannot be used for direct land acquisition costs or political advocacy. Basic research projects are unlikely to be funded unless they are of direct relevance to the management of native plants by a participating federal agency. Projects that primarily involve the control of invasive or noxious weeds should consider the foundation's Pulling Together Initiative <http://www.nfwf.org/programs/pti.htm>, rather than NPCI. For complete information, see the NFWF-NPCI Web site at <http://www.nfwf.org/programs/npci.htm>.
Timothy C. Plowman Latin American Research Award
The Botany Department at The Field Museum invites applications for the year 2004 Timothy C. Plowman Latin American Research Award. The award of $1,500 is designed to assist students and young professionals to visit the Field Museum and use our extensive economic botany and systematic collections. Individuals from Latin America and projects in the field of ethnobotany or systematics of economically important plant groups will be given priority consideration. Applicants interested in the award should submit their curriculum vitae and a detailed letter describing the project for which the award is sought. The information should be forwarded to the Timothy C. Plowman Award Committee, Department of Botany, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2496 USA, and received no later than 15 December 2003. Announcement of the recipient will be made no later than 31 December 2003.
Anyone wishing to contribute to The Timothy C. Plowman Latin American Research Fund, which supports this award, may send their checks, payable to The Field Museum, c/o Department of Botany, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2496 USA. Make certain to indicate the intended fund.
Lawrence Memorial Award
The Award Committee of the Lawrence Memorial Fund invites nominations for the 2004 Lawrence Memorial Award. Honoring the memory of Dr. George H. M. Lawrence, founding Director of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation <http://huntbot.andrew. cmu.edu/>, the annual award of $2,000 is given to support travel for doctoral dissertation research in systematic botany or horticulture, or the history of the plant sciences, including literature and exploration. Major professors are urged to nominate outstanding doctoral students who have achieved official candidacy for their degrees and will be conducting pertinent dissertation research that would benefit significantly from travel enabled by the award. The committee will not entertain direct applications. A student who wishes to be considered should arrange for nomination by his/her major professor; this may take the form of a letter, which covers supporting materials prepared by the nominee. Supporting materials should describe briefly but clearly the candidate's program of research and how it would be significantly enhanced by travel that the award would support. Letters of nomination and supporting materials, including seconding letters, should be received by the committee no later than 1 May 2004 and should be directed to: Dr. R. W. Kiger, Hunt Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890; voice: 412-268-2434.
The Rupert Barneby Award
The New York Botanical Garden now invites applications for the Rupert Barneby Award for the year 2004. The award of US$ 1,000 is to assist researchers to visit The New York Botanical Garden to study the rich collection of Leguminosae. Anyone interested in applying for the award should submit their curriculum vitae, a detailed letter describing the project for which the award is sought, and the names of two or three referees. Travel to the NYBG should be planned for sometime in the year 2004. The application should be addressed to Dr. James L. Luteyn, Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd., Bronx, NY 10458-5126 USA, and received no later than 1 December 2003. Announcement of the recipient will be made by 15 December.
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. [Posted 24 February 2003]
2004
Hawaii International Conference on Sciences, Honolulu, 15 – 18 January 2004
The 2004 Hawaii International Conference on Sciences will be held at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. The conference will provide many opportunities for academicians and professionals from sciences and related fields to interact with members inside and outside their own particular disciplines. Cross-disciplinary submissions are welcome. Papers in all areas of the sciences, including botany, are invited. The deadline for the submission of papers is 25 August 2003. For more information, see <http://www.hicsciences.org/> or e-mail <sciences@hicsciences.org>.
American Association for the Advancement of Science, 12 – 16 February 2004, Seattle, Washington
The 2004 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science will be held 12 – 16 February in Seattle at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers. The AAAS Annual Meeting offers a unique and exciting interdisciplinary blend of more than 130 symposia, plenary, and topical lectures; seminars on nanotechnology, vaccines, and proteomics; the Forum for School Science; poster presentations; career fair; career workshops; and an exhibit hall. For more information, see <http://www.aaas.org/meetings/>.
