
ASPT Newsletter
July 2004
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
Recipients of ASPT Graduate Research Grants
Results of ASPT Winter Ballott
Here are those elected to assume office at the 2004 Annual Meeting in Snowbird, Utah.
Congratulation to each of these who were elected. Thanks also to the other candidates for their willingness to stand for election.
Also, the by-law change to replace the ad-hoc Finance Committee with a standing Finance Committee was approved. The change will be made to the by-laws soon. Michael A. Vincent, ASPT Secretary.
New Issues of Systematic Botany Monographs
Volume 67. Monograph of Ruprechtia (Polygonaceae), Colin A. Pendry, 113 pp. January 2004. ISBN 0-912861-67-3. US orders: $15.00; nonUS orders: $17.00
Volume 68. Wild Potatoes (Solanum section Petota; Solanaceae) of North and Central America, D. M. Spooner, R. G. van den Berg, A. Rodríguez, J. Bamberg, R. J. Hijmans, and S. I. Lara Cabrera, 209 pp + 10 color plates, hardbound, March 2004. ISBN 0-912861-68-1. US orders: $35.00; nonUS orders: $40.00. 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>.
Sponsor a Subscription of Systematic Botany to a Developing Country
How can you help? By sponsoring an individual or, better yet (for broader
reach), an institution of your choice in a country where you work or have
valued colleagues. Sponsorship involves simply paying an additional individual
membership (i.e., ONLY $53) on behalf of the individual or institution.
As a first step, if you have an individual in mind, check the on-line
membership database (click on "Membership" in the left frame) to determine
whether or not the person might already be a member. If so, move along to your
second candidate. Once you have identified a new member to sponsor, send the
individual's name and address along with your payment to the business office
either by mail or on-line using the handy membership form.
If you have an institution in mind, you will want to interact with Linda Brown
at the business office <aspt@uwyo.edu> to find out whether that
institution is already subscribing (unlikely for a developing country) or might
already be receiving a complimentary subscription since ASPT has been sending
the journal free to about 30 institutions in developing countries for the last
several years. Institutional subscribers are not listed in the membership
database. If your chosen institution is NOT already receiving the journal, then
you will need to send the complete address to the business office along with
your payment (you may also do this on-line at the web site: just fill in the
membership form, and in the comments box, add a note to office manager Linda
Brown indicating what you wish to do).
If your choice of institution has been receiving the journal for free, it will
help ASPT a great deal if you will pick up the costs of doing so by sponsoring
the journal for them. Again, we would ask only that you pay an additional
membership rate (only $53). To do this, you will need to communicate with the
business office whether by mail or on-line to let Linda Brown know what you
wish to do. In this case, we already have the address and so you need only to
identify the institution unambiguously. On-line, this means filling in a couple
of key lines on the membership form name and country: put in enough to make
clear which institution you are seeking to sponsor. Again, add a note in the
comment box to office manager Linda Brown indicating what you wish to do.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Thanks for your help! Lucinda
McDade, President, ASPT <mcdade@acnatsci.org>; 215 405-5087.
The 2004 ASPT Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with "Botany 2004", 31
July-5 August 2004 in Snowbird, Utah. For more information, see
<http://www.botany2004.org>. The general theme of the meeting is "Alpine
Diversity: Adapted to the Peak."
Donnations Needed to Support ASPT Awards
HELP! Below is a list of the various ASPT restricted funds. We hope that you can send a donation to the graduate student research funds or one of our other funds. Your contributions will enable us to expand some important functions of the Society, such as supporting graduate student research. Your donations can be made electronically on our secure server with a credit card payment at < https://www.allenpress.com/cgi-bin/aspt-renewal.cgi>, or sent by mail or fax to the ASPT Business Office.
K.M. Matthew, 1930-2004. We received word that K. M. Matthew
died suddenly of
a heart attack on 16 April 2004; he was a Corresponding Member of ASPT.
Christiane Anderson relates that Dr. Matthew "was an expert in Cornaceae and
the floristics of southern India. He was incredibly active and productive, and
a great advocate activist for/in conservation efforts. He was also a very kind
man with a wonderful sense of humor." A full obituary will be published in the
next issue of the ASPT Newsletter. Also, a profile of Dr. Matthew was published
in the January-March issue (No. 35) of Plant Talk, and an
obituary appeared in
the May issue (No. 36). See <http://www.plant-talk.org/>.
Wayne E. Manning, 1899-2004. Botany Professor Emeritus Wayne
E. Manning passed
away on Sunday, February 8, 2004 at the age of 104. Born on April 12, 1899 in
Toledo, OH, Wayne moved with his family at the age of 8 to Ambridge, PA, along
the Ohio River. During his Ambridge years, he enjoyed roaming the nearby
woodlands to study birds, moths, and mushrooms. When Wayne was 14, he and four
others formed a "Nature Club"--remarkably, all four went on to receive their
Ph.D.s. At the age of 17, Wayne entered Oberlin College starting out in
chemistry but later changing to ecology. During the summer of 1920, Wayne
completed requirements for his graduation with an Oberlin ecology trip that
traveled across the USA; see photos and details at <http://www. departments.
bucknell.edu/biology/manning/index. html>. Sixteen students, Professor
Jones, and Professor Jones' botanist brother drove from Oberlin to the Pacific
in four Model T Fords and one truck. One of the students on this trip was
Margaret "Peg" Sheldon, who Wayne married on June 11, 1924 (Peg passed away in
1995 at the age of 98). Curiously, Wayne never took a botany course at Oberlin;
rather it was the experiences of this western trip that led Wayne to study
botany.
