, . , TCU Student Ethan Householder in his preferred habitat, the palm swamps of the Madre de Dios region in southeastern Peru ’s r o t c e r i D Note Medical Ethnobotany: STAFF PHOTO A Significant Future Program at BRIT Will McClatchey and Sy Sohmer Ethnobotany is core to BRIT’s mission. Broadly defined, it is the study of the relationships between the peoples of the world and the plants around them. It deals with how they use plants for food, fiber, shelter, and the maintenance of human health. I have always felt that such a program with particular emphasis on medicinal plants must be an integral and significant part of our research activities. I once wrote in an earlier column that: “Aside from the absolutely essential ecological services provided by plants, such as the oxygen we breathe, the watersheds maintained, and the fertility of soil, there is the matter of the food we eat, the structures we live in, the clothes we wear, and the medicines that treat our diseases and maintain our health. Without plants there would be no life as we know it. And one of the primary missions of BRIT is to collect, study, and preserve the knowledge of how peoples all over the world use plants for the treatment of human diseases and the maintenance of human health. At BRIT, because of the importance of this part of our mission, and as soon as we have the financial support with which to do so, we will add a medical ethnobotanist to the staff, an individual who will create and lead a program that will study the ways in which people have used plants for medicine.” Recently, we had the good fortune to gain significant insight in conceptualizing and creating such a program at BRIT when Dr. Will McClatchey came to Fort Worth at my invitation. He built and oversees one of the most significant ethnobotany programs in the country, at the University of Hawaii. While in Fort Worth he met with many of the potential stakeholders in such a program and delivered two lectures on the topic of building an ethnobotanical program. He gave an informal noon lecture at BRIT on this topic and a major lecture at the Health Science Center that was titled: “Medical Ethnobotany: Wisdom of the Past for Survival in the Future.” He spent considerable time with our colleagues at two of our Fort Worth collaborating institutions, Texas Christian University (TCU) and the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC), and particularly with the latter since this program will work closely with their department of pharmacology and neuroscience. Indeed, grant proposals in conjunction with UNTHSC will make the program envisioned possible. We are very grateful for the support of the Health Science Center for this potential program as we are to TCU for collaborating with us and helping make possible our Amazon project in Peru. Dr. McClatchey emphasized the paramount need to understand the cultures and languages of the peoples that one works with, and to distance oneself from the concept that this discipline revolves primarily around snatching samples of plant matter to screen for compounds. While exploring biodiversity is essential, it is very important to understand the cultural and linguistic settings in which ethnobotanical knowledge resides. All work needs to be based on the understanding that the scientists recognize the intellectual property rights of the peoples with whom they work. Some of his specific recommendations are: • Build on the great strengths of BRIT, primarily the herbarium collection diversity and the depth of skills and experience of the staff. • Use ethnobotany research as a means to invest value in the communities in which plant diversity is being studied. • Focus ethnobotany research on specific questions (hypotheses) that are answerable in the mix of cultures and biodiversity in which research is conducted. • Emphasize training of local researchers from communities, instilling in them the combined strengths of scientific methods and the wisdom of their own ancestors. • Always remember that the greatest value of medicinal plants in our culture is as pharmacological tools for understanding human biology. • Maintain plant materials in conditions that best preserve the chemistry of living plants. • Ethnobotany is of most value to living cultures. Encourage sustainable lifestyles, conservation ethics, and thinking beyond the period of political cycles. • Researchers come and go from field sites. The only real conservationists are people who live in the environment and make daily decisions about how biodiversity should be used. Plan accordingly. • EVERYONE is “local” where they are and ALL people use plants in their daily lives. Ethnobotany is not limited to the exotic “ethnographic other” but should also be studies of cultural introspection. I am hopeful that we will have the financial resources to make this program a reality. 5 HEINZ GAYLORD table of contents Blackwater Mysteries: BRIT Student Searches for Luscious Fruit in Vanilla Swamps of Amazonian Peru 8 BRIT Launches Distinguished 2007 9 Ruth Carter Stevenson: 2007 International Award Excellence in Conservation 10 Lecturer Series 2006of Read It and Weep! The Fascinating Journey from Pasture to Pharmacy for One Remarkable Species, The Willow and Its Great Gift, Salicin Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program Update 16 16 17 Shinners Dinner Debut in Nacogdoches: Illustrated causes a stir Awards Corner BRIT Toasts a New, Vintage Event Flora of East Texas 26 Albert Ruth Collection Finds a Permanent Home at BRIT What’s in Your Brown Bag Lunch? Goldmines to be discovered in BRIT’s books and reprints Discover Distance Learning at BRIT Movers & Shakers BRIT Press Botany 101 for Lifelong Learners Tree Class Summer 2006 