7th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference, Calgary, Alberta, 26 – 29 February 2004
The 7th PCESC Organizing Committee is excited to announce that the 7th Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference is coming to Calgary in February 2004. This conference has a tradition of excellence due to strong support and attendance from a broad cross section of society including conservation groups, industry, government, and academia. We are expecting more than 600 people to attend. "Keeping the Wild in the West," will focus on sharing information and ideas on conserving prairie ecosystems, both big and small. The conference will be of interest to a wide range of participants from the agricultural community, First Nations, energy industry, government agencies, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. Sessions will emphasize ecosystem management, species at risk, cooperative conservation programs, and future challenges relating to rural diversification, urban sprawl, and habitat restoration. The conference is only held every three years and provides an excellent opportunity to meet a cross section of the community concerned with and working in prairie conservation. Additional information is available at <http://pcesc.albertawilderness.ca/> or contact <info@PCESC.CA> or Alberta Wilderness Association, Box 6398, Station D, Calgary, AB T2P 2E1, Canada.
AIBS 2004 Annual Meeting 16 – 18 March, Washington DC
Plenary speakers, panel sessions, and informal discussion groups at the 2004 AIBS Annual Meeting will approach the topic of "Invasive Species: The Search for Solutions" from the perspective of one or more of the meeting's cross-cutting themes, including: what makes a species "invasive"; research questions and tools; aquatic and terrestrial issues; economics; public policy; education; public health; prevention and remediation; international issues; and local initiatives. Each plenary speaker will relate his or her talk to invasive species issues involving particular major taxonomic groups: plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, and microbes. Attendees will hear distinguished plenary speakers and panelists present synthesizing lectures from the forefront of their fields, then will join those speakers and other equally notable scholars in panel sessions and informal discussion groups. Speakers include: Ann Bartuska, The Nature Conservancy, "Abating the Threat of Invasive Species: Linking Science and Policy"; Richard Mack, Washington State University, "Prevention and Remediation of Plant Invaders"; Stephen Morse, Columbia University, "Emerging Infections: Microbial Invaders Discover New Territory"; David Lodge, University of Notre Dame, "Bioeconomic Risk Analysis of Invasive Vertebrates and Other Species"; Andrew Dobson, Princeton University "Zen, Parasites, and the Art of Alien Invasion"; and Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee, "Invasion Biology." Additional speakers include: Cynthia Kolar, U.S. Geological Survey; David Pimentel, Cornell University; and Fred C. Dobbs, Old Dominion University. All sessions take place in the Westin Grand Hotel, 2350 M St. NW, Washington DC, 20037 (three blocks north from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, on the edge of Georgetown). Early registration prices for the three-day meeting are $200 for individual members of AIBS; $250 for nonmembers (includes automatic one-year AIBS membership); $160 for government employees; $150 for educators; and $130 for students. Early registration closes 2 March 2004. Attendance is limited — register early! For more information, contact <rogrady@aibs.org> or register on-line at <http://www.aibs.org/annual-meeting-2004/>; early registration closes 2 March 2004. Poster abstracts may also be submitted at the above URL; poster submissions close 16 February 2004.
Fourth Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference, 22 – 24 March 2004
The New Mexico Rare Plants Technical Council is organizing the 4th Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plant Conference to be held 22 – 24 March 2004 in Las Cruces, NM. Information about the conference is available at <http://nmrareplants.unm.edu/conference/announce.htm>. The geographic coverage area includes the Sonoran and Mojave deserts on the west, the Colorado Plateau and Southern Rocky Mountains on the north, the Chihuahuan Desert and High Plains Grasslands on the east, the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts on the south, and all mountain ranges within these regional limits. We anticipate a United States focus, but topics on rare Mexican plants are also welcome. If you would like to receive periodic updates via e-mail, please contact Patricia Barlow-Irick <patriciabarlowirick@starband.net> or phone 505-568-9131.