In 1921, Wayne began his graduate work in botany at Cornell University. Wayne
completed his Ph.D. on the floral anatomy of the walnut and hickory family in
1926 and after serving as an instructor in botany at Cornell for one year, he
joined the faculty of the University of Illinois, Urbana for the 1927-28
academic year. A son, Alan (who survives), was born on August 12, 1928 as Wayne
and Peg moved to Smith College. Wayne remained at Smith for 14 years, having
been promoted to Associate Professor of Botany in 1936. During WW II, he worked
in a defense plant as a machine operator and later as a materials order person;
but throughout the war, Wayne found time to teach basic mathematics to women
machinists.
Wayne began his 23-year Bucknell career in 1945. He was known as the professor
who took students "under his wings" and guided many to careers in the sciences
and health professions. Until Wayne's retirement in 1968, he developed the
university's living plant collection of over 400 species, which originally grew
in the Botany Building greenhouse and which now crowns the Biology Building
<http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/facilities/greenhouse.html>.
Throughout his retirement, Wayne guided visitors through the greenhouse. Wayne
and his students also developed the university's preserved plant collection of
over 22,000 specimens known today as the Wayne E. Manning Herbarium. With
Wayne's financial support of a second generation of students, this collection
is now on-line and is searchable at<
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/facilities/herbarium/>.
Wayne was one of the Bucknell faculty members whose example became our
"Teacher-Scholar" model. A beloved teacher, Wayne's ability to share his love
of botany inspired a generation of students. An internationally recognized
scholar, his research and over 40 publications on the walnut and hickory family
remain as seminal works on the anatomy and taxonomy of this family. Wayne's
contributions to botany were honored when a walnut species was named for
him--Alfarao manningii. As an enduring legacy of their love of
students and
botany, Wayne and Peg established the Wayne and Margaret Manning Internship in
Botanical Sciences in 1992. This bequest nurtures student research in botany
and will do so for generations to come. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be
made to the Wayne and Margaret Manning Internship in the Botanical Sciences
(check payable to "Bucknell University" sent to Mr. Mark Elliott, Director of
Planned Giving, Cooley Hall, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837), to
Beaver Memorial United Methodist Church, 40 Third St., Lewisburg, or to a
charity of your choice. Warren G. Abrahamson, Bucknell University
Elizabeth Anne Zimmer (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution) is one of 46 Artists, Scientists, and Other Scholars Honored with Yearlong Fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. While at Radcliffe, the fellows among them 8 creative artists, 14 humanists, 12 social scientists, and 11 scientists will work individually and across disciplines on projects chosen for both quality and long-term impact. Together, the fellows' distinguished academic, professional and creative endeavors are the center of a scholarly community that was established when Radcliffe College merged with Harvard University to form the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Following their arrival in September, Radcliffe Institute fellows will receive office space and access to libraries and other scholarly resources at Harvard. In addition to attracting and sponsoring leading academic researchers, the Radcliffe Institute is unique among the nation's other centers for advanced studies in that it also hosts artists, musicians, fiction writers, and professionals. The topic of Dr. Zimmer's project is "Exploring Evolutionary Experiments in Floral Form."
The New York Botanical Garden is pleased to announce that Karen Redden, currently a graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., is the recipients of the Rupert Barneby Award for the year 2004. Ms. Redden will be studying the systematics of a diverse group of legumes centered around Dicymbe, Paloue, Paloveopsis, Heterostemon, and Elizabetha that are concentrated in the Guiana Shield area. See "Funding and Award Opportunities" for information about the 2005 Rupert Barneby Award.
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. Nearly all announcements have been edited to conserve spacebe sure to obtain
complete descriptions before applying.
Supervisory Botanist/Horticulturist, U.S. National
Arboretum: The U.S. National Arboretum, Gardens Unit in
Washington, D.C., is
seeking a Supervisory Botanist or Supervisory Horticulturist, GS-13/14. You
will work with the director in strategic planning and fund-raising activities
as well as with external stakeholder organizations in maximizing cooperation
and services, and provide policy guidance and oversight for developing and
maintaining the Arboretum's collections. You will manage the budget and provide
technical and administrative supervision to a diverse staff. You will also
supervise staff involved in overarching activities, such as plant evaluations,
landscape design and installation, greenhouse management, plant records,
Integrated Pest Management, and similar activities. You will represent the
Arboretum's horticultural programs regionally and nationally by publishing on
topics related to the Garden's unit and other horticultural issues, presenting
papers, lectures, or participating in workshops, panels, and other educational
or scientific initiatives. Salary range: $72,108 to $110,775 per year.
Applicants must have qualifying education in botany and/or horticulture and
experience which provided: 1) Knowledge of ornamental plants, and requirements
for introduction, testing, and evaluation of wild-collected and cultivated
plants; 2) ability to lead and manage the collections, display gardens, and
grounds of an arboretum, including horticultural, programmatic, policy,
supervisory, budgetary and other related activities; 3) ability to deliver
lectures, workshops, and to participate in other types of public speaking
venues; 4) ability to develop and manage a complex budget; and 5) ability to
write to produce articles and manuscripts for public use. U.S. citizenship is
required. For program information, contact Dr. Thomas Elias at 202-245-4539.