Environmental Science Youth Mentoring Program BRIT Donations Our sincerest apologies to Mrs. Mathilde H. Panker whose name appeared erroneously as “Mildred” on page 13 of the last issue of Iridos in an article on a gift to the library. IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 12 14 18 19 20 21 21 22 23 23 24 3 I R I D OS A publication of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 509 Pecan Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4060 817.332.4441 Metro 817.429.3200 Fax 817.332.4112 www.brit.org Dear Readers, Patricia Harrison ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF EDUCATION This issue of Iridos has a clean new look and approach. BRIT continues to grow and move forward in planning for a new building with greater visibility at a new location. It is appropriate that our magazine reflect this new attitude. Beginning with this issue Robert George has taken on the task of editor. He has been at BRIT since 1999 as an assistant for the Illustrated Texas Floras Project (see page 14). Through the combined efforts of all the staff and Robert, we believe that our mission and direction as an institution is appropriately reflected in this new Iridos. Cleve Lancaster DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Sy Sohmer, Director Robert George, EDITOR S.H. Sohmer DIRECTOR Judy Secrest EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES COLLECTIONS Amanda Neill, Herbarium Director Lee Luckeydoo, Collections Manager Frances Ockels Marissa Oppel Michiko Stone EDUCATION Pam Chamberlain Pat Dorraj Amber Keller Kathy Scott LIBRARY Gary Jennings PUBLICATIONS Barney Lipscomb, Head Judy MacKenzie RESEARCH ANDES TO AMAZON BIODIVERSITY PROGRAM John Janovec, Co-director Amanda Neill, Co-director Fort Worth Peru Justin Allison Angel Belarezo Jason Best Pedro Centeno Tiana Franklin Benjamin Chambi Kevin Jenson Miguel Chocce Asha McElfish Fernando Cornejo Keri McNew Darlo Cruz Marissa Oppel Javier Huinga Andrew Reina Piher Maceda Andy Waltke Renan Valega FLORA OF EAST TEXAS PROJECT Robert George Barney Lipscomb FLORAS Guy Nesom DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL EVENTS/MEMBERSHIP Tammie Crole Patty Marksteiner Amanda Morris CONSULTANTS Iridos Design - Jennifer Henderson, JODesign Iridos Editorial - Paige Hendricks, PHPR Distribution is free to those providing support to BRIT. Comments and suggestions are welcomed and may be sent to the editor at rgeorge@brit.org. Conveying an unwritten message with flowers was prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries and came to be known as “the language of flowers.” Iridos is the Greek word for iris. Iris is a sweet-smelling flower and was the symbol of the mythological character Iridos, the messenger of the ancient Greek gods. Iridos was the goddess of the rainbow, winging a message across the sky; in the Iliad, she was the swift-footed messenger of Zeus and Hera. Iridos was selected to carry BRIT’s message. Mission: To conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life. Welcome, At BRIT, I think our magazine, Iridos, is taking a role to presage the increased visibility that will accompanying the upcoming move of our facilities within the next few years. For the past few months, we’ve been working on refining Iridos to engage even more readers amongst our existing BRIT supporters and to pique the interest of those who might be new to the organization. We’ve opened up the pages of the magazine to welcome even more intriguing stories set in a fresh, inviting layout with a generous helping of human interest. If we haven’t yet met, I am first a scientist–a botanist by training and profession. My goal is to help translate what we do every day at BRIT into exciting stories. I thank our contributors and the BRIT staff, for their participation during the process! Good, bad or indifferent, your comments are important to me. Please let me know what you think and if you like what you see. And a phone call would be the highest compliment, no matter what the subject! I sincerely invite interaction as we at BRIT work to improve our communication and further connect with our readers. Robert George, Editor Ph: 817.332.4441 ext. 11 Email: rgeorge@brit.org • Fax: 817.332.4112 BRIT Spotlight Besides adding a letter from the editor to the new Iridos, this page will highlight a Brit staff or associate in each of its issues. For this issue of Iridos we feature the four authors of the Illustrated Flora of East Texas, Volume one (see full article on page 14). The authors’ work together illustrates the collaborative ethic that is so much a part of BRIT. George Diggs, Monique Reed, Barney Lipscomb, and Bob O’Kennon George Diggs is a faculty member in the Biology Department and Center for Environmental Studies at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He also works at BRIT as a Research Associate. Barney Lipscomb is the Dorothea Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany at BRIT, and editor of BRIT’s two botanical journals. COVER PHOTO BY DARIO CRUZ Monique Reed is the Herbarium Botanist in the Biology Department at Texas A&M and coordinates undergraduate and graduate laboratories in botany. She’s particularly interested in the plants of Texas (especially bog and outcrop plants), cultivated plants, exotic weeds, and education. Robert (Bob) O’Kennon is a Research Associate at BRIT, has served on its Board of Trustees from the beginning in 1987, and is Vice Chairman. Blackwater Mysteries: BRIT Student Searches for Luscious Fruit in Vanilla Swamps of Amazonian Peru A question was posed to me by a good friend: “How is one affected by spending an entire year of his/her life in the tropical blackwater swamps of Peru? My response was immediate