Second International Orchid Conservation Congress (IOCC), Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida, 17 – 22 May 2004
More than 200 scientists and orchid enthusiasts from around the globe will convene at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota for the International Orchid Conservation Congress II. This conference is a gathering of the Orchid Specialist Groups of the Species Survival Commission. "The Conservation Balance" is the theme. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University. Chairing the conference is Selby Gardens' Manager of Systematics Dr. Wesley Higgins. Higgins represented Selby Gardens at the first International Orchid Conservation Congress in Perth, Australia, in 2001. This congress is an important gathering of world orchid conservationists to review progress on the goals set at the first congress — that by 2010, 90% of threatened orchids will be in ex situ collections, 50% of threatened orchid taxa will be in recovery programs in situ, no orchid taxa will be threatened by unsustainable harvesting, every child will be aware of plant diversity, and the Orchid Specialist Group will be funded to track the implementation of these conservation actions. Registration brochures have been mailed to universities, research institutions, and orchid societies throughout the U.S. and abroad. Area orchid enthusiasts, even beginners, also are encouraged to participate. A discounted conference registration fee of $295 is being offered through 31 December 2003, after which it increases to $350. For more information, visit <http://www.selby.org/iocc/> or contact Dr. Higgins at (941) 955-7553, ext. 311.
International Organization of Plant Biosystematics, May 2004, Valencia, Spain
"Plant Evolution in Mediterranean Climate Zones" is the general topic for the IXth Meeting of IOPB, which will be held at the Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, in May 2004. This will be a three day meeting, plus optional excursions either before of after the meeting. Oral communications as well as posters will be welcome on topics including the following subjects: (1) Multiple approaches to comparing Mediterranean floras throughout the world; (2) biogeographic and phylogeographic patterns in the Mediterranean Region; (3) speciation models in the Mediterranean Region, including polyploidy, hybridization, and vicariance; (4) conservation and genetic diversity of rare and endemic species; (5) symposia on specific plant families; and (6) ecological factors affecting plant differentiation and speciation. For more information and to register, see <http://www. jardibotanic.org/iopb.html>.
First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting, Paris, 28 June – 1 July 2004
The Organizing Committee announces the First International Phylogenetic Nomenclature Meeting will be held in Paris, at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle and at the Collège de France, 28 June – 10 July 2004. Papers presented at the meeting will be assembled into a symposium volume whose publication will coincide with the implementation of the PhyloCode. This volume will represent the official starting point of phylogenetic nomenclature as implemented in the PhyloCode, and the names defined within it will be the first ones established under the new code. We hope that specialists on a wide range of organisms will participate in the meeting and contribute to the symposium volume. The process of submitting abstracts will be detailed in the second circular. We ask that systematists who work on the same group collaborate to produce a single set of phylogenetic definitions for clade names in that group. Many systematists consider that the current rank-based codes of biological nomenclature, which have pre-Darwinian roots, are poorly suited to modern systematics, which is intrinsically evolutionary. As a result, an increasing number of systematists have sought an alternative to the rank-based codes, and these investigations have resulted in the development of principles of Phylogenetic Nomenclature, and later, to a draft PhyloCode (accessible on the Internet at <http://www.ohiou.edu/phylocode/>. To receive the second circular (that includes registration information), please contact M. Laurin by e-mail <laurin@ccr.jussieu.fr> and write in the "subject" field of the message "PhyloCode 2004 meeting." For more information, see <http://systbiol.org/>.
Botany 2004, Snowbird, UT, 31 July – 5 August 2004
The Botany 2004 meeting will be held 31 July – 5 August 2004 in Snowbird, Utah. In addition to the annual meeting for ASPT, the other societies included in this meeting are the Botanical Society of America, the American Bryological & Lichenological Society, and the American Fern Society. For more information, see <http://www.botany2004. org>.
2005
XVII International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria, 18 – 23 July 2005; Nomenclature Section, 13 – 16 July 2005
The XVII International Botanical Congress (XVII IBC) takes place in 2005 in Vienna, Austria. It is being organized by the IBC Organizing Committee, the Society for the Advancement of Plant Sciences, and the Vienna Medical Academy, with support from many societies related to plant sciences, as well as universities, research institutions, and private sponsors. The XVII IBC is held under the auspices of the International Association of Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS) of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS). The first circular is available electronically at <http://www.ibc2005.ac.at/>. For more information, contact <office@ibc2005.ac.at> or Dr. Josef Greimler, Secretary General, XVII IBC 2005, Institute of Botany, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; Phone: +43-1-4277-54123; fax: +43-1-4277-9541.
Information provided by L. J. Davenport, Book Review Editor. The selection of reviewers and books to be reviewed in Systematic Botany are left to the discretion of the Book Review Editor. Members of ASPT who are interested in serving as a reviewer should contact Larry Davenport at <ljdavenp@samford.edu>.