Applicants must request a copy of vacancy announcement ARS-X4E-0293 in order to
get specific qualification requirements and application instructions by calling
301-504-1351 or via <http://www.ars.usda.gov>. All applications must be
postmarked on/before 10 September 2004. [Posted 20 July 2004]
Manager of Conservation Programs, Center for Plant Conservation (CPC):
Partners
closely with CPC's network of over 30 institutions on programs and projects, as
well as with federal and state agency managers and the academic community.
Coordinates the process of deriving and setting standards and protocols for
best conservation practices for CPC, as well as implementation of a quality
assessment and certification program, monitors the quality of the endangered
plant collections, manages CPC's extensive database and literature collection,
writes and administers grants, and develops meetings and training workshops.
Supervises staff, interns and volunteers. A Ph.D. in botany/ecology with
experience in plant conservation implementation is strongly preferred. A
master's degree with extensive experience may also be successful. Three year's
experience in implementing plant conservation activities or plant conservation
management and/or research required. Experience in working with federal and
state agencies and NGO's and knowledge of the plant conservation community
highly desired. Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong
computer and database management skills, and willingness to do a moderate
amount of travel are a must. Apply to the Human Resources Department at the
Missouri Botanical Garden. CPC staff receive the benefits of employees of the
Missouri Botanical Garden. Applications are accepted on-line at
<http://www.mobot.org/jobs/positions.asp> or mail applications to: Human
Resource Management, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2345 Tower Grove Avenue, St.
Louis, MO 63110. For more information about the center, see <http://www.
centerforplantconservation.org/>. [Posted 12 July 2004]
Directorate for Biological Sciences, Office of the Assistant Director,
National
Science Foundation: The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)
announces a
nationwide search to fill the position of Deputy Director, Division of
Environmental Biology (DEB). The Deputy Division Director works closely with
the Division Director in overseeing and carrying out the day-to-day operations
and management of the division. They work together as a team providing strong
advocacy for program activities within the context of BIO long-range plans and
NSF's strategic plan and managing resources effectively to nurture new and
emerging science opportunities as well as ongoing efforts. In the absence of
the Division Director, the deputy must be prepared to assume this role. The
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) is responsible for programs with a
total annual budget of approximately $108 million. These programs are currently
identified by four clustersecosystem science which supports investigations of
whole-system ecological processes and relationships in ecosystems across a
diversity of spatial and temporal scales; ecological biology which supports
studies of community ecology and population interactions that reveal causal
mechanisms and patterns for a wide range of habitats and taxa; population and
evolutionary processes which supports studies of population properties that
lead to variation within and among populations; and systematic biology and
biodiversity inventories which supports general science of systematics,
including the inventory of global species diversity and studies of predictive
classification systems that reflect the history of life. Deputy Division
Directors in the BIO Directorate come to their positions with an established
record of scientific research and demonstrated leadership experience. Deputy
Division Directors must work well with people, be effective communicators, and
act as mentors to continuously develop the diversity of talents and skills of
their colleagues, especially those representing underrepresented minority
groups and persons with disabilities. This position is a career appointment in
the Federal Senior Executive Service. You may access the position announcement
that includes information on application procedures at
<http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/s20040091/s20040091ac.pdf>. General
inquires should be directed to: Dr. Michael R. Willig, Division of
Environmental Biology, Voice: 703 292-8480; fax: 703 292-9064; e-mail
<mwillig@nsf.gov>. Applications may be transmitted electronically to:
e-mail <execsrch@nsf.gov> or mailed to: National Science Foundation,
Executive Personnel and Development Branch, Division of Human Resource
Management, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 315, Arlington, VA 22230. The Executive
Personnel and Development Branch may be reached by telephone at 703 292-8755.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 23 July 2004. [Posted 10 July
2004]
Assistant (Botanist) Researcher, Jepson Herbarium, University of California,
Berkeley: UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium seeks a qualified botanist to
conduct
studies on phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary questions in the true
thistles (Cirsium). Cirsium species limits and relationships are among the
least understood of any plant genus in North America. This study will result in
a better understanding of relationships between species within the thistles. It
will also assist in the identification of natural groupings within the genus to
replace the current, outdated, unnatural classification. The Jepson Herbarium
received funding from the National Science Foundation for the second phase of
this research project. Primary responsibilities of the position include
sampling true thistles from natural populations; conducting DNA extraction,
PCR, cloning, and sequencing of chloroplast, nuclear rDNA, and low-copy nuclear
gene regions (including designing of PCR and sequencing primers); performing
phylogenetic and other systematic analyses; serving as lead on preparation of
manuscripts on the findings for publication in scientific journals; and
presenting the results of the research at national scientific meetings. The
research will have the broader impact of enriching undergraduate education at
UC, Berkeley. The successful candidate will enlist several undergraduate
students to participate in the laboratory research. In addition, the project
will also involve at-risk, ethnically diverse high school students in growing
research plants, thereby introducing them to biological research at UC. The
successful candidate will work in collaboration with the Curator of the Jepson
Herbarium, Dr. Bruce Baldwin, and must be capable of exercising a high degree
of independence in all phases of the work. Salary: $53,900. For further
information on the University/Jepson Herbaria at the University of California,
Berkeley, please see their Web site <http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/>.
Qualifications required: Ph.D. in botany with at least two years' experience
with botanical research involving use of DNA sequencing. Extensive research
experience in molecular and morphological systematics. Detailed knowledge of
Cirsium diversity is essential. Research experience with Cirsium systematics
preferred. The research project has been funded for 07/01/04 through 01/31/06.