and without reflection. “Only two toenails rotted off, I have just one scar from a flesh-eating parasite. I tangled with only two maneating anacondas, and I experienced only one case of mild hypothermia during the night I spent lost in the (continue to p. 6) swamp.” ETHAN HOUSEHOLDER Ethan Householder, current BRIT/TCU student, spent the past year in the Peruvian Amazon exploring the palm swamps of the Madre de Dios River. While in search of a single orchid genus, Vanilla, he recorded his experiences and offers the story of his year of intense botanical exploration and its meaning to him. The intoefllectual depth swer my an was apparently unsatisfying to my curious friend. But how preservative, a better to quickly summarize the aftermath of a fragrance, a flavor. year’s worth of swamp exploration than with a It’s even been used few physical manifestations of my incredible as money. The journey? Aztecs forced the Not for the faint of heart, my lurid Totonacs of Veracruz, Mexico, to toenails and a debilitating paranoia of large pay tribute to their snakes. The relevance of those experiences conquering masters in the form of vanilla. As a lifts the lid on the heart of a deeper issue. weapon of war, vanilla helped Hernán Cortéz First let me explain why I was in these conquer the Aztecs with a mere 200 men by traditions, I discovered deep-rooted feelings swamps to begin with. It’s fairly simple. I was convincing the Totonacs they’d never be dormant in me and they were about to emerge. searching for the vanilla orchid. forced to give their prized vanilla to another This passion for vanilla, and the swamps Aztec… if they would join him in his war demanded that I travel to find them. formed, plant evolution had already begun to against the Sun God, or Aztec king. our existence as a species. Partaking in this most ancient of But today botanical exploration has new The world seen through the lens of this meaning. The botanical explorers of yesterday of the swamps in BRIT research. Naturally single plant is absolutely fascinating. I have ventured into a world very different from ours. occurring “perfume” from vanilla orchid found myself in remote jungle swamps, often Yesterday human existence depended on how flowers, as well as from resins, feces, and in precarious positions, searching for other sources, is collected by males of a this single plant. Its natural history, its certain tropical bee. These perfumes then human history, and its mystery all hold become the raw material for the production of me captive. And it happens to grow like pheromones used in the bee’s mating rituals a weed in the swamps of the Peruvian with the opposite sex. Over evolutionary time, Amazon. shape the orchid family, a significant element as male bees have modified their mix of So, I ventured into these Amazonian fragrance attractants for choosy females, the swamps, to partake of what is perhaps vanilla perfume also has responded with the most ancient profession of mankind, change. And perhaps because we all share a botanical exploration. Our hunting and common biology at some level, this floral gathering ancestors lived or died perfume —- so proficient at luring male bees according to their botanical acumen. —- is also deliciously tempting to us, Homo Ten thousand years ago, the dawn of our sapiens. agricultural civilization depended on What is this delicious scent? I am of IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Orange indicates swamps where Ethan Householder studied narrative begins there… with only eight Before the Peruvian palm swamps were 6 medicine, a botanical knowledge. Seed satchels course speaking of Vanilla, an orchid which carried by ancient farmers contained the has achieved iconic status in the minds, and genetic diversity they created, traded, noses, of humans, including mine. Throughout and protected. That diversity and those world and human history, vanilla interlaces seeds continue to feed us today. ancient religious ceremonies. It is a symbol of pomp and prestige. It’s an aphrodisiac, a Botanical exploration was a matter of survival, something deep rooted in Ethan with vanilla pods produced no fruit at all, the females having been reduced to rotting stumps. No fruits mean no animals. No fruits mean no baby palms to replace the fallen. I considered these swamps among the living dead. What will become of these well swamps? What will become they explored of the palms growing there their local floras. Today, as nature gets pushed out and becomes more subdivided, isolated, and the vanilla orchids that adorn their trunks? More importantly, what can I do? These and forgotten, the survival of our floras depend questions have nagged me since I returned to on how well we explore them, how well we the United States. I offer them as the answers understand them, and how much we value them. to the original question that began my From my first day in the swamps I was journalistic exploration, “How is one affected made keenly aware of their value. I’m not by spending an entire year in the tropical, referring to botanical value, but to monetary blackwater swamps of Peru?” Swamp value. By some cruel trick of the same conservation has become a personal issue, and geological forces that lifted up the great Andes, for as long as I have some toenails left, I’d enough gold has been deposited underneath rather be knee deep in one than not have them accumulated organic matter in vanilla swamps to explore. The passion for swamp vanilla that to lure thousands of gold miners to the area. has overtaken me in the past year ensures that They hope to get lucky, like male bees to I will play a role in the fate of its home, the vanilla fruit, but in a much louder and more swamps. destructive