Australian Tropical Rain Forest Plants: Trees, Shrubs and Vines by B. P. M. Hyland, T. Whiffin, D. C. Christophel, B. Gray, and R. W. Elick. 2003. Two CDs + manual. ISBN 0-643-06872-4. AU$120.00 (hbk). CSIRO Publishing, PO Box 1139, Collingwood 3066, Victoria, Australia. <http://www.publish.csiro.au/>
Biology of Apples and Pears by John E. Jackson. 2003. 488 pp. ISBN 0-521-38018-9. $130.00 (hbk). Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. <http://uk.cambridge.org/>
Blumea Supplement 15: Index of Vernacular Plant Names of Suriname by Charlotte I. E. A. van't Klooster, Jan C. Lindeman, and Marion J. Jansen-Jacobs. 2003. 322 pp. ISBN 90-71236-55-2. EUR 50.00 (pbk). National Herbarium Nederland, Publications Department, PO Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. <http://www. nationaalherbarium.nl/>
Blumea Supplement 14: Checklist of Woody Plants of Sulawesi Indonesia by P. J. A. Kefller, M. M. Bos, S. E. C. Sierra Daza, A. Kop, L. P. M. Willemse, R. Pitopang, and S. R. Gradstein. 2002. 160 pp. ISBN 90-71236-54-4. EUR 30.00 (pbk). National Herbarium Nederland, Publications Department, PO Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. <http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/>
Flora de la Republica de Cuba Fasciculo 7: Polygalaceae, Styracaceae, and Verbenaceae by various authors. 2003. 126 pp. ISBN 3-904144-97-9. EUR 49.00 (hbk). Koeltz Scientific Books, PO Box 1360, D-61453, Koenigstein, Germany. <http://www.koeltz.com>
Flora Malesiana Series I, Volume 16: Caryophyllaceae, Cunoniaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Zosteraceae, and Cymodoceaceae by various authors. 2002. 224 pp. ISBN 90-71236-53-6. EUR 45.00 (pbk). National Herbarium Nederland, Publications Department, PO Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. <http://www. nationaalherbarium.nl/>
Flora Neotropica Monograph 84: Solanum Section Geminata (Solanaceae) by Sandra Knapp. 2002. 404 pp, ISBN 0-89327-441-0. $85.00 (hbk). New York Botanical Garden Press, 200th Street & Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458-5126. <http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/PressHome.asp>
Flora of China Illustrations Volume 6: Caryophyllaceae through Lardizabalaceae by Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (chairs of editorial committee). 2003. 446 pp. ISBN 1-930723-25-3. $115.00 (hbk). Science Press, 16 Donghuangchenggen North Street, Beijing 100717, China and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, PO Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299. <http://www. mbgpress.org/>
The Healing Plants of Ida Hrubesky Pemberton: Catalogue of an Exhibition, 25 September 2003-29 February 2004 by James J. White and Lugene B. Bruno. 2003. 64 pp. ISBN 0-913196-76-2. $12.00 (pbk). Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890. <http://huntbot. andrew.cmu.edu/HIBD/Default.shtml>
Historical Biogeography: An Introduction by Jorge V. Crisci, Liliana Katinas, and Paula Posadas. 2003. 250 pp. ISBN 0-674-01059-0. $45.00 (hbk). Harvard University Press, 79 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. <http://www.hup.harvard.edu/>
Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXII: Systematics of Masdevallia Part Three by Carlyle A. Luer. 2001. 261 pp. ISBN 0-930723-06-7. $59.95 (pbk). Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110-2291. <http://www.mbgpress.org/>
Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXII: Systematics of Masdevallia Part Four by Carlyle A. Luer. 2002. 266 pp. ISBN 0-930723-11-3. $60.00 (pbk). Missouri Botanical Garden Press, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110-2291. <http://www.mbgpress.org/>
Inferring Phylogenies by Joseph Felsenstein. 2004. 664 pp. ISBN 0-087893-177-5. $59.95 (pbk). Sinauer Associates, PO Box 407, Sunderland, MA 01375-0407. <http://www.sinauer.com/>
Regnum Vegetabile 140: H. E. Richter's Codex Botanicus Linnaeanus Volumes 1 & 2 by John Edmonson (ed.). 2003. 1102 & 202 pp. ISBN 3-906166-03-1. EUR 360.00 (hbk). Koeltz Scientific Books, PO Box 1360, D-61453, Koenigstein, Germany. <http://www.koeltz.com>
Verticordia: The Turner of Hearts by Elizabeth A. George. 2002. 422 pp. ISBN 1-876268-46-8. $84.95 (hbk). University of Western Australia Press, Crawley, Western Australia 6009. <http://www.general.uwa.edu.au/uwapress/>
There are many links on other Web sites (start with <http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/tfp/tfplinks. html>) to pages that have information applicable to plant taxonomy. On this current page, we will add new sites as they come to our attention. If you have a new or revised Web site that may be of interest to the membership of ASPT, please send the URL address to the editor of the Newsletter. This section is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all sites useful to plant taxonomists.