Applications should include a CV, publications list, an
indication of relevant
experience in botany and systematics. Application deadline is 16 July 2004.
Send application to Dr. Bruce Baldwin, Jepson Herbaria, University of
California, Berkeley, 1001 VLSB, #2465, Berkeley, Ca 04720-2465. Administrative
contact is Jeanne G. Kassis; phone (510) 642-6976, e-mail <kassj@
berkeley.edu>. The University of California is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer. [Posted 15 June 2004]
Plant Biologist/Lecturer, Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern
University:
The Chicago Botanic Garden and the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of
Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University seek to hire a plant biologist to
fill a joint nontenure-track position for a renewable two-year term. The person
holding this joint position will have half-time duties as a member of the
continuing lecturer faculty in the Weinberg College, teaching one plant
science/botany course in each quarter during the college's three-quarter
academic year, and advising undergraduate students in their research. At the
Chicago Botanic Garden, this person's half-time responsibilities will include
developing and teaching classes in the School of the Botanic Garden to
professional and continuing-education audiences and assisting the School of the
Botanic Garden in developing new programs and academic collaborations. A Ph.D.
in botany or a related plant science area (plant conservation biology, plant
evolution, etc.) is required for this position. A record of excellent teaching
in a university setting, interest/experience in adult continuing and
professional education, and experience with competitive grant proposal writing
and project management is desirable. This is chiefly a teaching position
although the person holding it will have access to Chicago Botanic Garden
research facilities and common research-support facilities at Weinberg College
in order to carry out his or her own research program. A letter of application,
CV, copies of student evaluations, and three letters of references are
required. At least one referee should be included who can be asked to comment
on the applicant's teaching. Deadline for receipt of application is 20 July
2004. Send materials to: Dr. Larry E. DeBuhr, Vice President of Education,
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022. [Posted 8 June
2004]
Legume Systematist, New York Botanical Garden:
The New York Botanical Garden is seeking an outstanding systematic botanist for
a career-track appointment in the Institute of Systematic Botany. Individuals
pursuing innovative research in legumes, who are interested in developing a
strong field program, and actively using the extensive herbarium collections
and laboratory facilities, are encouraged to apply. Candidates who can also
make important contributions in a second interdisciplinary field such as
biogeography, biodiversity, floristics, or theoretical systematics will be
given special attention. In addition to research, responsibilities include
publishing research results and securing funding to support research and other
activities, participation in the publishing program of the NYBG Press, and
institutional and community service. The successful candidate will have a
Ph.D., post-doctoral experience, a proven record of scientific achievement, and
the ability to establish an externally funded research program. There are
opportunities for participating in undergraduate and graduate training and for
teaching at local universities. Applicants should send a
curriculum vitae,
statement of research interests, reprints if available, and the names and
contact information for at least five references to: Dr. Dennis Wm. Stevenson,
Vice President for Botanical Science, Attn: Human Resources Department, The New
York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Blvd., Bronx, New York
10458-5126, USA. Position open until filled. The New York Botanical Garden is
an Equal Opportunity Employer. [Posted 7 June 2004]
Collections Manager, Department of Botany, California Academy of
Sciences:
The
Department of Botany is seeking a Collections Manager responsible for
supervising all aspects of development, maintenance, operation, and use of the
herbarium (CAS and DS). Position will begin 1 January 2005. Duties include
maintenance and organization of departmental collections; supervision and
training of curatorial assistants and volunteers; assistance in developing (may
involve programming) and maintaining computer database records related to the
collection; management of all incoming and outgoing specimens from the
herbarium; correspondence with other institutions concerning specimen
transactions; overseeing the preparation, identification, and integration of
new specimens into the collection; pest management; assisting with the
preparation of grant proposals; assisting with preparation of annual staff
evaluations; assisting in educational and outreach activities; recording
herbarium activity and usage; maintaining statistics on collection composition
for inclusion in annual report; conducting departmental tours; possible
participation in field expeditions with the goal of generating research quality
collections; participation in special projects when necessary. A minimum of a
masters degree in botany or biology, experience working with the maintenance of
systematic botanical collections, and demonstrated knowledge of taxonomic
botany; good computer knowledge is desired. To apply, please send a letter of
interest, résumé, and names and contact information for three
references to California Academy of Sciences, Human Resources Department
#CollMgr1, 875 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Application deadline is
31 July 2004. The California Academy of Sciences is an Equal Opportunity
Employer committed to diversity. [Posted 6 May 2004]
Systematic Botanist (Research Botanist), Smithsonian Institution, National
Museum of Natural History: The Department of Botany seeks an outstanding
systematic botanist for a full-time research position, initially as a four-year
term appointment, but upon satisfactory performance during that period,
eligible for conversion to permanent status. Candidates with an established and
recognized research program on a large or important plant group such as
pteridophytes, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Melastomataceae, or Rubiaceae may be
given preference. The successful candidate should have demonstrated expertise
that emphasizes innovative as well as conventional application of the
systematic collections of the United States National Herbarium, utilizing
modern methods based on comparative morphology and augmented by other