manner. I was never out of earshot As I write this, I sit in the backyard of my of the droning sounds of motorized pumps mother’s house in Fort Worth, Texas. In my turning the swamps inside out, looking for gold. line of sight is a plant she collected from a And if there’s yellow gold beneath, there’s small crack in the sidewalk of her suburban lot. The plant has over fifty flowers, each with of the palm, Mauritia flexuosa. The palms are an intense, beautiful smell. I reminisce about also the natural trellis of the vanilla orchid. the sweet fragrance of vanilla, about the The dry season in the swamps is met with swamps where they grow. I realize that such a bountiful harvests of the irresistible palm passion does not require a trip to distant, far fruits. One of the dirty little secrets of off places. It can be expressed anywhere. Plant uncontrolled, laissez-faire capitalism in the lovers everywhere—gardeners, naturalists, Amazon is that commercial palm fruit ecologists, taxonomists, or evolutionary collectors fell 30-meter female palm trees for a biologists—share a common passion. And one time harvest. Only male trees are left, we’re all equally bound by a common unable to produce fruit and progeny on their responsibility. That is, to explore, study, and own. Every day the market expands for these understand the plants around us. The plants fruits. Everyday I walked through swamps that depend on it. Vanilla orchid on palm (note the yellow pod near bottom) IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 red gold above. It’s the brightly colored fruits 7 BRIT Launches Distinguished Lecturer Series 2006-2007 IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Explorers of the 21st Century 8 STAFF PHOTO with speakers after the lectures. Thanks go to Mr. Carroll Collins and Mrs. Lucy Darden who hosted elegant dinners for the speakers and BRIT guests in each of their homes. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth Garden Club and the Fort Worth Botanical Society, host the lectures and provide receptions for guests in the Deborah Biggs Moncrief Garden Center. American Airlines generously donates travel sponsorship to bring speakers to Fort Worth. Please take part in the spring lectures! More exciting expeditions are anticipated. And no boarding pass required. STAFF PHOTO TCU students Jorge Lingan and Romina Gazis COURTESY OF F. HOWARTH Think exploration was just a 15th century phenomenon? This year’s lecture series proves the Age of Exploration is far from over. There are still giants who explore our earth, and many of their discoveries come from scientists whose work originates in our own back yards. Last September, Sara Harrison Sohmer, Ph.D. initiated this timely and intriguing BRIT series interwoven with a fascinating perspective from British history. “This curiosity about a much expanded natural world required both new skills and new actors— individuals who literally saw and explained Nature innovatively,” said Dr. Sohmer. “By the mid-18th century, that process was sufficiently developed to support something of a ‘golden age’ of scientific exploring expeditions.” The first modern-day explorer in the lecture series was appropriately enough, John Janovec, Ph.D., research botanist. The head of BRIT’s Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program, Dr. Janovec shared stories that helped bring to light remarkable work he is leading with a team in Peru, and technology that is revolutionizing 21st century science. His talk in October, “Exploring the Deepest Amazon, the Peruvian Andes, and the Jungles of Cyberspace,” was quite enlightening. In November, Frank G. Howarth, Ph.D., Bishop Museum, Honolulu, described some of the wonders of Hawaiian natural history, including happy-face spiders and birds with bills for every purpose. He took the audience on an expedition into an unknown world to marvel at the bizarre life forms that have adapted to live in some of Hawaii’s most inhospitable places. These life forms survive in such extreme habitats as hot barren lava flows and freezing desolate summits of the highest mountains in the mid Pacific. Major donors had the opportunity to visit Frank G. Howarth Dr. Sara Sohmer and Val Wilkie “A Lifetime of Collecting in the World’s Tropics - Or How I Got to Know the Diversity of Plants By Collecting Them” with Thomas Croat, Ph.D., P.A. Shulze Curator of Botany, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis 1 February 2007 “Old Plants and Very Old Bones---Exploring the Ethiopian Highlands” with Bonnie Jacobs, Ph.D., Director, Environmental Science Program and Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Southern Methodist University 5 April 2007 “Exploring the New Guinea Highlands: the Magical World of the Birds of Paradise” with Bruce Beehler, Ph.D., vice president, Melanesia Center for Biodiversity Conservation, Conservation International, Washington, D.C. 1 March 2007 “Saving the Wild Places of Earth for the Unicorn and the Tiger: Assuring the Future for Young Explorers” with Eric Dinerstein, Ph.D., chief scientist and vice president for Science, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, D.C. 4 May 2007 Ruth Carter Stevenson Recipient of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas’ 2007 International Award of Excellence in Conservation BRIT’s 2007 Award of Excellence in Conservation will be held Thursday, 26 April, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth. BRIT's award gala is an important event attended by more than 500 guests. Ruth Carter Stevenson will receive the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) 2007 International Award of Excellence in Conservation at a dinner in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday, April 