Web site on invasive species. Many natural ecosystems, even if protected from physical destruction, are being threatened by invasive species. The U.S. National Arboretum has established a Web site on invasive species at <http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/invasives>. Another resource on invasive species has been developed by the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants at the University of Florida <http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/>.
University of Colorado Herbarium Database. The University of Colorado at Boulder database of vascular plant specimen labels from Colorado housed at Herbarium COLO is now searchable on-line at <http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/Research/Botany/Databases/search.php>/. Approximately 70,000 records of the ca. 90,000 Colorado specimens have been entered to date. For additional information, contact: Tom A. Ranker, Associate Professor & Curator, University of Colorado Museum, 265 UCB — Bruce Curtis Building, Boulder, CO 80309-0265; e-mail <Ranker@colorado.edu>; voice, 303-492-5074; fax, 303-492-4195.
HERBARIA E-mail List. For information on this, please see the listing under "ASPT News."
Madagascar Web Site. Madagascar Wildlife Conservation is a nonprofit organization, which aims at providing an information platform. With our new Web site <http://www.mwc-info.net/en/index.htm> we want to give you an overview of the results of the ongoing conservation projects. There is a section on flora as well as fauna. To reach sustainability we have to act from a holistic point of view and therefore we present also humanitarian work and problems in and on Madagascar. Our ultimate scope is to facilitate the dataflow of information about Madagascar, to improve activities, to give new inputs, to help to protect the high degree of endemism of animal and plant species, to enable a sustainable natural habitat for future generations of humans, animals, and plants of Madagascar. Currently on this Web site you can find: (1) a data-base that is till under construction and therefore at the moment without search queries; (2) news and events with monthly updates; (3) links and literature recommendations to different organizations and project teams working in Madagascar, and books concerning Malagasy nature, culture, and history; (4) a message board where you can discuss problems and questions about nature and wildlife protection; and (5) a case study that shows the problems of conservation biology. [
For the past year or so I have been keeping a list of uses of herbaria. Two recent events have greatly increased that list. First, I published an article titled "The Importance of Herbaria" (Funk 2003) and a number of my colleagues sent in additional uses. Second, I attended a "Workshop to Produce a Decadal Vision for Taxonomy and Natural History Collections" (held in Gainsville, Florida, sponsored by NSF). In preparing for the workshop the list increased to ca. 50 and during the workshop additional uses were mentioned and the current total is 72. Hopefully the list will have 100 after this article is published. This list would not have been possible without the help of many colleagues and I thank them all. If you would like to use this list you can download it on line at the Biological Diversity of the Guianas web site <http://www.mnh.si.edu/biodiversity/bdg/> but please send any additions to me so that I can update the site.
Herbaria, dried pressed plant specimens and their associated collections data, ancillary collections (e.g., photographs) and library materials, are remarkable and irreplaceable sources of information about plants and the world they inhabit. They provide the comparative material that is essential for studies in taxonomy, systematics, ecology, anatomy, morphology, conservation biology, biodiversity, ethnobotany, and paleobiology, as well as being used for teaching and by the public. They are a veritable gold mine of information and the foundation of comparative biology. According to the updated website of Index Herbariorum (Holmgren & Holmgren, 2003), there are 3240 herbaria in the world. Just in the USA there are more than 60 million specimens in 628 herbaria (Funk and Morin, 2000). At the US National Herbarium (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution) there are nearly 5 million specimens, and, just for the record, about 500,000 of the US specimens are in the Compositae.