methodological tools such as molecular phylogenetics. The position will be
filled at the GS12/13 level (salary range of $60,638 to $93,742 commensurate
with experience). In addition to a proven record of scientific achievement in
the research specialty, applicants are expected to have expertise and interest
in additional fields, such as biogeography, biodiversity and conservation,
enthnobotany, floristics, informatics, or theoretical systematics. Applicants
must have demonstrated ability to establish an externally funded research
program, and to conduct active botanical fieldwork. See announcement number
04AD-1065 at <http://www. mnh.si.edu/rc/positions/> for further details
for the application for this position. [Updated 12 July 2004]
Search reopened for postdoc at the University of Utah: A postdoctoral
position
is available on an internationally collaborative project to produce a global
monograph of the genus Solanum (Solanaceae). The project is one of four
Planetary Biodiversity Inventory programs funded by NSF in collaboration with
the ALL Species Foundation. Solanum includes between 1,000 and 2,000
species
and is one of the largest genera of angiosperms. The species level taxonomy,
including images, keys and specimen data, will be made available over the
Internet. Responsibilities include monographic taxonomy of selected species
groups of solanums; specimen and image databasing and manipulation; field work
for the collection of herbarium, seed and silica gel samples; generation of
molecular data for phylogeny reconstruction (mainly sequences of chloroplast
and nuclear genes); maintenance and analysis of living greenhouse collections
of Solanaceae; data analysis, presentation, and publication; training and
supervision of undergraduate lab assistants; and oversight of routine lab
activities. Candidates should have a Ph.D. and experience in plant systematics,
field work and with working in a team; experience with Solanaceae is preferred
but not required, as is experience with molecular systematics and a variety of
methods of data analysis. This position is available for one year beginning
immedately and extendable for up to five years. Electronic submission of
applications is encouraged. Review of applications will begin immediately and
continue until a suitable candidate is chosen. Applicants should submit a
statement of interest and description of past experience, a curriculum vitae,
and contact information (names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers) of three
references to: Lynn Bohs, Department of Biology, 257 South 1400 East,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA; e-mail
<bohs@biology.utah.edu>; voice: 801 585-0380. Information on the Biology
Department at the University of Utah is available at
<http://www.biology.utah.edu/>. The University of Utah is an Equal
Opportunity Employer. [Updated 19 July 2004]
Merritt Lyndon Fernald Award, New England Botanical Club
Merritt Lyndon Fernald was born in 1873 in Orono, Maine. In 1891 he enrolled at
Harvard University and started working at the Gray Herbarium, both of which he
remained associated with until his death in 1950. During those 60 years, he
intensively studied the flora of eastern North America, made numerous field
expeditions throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada,
and authored over 800 papers on floristically related subjects. Two of his most
important contributions were: Persistence of Plants in Unglaciated Areas of
Boreal North America (1925) and Gray's Manual of Botany, 8th
Edition (1950).
Fernald served as an Associate Editor of Rhodora, Journal of The
New England
Botanical Club from its inception in 1899 to 1928, and as
Editor-in-Chief from
1928 until his death in 1950. He was an active member and promoter of the club.
The Council of the New England Botanical Club honors Fernald's exemplary
contributions to the botany of northeastern North America through the Merritt
Lyndon Fernald Award. The award is given annually, if deemed appropriate, to
the author(s) of the best paper published in each volume of Rhodora that has
made use of herbarium specimens and/or involved fieldwork. Topics to be
considered include, but are not limited to, biogeography, floristics,
life-history studies, monographs, and revisions. Papers on vascular or
nonvascular plants, lichens, fungi, and algae will be considered. The
competition is not limited to a particular geographic area, but is open to
studies in any part of the world. Recipients of the Fernald Award will receive
$1,000 and a certificate acknowledging the achievement. The award will be
presented when the New England Botanical Club hosts its annual Distinguished
Speaker.
The first recipient of the Merritt Lyndon Fernald Award is Robert I. Bertin for
his paper entitled "Losses of Native Plant Species from Worcester,
Massachusetts" (Rhodora 104:325-349. 2002). The second recipients are Arthur C.
Mathieson, Clinton J. Dawes, Larry G. Harris, and Edward J. Hehre for their
paper "Expansion of the Asiatic Green Alga Codium fragile
subsp. tomentosoides
in the Gulf of Maine" (Rhodora 103:1-53).
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."
American Philosophical Society, Research Grants:
Franklin Research Grants are a program of small grants ($1,000-$6,000) to
scholars in order to support the cost of research leading to publication in all
areas of knowledge. Applicants are expected to have a doctorate, or to have
published work of doctoral character and quality. Pre-doctoral students are not
eligible, but the society is especially interested in supporting the work of
young scholars who have recently received the doctorate. The Franklin program
is designed to help meet the cost of travel to libraries and archives for
research purposes, the purchase of microfilm, and the costs associated with
fieldwork or laboratory research. The program does not accept proposals in
journalistic writing, for the preparation of textbooks or teaching aids, or the
work of creative and performing artists. These grants are not made for research
for commercial purposes, or when government support is more appropriate. They
are not intended to meet the expenses of attending conferences or costs of
publication. Eligibility: Applicants may be residents of the United States or
American citizens resident abroad. Foreign nationals whose research can only be
carried out in the United States are eligible. Grants are made to individuals.
Institutions are not eligible to apply. For information about application
procedures, see either the Web page <http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/> or
contact: Franklin Research Grants, American Philosophical Society, 104 South
5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106; e-mail <eroach@ amphilsoc.org>.