26, 2007. She is being recognized for making a sustaining difference in conservation in Fort Worth. “Ruth Carter Stevenson is a deserving recipient of BRIT’s 2007 International Award of Excellence in Conservation,” said Tim McKinney, chair of BRIT’s board of trustees. “Characteristically, she has continually worked successfully behind the scenes to enhance the natural beauty of our community. She is known as a ‘walking encyclopedia’ on plants and for her enthusiasm for green spaces.” Her accomplishments are significant. By the early ‘70s, the US Army Corps of Engineers had completed its flood control project on the Trinity River, which runs through the heart of Fort Worth, but the work had left its banks barren. Mrs. Stevenson was one of the original founders of the Streams and Valleys Committee, established in 1971 to preserve and beautify the Trinity River and its adjoining areas. She activated l “Anything I can do that will make Fort Worth a better place, or accessible, or more interesting to the outside world, I would do that.” – Ruth Carter Stevenson She has also been a board member of the following organizations: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1968 – 71 and 1989 – 93; Texas Christian University, board of trustees, 1974 – 86; National Endowment for the Arts, 1968 – 71; Smithsonian Institution, National Collection of Fine Arts, 1966 – 70; The University of Texas at Austin, Board of Regents, 1963 – 69. She has been a member of the following organizations: Council on Foreign Relations, New York City, 1983 – 89; Streams and Valleys Committee, Fort Worth, 1970 – 76; Fort Worth City Art Commission, 1960 – 83. Her awards have been many: Historic Preservation “Lifetime Achievement Award,” Fort Worth, October 2000; Ruth Carter Stevenson Regents Chair in the Art of Architecture, established in 1992 by The University of Texas at Austin; Doctor of Humane Letters, Texas Christian University, May 1973; Doctor of Humanities, Texas Wesleyan College, March 1972. Created in 1995, the International Award of Excellence in Conservation is presented annually to an individual or organization that exemplifies the ideals expressed in BRIT’s mission: to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value that plants bring to life. IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 the Halprin Plan, the master plan designed to beautify the urban greenbelt along the Trinity River that had been prepared by nationally known San Francisco landscape architect Laurence Halprin in 1970. She was responsible for the planting of hundreds of trees along the Trinity River. She was instrumental in the creation of the award-winning Fort Worth Water Gardens in 1974, and she made it possible for the City of Fort Worth to have the land to establish Gateway Park on the city’s eastside. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mrs. Stevenson was born on October 19, 1923. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945 from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. An active leader both locally and nationally, she has served as president of the Amon G. Carter Foundation since 1982. Her parents, Amon G. and Nenetta Burton Carter, established the foundation in 1945. She joined the foundation’s board in 1945 and served as its vice president from 1955 to 1982. She also serves as president of the board of trustees of the Amon Carter Museum, a position she has held since the museum was founded in 1961. Her father, Amon G. Carter (1879-1955), provided in his will for the establishment of the museum, which has evolved into one of the great museums of American art. Since 1995 she has been a member of the National Gallery of Art’s Trustees Council. She has also served the National Gallery of Art as founding chairman of the Collectors Committee, 1976 – 96, board member, 1978 – 97, and chairman of the board, 1993 – 97. Former volunteer positions have included being founding chairman of the Cultural District Advisory Committee, Fort Worth, 1986 – 89; vice president, International Council, New York Museum of Modern Art, 1965 – 72; president, Arts Council of Greater Fort Worth, 1963 – 64; vice president, Fort Worth Art Association, 1951 – 61. 9 Read It and Weep! The Fascinating Journey from Pasture to Pharmacy for One Remarkable Species, The Willow and Its Great Gift, Salicin by MARISSA OPPEL Salicylic acid IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Salicin 10 What do willow trees have in common with aspirin, acne treatments, and ancient Egypt? The answer is salicin, a chemical compound first isolated from willow (Salix sp.) in 1829 by the French pharmacist Henri Leroux. Sometimes called weeping willows, species of willow have been prized as medicines by global cultures ancient and modern, including Egyptians, Greeks, American Indians, and Europeans. Thousands of years ago Dioscorides and Hippocrates recorded medicinal uses. Early American Indians exploited the willow to yield tonics and treatments for a full body range of ailments, from colds, rheumatism, fevers, and headaches, to stomach and skin problems. Medieval Europeans thanked willow species for relief from fevers and pain. And that was just the beginning! During the century from 1820 to 1926, willow bark was listed in the official go-to drug compendium, the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). And, today, white willow extracts and teas are prized herbal medicines sipped by many for help with back pain, arthritis pain, headaches, and fevers. Why? The answer again is salicin and other prodrugs, drugs that only become active once in the body. Salicin, the gift of the willow, converts into salicylic acid in the human digestive system. Salicylic acid is a