Recent articles have highlighted the problems that are being faced by state and university natural history collections, including herbaria. An article from Nature (Dalton, 2003) and one from BioScience (Gropp, 2003) make it clear that natural history collections are being targeted unfairly in the current budget crises in states and universities. From Los Angeles to Iowa, Nebraska and Virginia, natural history collections are being closed or given away and the staff either re-assigned or fired. All of this has a negative impact on our ability to train systematists (Gropp 2003) and causes much concern over the fate of organismal biology. Hopefully lists such as this one will help those fighting to save their collections from death or dismemberment.
An herbarium can be used to:
Basic Functions & Research
At the US National Herbarium, in order to make maximum use of our substantial resources, we have the following goals: additional compacterization of collections to increase storage space, processing of the backlog of unmounted specimens so all material is available, continuing to photograph the type specimens so our most important collections will be available on the web, and data-basing and geo-referencing the specimen label information so it can be efficiently used and be made available on line. I am sure other herbaria have similar goals, we must all work together to stress the importance of herbaria and preserve our collections for the future. Indeed the "working together" has already started. A recent NSF sponsored workshop addressed some of the problems that are facing collections and discussed possible solutions. The "Workshop to Produce a Decadal Vision for Taxonomy and Natural History Collections" (held in Gainsville, Florida, organized by Larry Page) involved 61 people from institutions of all sizes. A report will be produced for NSF and a more general public version will also be available. The website for that meeting has some information posted and more will be available in the near future (Page, 2003).
Acknowledgements — This list would not have been possible without the suggestions contributed by many colleagues and I thank them all especially Tom Wendt (TEX), Tom Hollowell (US), David Dilcher (FLAS) and the staff of US.
Literature Cited
Vicki Funk, US National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution MRC166, P.O. Box 37012, Washington D.C. 20013-7012 USA; <Funk.vicki@nmnh.si.edu >; <http://www.mnh.si.edu/biodiversity/bdg/>. [Posted 2 December 2003]
Additional Job Opportunity
Botanist, National Park Service: To carry out its mission, the National Park Service (NPS) serves as a steward for the preservation of America's national parks and their resources. The NPS has initiated a service-wide, network-based natural resource inventory and monitoring program to address the lack of credible scientific information available to parks. The purpose of the program is to design and implement long-term ecological monitoring and provide information for park managers to evaluate the integrity of park ecosystems and better understand ecosystem processes. The Heartland Network and Prairie Cluster Prototype Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program is composed of fifteen parks in eight Midwestern states, and includes tallgrass prairie, Ozark highlands and eastern deciduous forest eco-regions. The Botanist is an essential member of the monitoring team and serves as the vascular plant taxonomic expert of the program. The Botanist is responsible for accurate field identification of vascular plants across the program's range. The Botanist will develop, refine and implement plant community, exotic plant and T&E species monitoring protocols. In doing so, they will utilize statistically credible sampling schemes, supervise a seasonal staff of biotechnicians and frequently lead field trips. The Botanist will be responsible for annual data summary and long-term trend analysis, as well as report writing. The Botanist is expected to collaborate with peers, contribute to service-wide projects, and participate in meetings and symposia. Offices of the LTEM program are located at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Republic, MO (pop. 8000). The park is located 12 miles from Springfield MO, the third largest city of the state, offering numerous health, university and cultural amenities, and an inexpensive cost of living. Extensive travel and work in hot, humid weather is expected. Individuals may apply at the GS-9 and/or GS-11 grade series and the position is open to all sources and/or for merit promotion; Salary $38,936 – $61,248 per year. Individuals interested in this opportunity should obtain a complete job announcement and application instructions from the office of personnel management <http://www.usajobs.opm.gov> (announcement number CK183661CB - all sources, CK183662CB - merit promotion). Application period: 2 December 2003 – 2 January 2004. For more information contact Mike DeBacker 417 732-6438 x 269 or Dave Peitz 417 732-6438 x 276; also see <http://www.nature.nps.gov/im/units/prcl/index.htm> and <http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/htln/Pages/Main.html?=index.htm>. [Posted 9 December 2003]
This is the end of ASPT Newsletter Volume 17(2), December 2003