Include the following information: 1) indication of your eligibility, specify
the name of the program; 2) nature of the research (e.g., archival, laboratory,
fieldwork, etc.); and 3) proposed use of the grant funds (travel, purchase of
microfilm, etc.). Foreign nationals must state what objects of research they
need access to, available ONLY in the United States. Information updated June
2004.
Rupert Barneby Fund, New York Botanical Garden: The New
York Botanical
Garden
now invites applications for the Rupert Barneby Award for the year 2005. 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 2-3
referees. Travel to the NYBG should be planned for sometime in the year 2005.
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 2004.
Announcement of the recipient will be made by December 15th. 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. See "People" for the winner of the 2004 award.
Elizabeth E. Bascom Fellowships in Botany for Latin American Women, 6th
Announcement: The Missouri Botanical Garden announces the sixth annual
competition for the Elizabeth E. Bascom Fellowships in botany for Latin
American women. The fellowship will cover the cost of a round-trip air ticket
to St. Louis, lodging in the Garden apartment, and a small stipend for food and
miscellaneous expenses in St. Louis for a period of one to three months. The
competition is open to young Latin American women who work in the field of
botany or are botanists at universities or other governmental or
non-governmental scientific institutions in Mexico, Central America, and South
America. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a university. The
fields of investigation are limited to systematic botany, ecology, or
conservation. Deadline is 1 July 2004. All interested applicants should obtain
a list of application materials from Alina Freire-Fierro, P.O. Box 299, St.
Louis, MO 63166-0299, USA. Voice: 314-577-9535; fax: 314-577-0830; e-mail ; Web
page <http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/jobs.shtml>.
Grants for Botanical Gardens and Arboreta: The Stanley
Smith Horticultural
Trust (SSHT) invites applications for grants up to $20,000 for education and
research in ornamental horticulture. Not-for-profit botanical gardens,
arboreta, and similar institutions are eligible. The deadline for applications
is 15 August 2004. For current guidelines, contact Thomas F. Daniel, Grants
Director, SSHT, Department of Botany, California Academy of Sciences, Golden
Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; email <tdaniel@calacademy.org>;
voice: 415 750-7191.
2004
Botany 2004, Snowbird, Utah, 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>.
International Symposium on Asian Plant Diversity and Systematics, 29 July-1
August 2004, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Asia has an incredibly high diversity of plants. The flora of temperate Asia,
e.g., China, Korea, and Japan, comprises the largest number of species when
compared with all other temperate regions of the world, and the tropical Asian
flora is the most species-rich. The plant diversity of Asia is an ideal focus
for evolutionary studies, biogeographical analysis, informatics, phylogenetics,
and systematics. This symposium aims to review current research on various
aspects of Asian plant diversity, with emphasis on the use of modern approaches
and techniques. The symposium will include six symposium sessions and one
poster session. For more information, see
<http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jsps/iapt2004/>.
VI International Flora Malesiana Symposium, Los Baños,
20-24 September
2004
The Flora Malesiana symposia provide a forum to report scientific research
findings and progress on particular plant groups or areas, exchange ideas, and
conduct workshops on approaches to enhancing and managing the Flora Malesiana
Project. They also continue to serve as catalyst for significantly increasing
publication of plant biodiversity information. The Sixth International Flora
Malesiana Symposium is to take place in Los Baños, Philippines in
September 2004. It will be organised and hosted by the University of the
Philippines-Los Baños and the National Museum of the Philippines. The
university lies between the southern lakeshore of Laguna de Bay and the
northeastern slopes of the legendary volcano Mt Makiling on the main island of
Luzon. The FM VI Symposium will be preceded by the Ethnobotany of Southeast
Asia Symposium, 16-18 September in Los Baños and followed by the Global
Taxonomy Initiative, Asia Meeting, 27-30 September in Manila. For more
information, see the Web site at <http://www. floramalesiana6.ph/>.
51st Annual Systematics Symposium, Missouri Botanical Garden, St.
Louis, 8-10
October 2004
The topic of this year's Symposium is "Latin American BiogeographyCauses and
Effects;" the moderator will be Alan Graham. Speakers include David Krause,
Rosendo Pascual, William Zinsmeister, Paul Mann, S. Blair Hedges, S. David
Webb, Sarah Metcalfe, Anthony G. Coates, Barbara W. Leyden, Dolores R. Piperno,
Lonnie G. Thompson, and Henry Hooghiemstra. For more information, see
<http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/symposium/welcome.shtml> or contact
Systematics Symposium, Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO
63166-0299 or contact P. Mick Richardson <mick.richardson@mobot.org >;
voice: 314 577 5176; fax: 314 577 0820.
2005
18th World Orchid Conference, Dijon France, 11-20 March 2005
The palatial venue is located in the town center, and is well known as a prime
site for many large exhibitions and conferences. One of the major shows that it
hosts triennially is Florissimoliterally, "The Greatest Flower Show"which
is famous for its huge tropical plant displays. The Orchid Show will be held in
conjunction with the Florissimo exhibition on 12,000 square meters, just
besides the conference rooms. Orchid growers and exhibitors, hobbyists and
scientists from all parts of the world regularly attend the World Orchid
Conference. Sessions of oral communications are planned during the World Orchid
Conference. They deal with horticulture and cultivation, conservation and CITES
regulation, flora discovery, and scientific presentations. According to the
large amount of data recently obtained in orchid phylogeny, several well-known
speakers are invited to present their point of view on orchid evolution. This
consists of the major topics of scientific communications. The important
interactions of orchids with living organisms like insects and fungi are also
included in the program. Poster session will be also organized. The proceedings
of the conference will be published in an illustrated high-quality book by
Naturalia Publications. The price of the Proceedings is included in the
registration fees. Dijon is a lovely city located some 125 miles east of Paris.