plant hormone that activates a systemic response to infections. Other applications abound. It can be used as a less toxic form of pest control, an ingredient in drugstore wart removers, and it’s found in over-thecounter acne medications too. To get technical, salicin is actually a glycoside of salicylic acid [A glycoside is a compound consisting of a sugar molecule attached to some other molecule]. Salicylic acid is irritating, so much so that it cannot be ingested over the long-term because it can cause stomach, mouth, and throat irritations. However, salicin doesn’t convert to salicylic acid until it is in the intestines and liver, sparing delicate human stomach, mouth, and esophageal tissues. Many members of the willow family produce valuable salicin or similar compounds named salicylates. We can say thanks to weeping willow (Salix babylonica), purple willow (Salix purpurea), crack willow (Salix fragilis), cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides), as well as meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) from the rose and blueberry families. So, back in 1829, after Leroux had isolated salicin, the Italian Chemist Raffaele Piria converted salicin to salicylic acid. And in 1839, German researchers isolated salicylic acid from meadowsweet. Meadowsweet, traditionally used to treat fevers and urinary problems, is used in modern herbal medicine as 1869 1897 1899 } Ge rm an Fe lix ace Hof him ty fm sel lsali ann f a cy te nd lic sts art aci hri d o tic n fat he Ar r tic le on a ap cetyl pe sal ars icy in lic La nc et 1853 Ge rha rdt ace tyl a synt sal cr he icy ud siz lic e f es aci orm d ( of asp iri n) Joh an Kr au ts y a p nthe ace ure size tyl fo s sal rm icy of lic aci d 1839 Ch arl es 1829 He R nri res affa i s ola Lero ear ele tes ux ch Pi ers ria sal su ici cce iso co n f ssf lat nv rom ull e s ert ali s sa wi y cyl lic llo ic in w aci to d f sa l rom icy me lic a ad cid ow sw eet { aspirin timeline voila! An article was published all about aspirin in the July 1899 issue of Lancet. Researcher and author, Heinrich Dreser, a Bayer scientist who at first didn’t appreciate aspirin’s potential, soon reaped substantial royalties from the lucrative new product that was initially used to treat fevers. The scientists who discovered it were not so fortunate. At least they had some aspirin to ease their pain. Soon aspirin shot up on the charts. It became one of Bayer’s top-selling products, sold alongside popular medicines of the era like heroin, another compound that was renamed and marketed by Bayer Laboratories! Sales of new mass-produced drugs, such as aspirin and heroin, helped secure Bayer’s new starring role, having left its former dye manufacturer focus to become a powerful leading member of the young pharmaceutical industry. Today, numerous manufacturers synthesize aspirin in massive quantities using phenol as a starting compound. Though not found in pretty green trees, phenol is plentiful in black coal tar. Aspirin is used all over the world to treat pain, fevers, headaches, and arthritis–even to help prevent heart attacks. Aspirin is a member of a group of compounds known as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). NSAIDS inhibit prostaglandin (a hormone-type molecule) synthesis, producing a range of beneficial effects and huge profits for the pharmaceutical industry, who are weeping all the way to the bank. But of course, we know that salicin, the very first NSAID, was originally synthesized by nature. IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 an anti-rheumatic, analgesic, febrifuge (fever reducer), stomachic, and antiinflammatory agent. Salicylic acid and its salt, sodium salicylate, were soon marketed as exciting new drugs. Acetylsalicylic acid, a.k.a., aspirin, was probably first synthesized in a crude form by a fellow Frenchman, a chemist named Charles Gerhardt, in 1853. Sixteen years later Johann Kraut synthesized a purified form of acetylsalicylic acid that was later manufactured by a German group, the Chemische Fabrik von Hayden Company. Its fame was still in the wings, though. This compound did not become famous as a medicine until almost 50 years later when Bayer Laboratories released its version of acetylsalicylic acid and named it aspirin. Fortune followed. The Bayer aspirin legend states that, Felix Hoffmann, a scientist working for Bayer Laboratories, tested the virtually ignored compound on himself and his arthritic father in 1897. Felix discovered that aspirin had the pain-relieving properties of salicylic acid with fewer unwanted side effects. Like salicin, aspirin converts into salicylic acid in the gut. Because of its chemical structure it is less irritating and more palatable than salicylic acid. Fast forward past a period of research, and, 11 Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program Update By JOHN JANOVEC and AMANDA NEILL Co-Directors of the AABP at BRIT rs ago, Just over two yea the Botanical Research Institute of Texas requested support from the Gordon and Betty Moore • dissemination and publication Foundation (GBMF) for BRIT to lead a group of • training and education institutions in a collaborative effort to integrate IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 The study of plants serves as the essential biodiversity science and conservation with foundation for all of our activities and products. sophisticated computer and information technology. However, this project combines other studies Their answer? A three-year, $2.3-million challenge (biodiversity data collection) of organisms like grant to support the activities and products of insects, mammals, birds, and fungi. These are just a BRIT’s Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program in few model organisms that occur in the diverse southeastern Peru. ecosystems of the Andes-Amazon region of BRIT took on the challenge of raising $400,000 12 • data analysis and integration southeastern Peru. All our activities contribute a as part of the global project budget for the three-year substantial foundation of information—now and for period. the future. Because of the breadth of the AABP project, The AABP team conducts activities in the areas we typically divide our activities into the following of science, technology, and education, all of which components ultimately contribute to BRIT’s mission to conserve • environmental data collection (climate, soils, water) our natural heritage. How? First by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and then by achieving • biodiversity data collection (plants and animals) public understanding of the value plants bring to • technology development and testing life. We pride ourselves in being dedicated and in the field. There are a total of more than 50 proud of the AABP team at BRIT and in Peru. And members of the AABP team, including principal we’re equally excited about all the possibilities for scientists, students, field assistants, and volunteers. the program’s future. To celebrate, we’ve created an Add to that the more than 50 seminars, lectures, or improved and enhanced project website, with major public presentations given during the last year here updates in technology for collaborative management and in various countries like Peru, Costa Rica, and publication of the website. We created a Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and the database-driven system so that the AABP team can Dominican Republic. What’s more, access and modify the website content from any 23 articles were published! We are so internet connection, anywhere in the world. Because members of the management team of the AABP live and work in the Andes-Amazon region of diligent, efficient and Peru, this system will allow us to post more constant effective. One might and consistent updates about the progress of work even say that the AABP taking place in Texas and in Peru. team is engaged in the What’s new? The website includes a built-in intensive scientific dirty newsletter, tools for creating photographic essays, work that’s required to and an image management system. Users can even discover and record the interact with the AABP team through an on- presence of species, line blog, allowing visitors to share in the describe their ecology daily adventures of the team and view and natural history, photo-essays on the field research underway. and better define the Zero Design (www.zerodesign.com), located ecosystems they comprise in Kansas City, Missouri, was our strategic in the Andes-Amazon partner on this, officially launching the site region. in October 2006. So, when you sign on to “Dirty” is both literal and figurative. We spend most of our time in the our regular AABP address: www.andesamazon.org, be field and in the museum. This ‘boots on the ground’ prepared to get to know the philosophy is underpinned by our belief that the AABP team and learn all you secret to understanding complex tropical ecosystems ever wanted to know about our and their services to humanity is found in fully efforts to conserve biodiversity integrating biological and ecological data. Most of and ecosystems, from the Andes these data must be collected–where else?–in the to the Amazon. field. We are driven by a philosophy that the products and the impact of our work will contribute over time to the justification, planning, management, and review of conservation areas that are necessary to protect complex tropical ecosystems and their ecosystem services. This gets us closer to ecosystems in the Andes-Amazon region of southeastern Peru, and of course–beyond. In October, we finished a major annual progress report for the second year of our project. During that process we were reminded of the importance of the people working on the AABP both at BRIT and IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 the overall goal of conserving biodiversity and 13 Debut in N Art by Stuart Gentling Illustrated Flora of East Texas causes a stir By ROBERT GEORGE he asked. He could not have been more pleased encompassing BRIT/Austin College program debut last May at the 3rd Lone Star Regional that the Illustrated Flora of East Texas had made known as the Illustrated Texas Floras Project. Native Plant Conference in Nacogdoches, the its debut on his campus. The Illustrated Flora of East Texas made its heart of the Texas pineywoods. As our van approached the Forest Research IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 comprehensive information about all plants in the third of the state is one of the more botanically different regions of Texas. The kicker here is the Institute on the Stephen F. Austin State rich areas for its size, there’s no recent publication books, which botanists call “floras” are written to University campus in Nacogdoches we noticed providing comprehensive plant information. Now, inform, educate, and serve the amateur devotee, increasing activity in the milling crowd. They BRIT and Austin College have delivered on a student, and the professional botanist. Of course, were trying to tell where we might set up. As we promise to do just that for the people of East the bulk of the book addresses basic botanical emerged and began to unload our cargo, people Texas and nature lovers worldwide. information. This includes: anxiously gathered and began to cue up at our 14 Why all the excitement? Though the eastern The project has as its goal to provide The Illustrated Flora of East Texas, Volume I, • a host of general