It can be reached easily by the TGV Express train from Paris, Charles De Gaulle
airport, and from the city of Lyon. Conference tours are organized for
attendees. Conference information, program, and registration forms are
available at <http://www.woc2005.org/>. Comments and specific
requirements can be provided to organizers <contact@woc2005.org>.
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 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.
New JournalPhyloinformatics
Phyloinformatics is a peer-reviewed, free, and open-access
journal dedicated to
publishing high quality papers on the use of informatics in taxonomy or
phylogenetics. The journal was been launched on 25 August 2003, and the first
two papers appeared in February 2004. Phyloinformatics
publishes original
research articles on computational methods used in phylogenetic analysis,
management of taxonomic data, or the application of phylogenetics in other
scientific fields. Publication of articles by Phyloinformatics
only depends on
the judgement by our reviewers. All accepted contributions will be published on
the Web without length restrictions. Phyloinformatics offers a very fast
publication schedule and rigorous peer review. Articles will be published
electronically in PDF format immediately upon acceptance. As an on-line
journal, Phyloinformatics gives authors the opportunity to publish large
datasets or files that can be read directly by other software packages to allow
other taxonomists to manipulate the data for themselves. For more information,
including how to submit a manuscript, see our Web page at
<http://phyloinformatics.org> or contact the editor, Dennis DeGreve,
e-mail <editor@phyloinformatics.org>.
HERBERTIASolicitation for Articles
HERBERTIA is an international journal devoted to the botany
and horticultural
science of geophytic plants, published annually by the International Bulb
Society
<https://www10.secure-website.net/~bulbsoc/ABOUT_IBS/Publications/index.html&t;.
A special emphasis of the journal is the Amaryllidaceae and other petaloid
monocot families rich in bulbous or cormous plants, but articles treating any
aspects of dicotyledenous geophytes are welcome as well. Articles in
HERBERTIA
may be refereed (peer-reviewed) or nonrefereed. Articles of a scientific nature
(e.g., taxonomy, plant physiology) will usually be sent to at least two
appropriate reviewers. Authors wishing to insure that their contributions will
be peer-reviewed should indicate so upon submission. Peer-reviewed articles are
indicated with a footnote in publication. HERBERTIA is an
excellent forum for
scientists to communicate their geophyte research to an intelligent and
appreciative lay public. No page charges are assessed and authors are also
encouraged to provide generous amounts of color photographs with their articles
without any charge. The deadline for the next issue, Volume 58, is 1 June 2004.
For more information and contributor's guidelines, please contact the editor,
Alan W. Meerow, USDA-ARS-SHRS, 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33158; voice:
305 254-3635; fax: 305 238-9330; e-mail <miaam@ars-grin.gov >.
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>
Advances in Legume Systematics by B. Klitgaard and A. Bruneau
(eds.). 2003.
ISBN 1-84246-054-4. Price unknown. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew; Natural
History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England.
<http://www.nhm.ac.uk>
Blumea Supplement 16: Checklist of the Zingiberaceae of
Malesia by M. Newman,
A. Lhuillier and A. D. Poulsen. 2004. 166 pp. ISBN 90-71236-56-0. EUR 30.00
(pbk). National Herbarium Nederland, Publications Department, PO Box 9514, 2300
RA Leiden, The Netherlands. <http://nhncml.leidenuniv.nnl/rhb/>
Botanical Watercolors from the Nationaal Herbarium Nederland
by James J. White
and Lugene B. Bruno. 2004. 64 pp. ISBN 0-913196-77-0. $13.00 (pbk). Hunt
Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890. <http://www.huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu>
Flora of Australia Volume 56A: Lichens 4 by P. M. McCarthy and
K. Mallett
(eds.). 2004. 222 pp. ISBN 0-643-09057-6. A$ 80.00 (pbk). CSIRO Publishing, PO
Box 1139, Collingwood 3066, Victoria, Australia.
<http://www.publish.csiro.au>
The Genus Paeonia by J. J. Halda and J. W. Waddick. 2004. ISBN
0-88192-612-4.
$34.95 (hbk). Timber Press, 133 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204.
<http://www.timberpress.com>
Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition; An Ethnobotany of Britain and
Ireland by D.
E. Allen and G. Hatfield. 2004. 431 pp. ISBN 0-88192-638-8. $29.95 (hbk).
Timber Press, 133 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204.
<http://www.timberpress.com>
Molecular Markers, Natural History, and Evolution, 2nd edition
by J. C. Avise.
2004. 684 pp. ISBN 0-87893-041-8. $59.95 (pbk). Sinauer Associates, PO Box 407,
Sunderland, MA 01375-0407. <http://www.sinauer. com>
Natural Enemies: An Introduction to Biological Control by A.
Hajek. 2004. 378
pp. ISBN 0-521-65385-1. $50.00 (pbk). Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20th
Street, New York, NY 10011-4211. <http://www.cambridge. org>
North American Wildland Plants: A Field Guide by J.
Stubbendieck, S. L. Hatch
and L. M. Landholt. 2004. 501 pp. ISBN 0-8032-9306-2. $30.00 (pbk). University
of Nebraska Press, 233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0255.
<http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu>
Plant Evolution and the Origin of Crop Species by J. F.
Hancock. 2004. 313 pp.
ISBN 0-85199-685-X. $100.00 (hbk). Oxford University Press, 2001 Evans Road,
Cary, NC 27513. <http://www.oup.com/us>
A Primer of Ecological Genetics by J. K. Conner and D. L.
Hartl. 2004. 304 pp.
ISBN 0-87893-202-X. $34.95 (pbk). Sinauer Associates, PO Box 407, Sunderland,
MA 01375-0407. <http://www.sinauer.com>
Regnum Vegetabile Volume 141: Deep Morphology; Toward a Renaissance of
Morphology in Plant Systematics by T. F. Stuessy, V. Mayer and E.
Hörandl
(eds.). 2003. 326 pp. ISBN 3-906166-07-4. EUR 78.00 (hbk). Koeltz Scientific
Books, PO Box 1360, D-61453, Koenigstein, Germany.
<http://www.koeltz.com>.
Speciation by J. A. Coyne and H. A. Orr. 2004. 545 pp. ISBN
0-87893-089-2.
$54.95 (pbk). Sinauer Associates, PO Box 407, Sunderland, MA 01375-0407.
<http://www. sinauer.com>
Tree Ferns by M. F. Large and J. E. Braggins. 2004. 359 pp.
ISBN 0-88192-630-2.
$39.95 (hbk). Timber Press, 133 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204.
<http://www.timberpress.com>
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.
New Virtual US National Arboretum Herbarium Web Pages
The US National Arboretum Herbarium is one of a few in the world with a primary mission of supporting taxonomic research and identification of cultivated plants, including cultivars, hybrids, and other elite plant materials of use to man. To facilitate this research, the herbarium includes specimens not only of cultivated plants but also of their wild progenitors and is the official depository for documented specimens of USDA plant introductions, including food, drug, forage, industrial, and forest plants. The herbarium is a permanent reference collection of dried plant specimens necessary to taxonomic studies relating to agriculture, medicine, science, and education fields where documentation and correct identification of germplasm materials are essential. We have begun to electronically capture all of the data associated with each Type Specimen, Horticultural Cultivated Standard, as well as Specimens of Special Interest, to image these specimens, and to put all of this information on the internet. Although we have not finished the project we have posted what we have accomplished. The URL is <http://www.usna.usda.gov/Research/Herbarium/index.html>.
Native Plant Information Network from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
"The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to educate people about the environmental necessity, economic value, and natural beauty of native plants. The Native Plant Information Network's goal is to distribute a diverse array of scientifically accurate native plant materials and resources to help make this possible." This NPIN section of the Center's webpage has been updated and contains a wealth of information about native plants. Included are 1) a database with over 2,900 species, expanded data fields, advanced search features, and links to the Image Gallery; 2) 16,923 images and counting!; 3) a completely renovated National Suppliers Directory; 4) National Organizations Directory and Events Calendar; 5) Offshoots, fourteen years worth of Wildflower, the National Wildflower Research Center's Newsletter, 19841998; and 6) Ask the Expert, answers to the most frequently asked questions. The website is available at <http://www.wildflower2.org/index.html>, then click on "Explore Plants."
Some Websites About Parasitic and Carnivorous Plants
In the normal scheme of things, flowering plants are green and carry out photosynthesis, thus manufacturing their own food. However, plant systematists know that this generalization is not always true carnivorous plants obtain at least some of their nutrients from trapping and digesting small animals, mostly insects, while other plants lack chlorophyll and are parasitic on plants that do carry out photosynthesis. Students find these plants fascinating, and for the benefit of students in the plant systematics course at the University of Illinois I have selected a few websites devoted to these plants. Links from these websites will take to you to countless more. Ken Robertson.
Please e-mail suggestions for web sites of interest to the members of ASPT to: krrobert@uiuc.edu [Kenneth R. Robertson, Illinois Natural History Survey]
A group of systematics and collections-oriented people, including several members of ASPT, met at a workshop in Gainesville, Florida in November 2003 entitled: "A Decadal Vision for Taxonomy and Natural History Collections".
Workshop participants enthusiastically endorsed recent initiatives at NSF designed to enhance our taxonomic expertise and our knowledge of biodiversity (PEET, PBI, RevSys and AToL) and recommended that these achieve permanent status at NSF. Workshop participants also recommend increasing the NSF-BRC budget as that program's current budget ($6M) is clearly inadequate to meet the needs of our collections institutions. At the workshop, and continuing via the hard work of the writing committee, a vision began to take form of a highly networked community of collections institutions with the vast amount of data about life of Earth that is contained in our collections readily available. The questions the scale and well-being of biodiversity, its ecological patterns and correlates that could be address by such a virtual facility are exciting and vast. This vision is developed as LINNE (Legacy Infrastucture Network for Natural Environments), about which you can learn more via a glossy brochure intended at least in part for policymakers and politicians <http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/taxonomy_workshop/LINNE_brochure.pdf>.
The full text of the workshop report is available from the workshop's web site <http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/taxonomy_workshop/>.
Also see these websites that relate to this workshop or topic.
Thanks go to the organizer of this workshop, Larry Page, to NSF for funding the workshop, and to ASPT members and others who participated. Lucinda McDade
This is the end of ASPT Newsletter Volume 18(1), July 2004
Thanks for your support! Jun Wen, ASPT Treasurer <wen@fieldmuseum.org>. [

Carnivorous Plants
Parasitic Plants