interest jewels reserved table. We wrestled our boxes of books to is the first of three volumes detailing plants in the • plant scientific name the spot and began to extricate the newly eastern part of the state. It supplies information • common names delivered volumes and free them from their on a third of the plants (more than 1,000). The • plant description cellophane. David Creech, a professor in the second and third volumes, with publication dates • plant distribution Agricultural Department, approached. “Can I yet to be announced, will deal with the remaining • uses have the first book and a photo with the authors?” +2,000 plants. It’s the second publication of the • toxicity To ameliorate the use of necessary scientific research associate and board member at BRIT. terms a concise illustrated glossary is included. But this illustrious group is only the most What is the main purpose of this flora? As with individuals and organizations that donate to the production of the floras. As a free standing visible. Numerous other individual botanists and institution BRIT offers its salute to these any, it’s primarily to identify plants in its area. The institutions weigh in as well. They provide important collaborators who are the foundation for the best tool for this is a dichotomous key. This tool is review of information, illustrative sources, and even realization of its mission. daunting to many, even botanists. But amateurs can contribute to writing some sections of the book. The reap great rewards by being a little persistent. The other and most important collaborators are the Nacogdoches most prominent user friendly feature is the inclusion Dichotomous key: of botanical illustrations for every single species. The term “fully illustrated” denotes this feature. One Dichotomous keys are tools used to identify unknown plants. They provide a choice between alternative plant characteristics, for instance: rarely, if ever, sees drawings for every species in a flora of this magnitude. It is this very feature, among many others, that realizes the BRIT mission of spreading the word about plants—“instilling public 1a. Petals of your unknown plant red. (If yes go to #2, if no go to 1b). Species a 2. Petals < 1 inch long 2. Petals > 2 inches long Species b 1b. Petals of your unknown plant white. 2. Plant a shrub Species c 2. Plant a tree Species d awareness of the value of plants.” Some of the other user friendly and useful features of the book are: distribution maps for the plants, where to buy native plants including nursery addresses, list of conservation organizations, list of botanical websites, and a “how to” on collecting and preserving plants. The book is a triumph for BRIT’s mission and possible only through a tremendous collaboration– illustrated by the four authors: George Diggs, Barney Lipscomb, Monique Reed, and Robert O’ Kennon. George participates through the Austin College Department; Barney is on staff at BRIT; Monique is The first choice (here lines beginning with the number 1) is followed by another choice indented under it (here lines beginning with the number 2) and so on, until the identity of a plant is determined. Though simplified this is the basic structure. on staff at Texas A&M University; and Bob is a M E E T T H E Authors! BRIT will host a book signing event for the Illustrated Flora of East Texas on 25 January 2007. Rub elbows with the authors from 5-7 P.M. in the BRIT herbarium and get your flora autographed! IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Center for Environmental Studies and Biology Texas ecological regions: The East Texas Flora covers regions 1, 3 and 4 15 TIANA FRANKLIN Scottie and Harry Bartel pecans and heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese, Salt Crusted Tenderloin of Beef with heirloom tomato and corn relish, bacon-wrapped roasted asparagus and corn pudding, and mini chocolate tamales with goat’s milk cajeta. BRIT’s Wine Dinner 2006 featured a wine pull and eager buyers purchased corks, or “tickets,” with some walking away with bottles of 2003 Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, and Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac 1988 after plunking down just $50 for one wine pull “ticket”. The inaugural Wine Dinner 2006 was the warm up event to set the stage for the BRIT Wine Dinner and Auction 2007. Here’s a preview of a few phenomenal ideas that are currently on the list for the 2007 gathering: Gladys and Raymond Haak • exquisite cuisine • luxurious wines • red-hot live wine auction that includes a vast selection of unique lots, exceptional BRIT Toasts a New, Vintage Event wine collections, one-of-a-kind wine adventures, rare bottles, and international and domestic travel vacations Over 100 wine connoisseurs, aficionados and novices converged at Harry and Scottie Bartel’s home in Fort Worth, Texas on October 19, 2006 for BRIT’s inaugural Wine Dinner 2006. Guests shared bottles of wine each had selected and brought along. And Haak Vineyards’ award background music during the Theinot Champagne reception as dusk filled the patio. Guests then walked into elegant, candle-lit dinner tents where celebrity chef Grady Spears, designed and presented a delicious four course menu: Mini Quail Tostadas with Jose’s Slaw, Crab Cakes with Roasted Corn and Cotija Cheese, Mini Squash Blossom and Goat Cheese Tarts, Field Greens with San Saba candied the live auction, it promises to be equally as breathtaking! (No breathalyzers allowed.) IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 winning Blanc du Bois filled glasses at every table. Local favorite Tom Reynolds and his trio provided For the less boisterous there will be a showcase silent auction. Though not as loud as 17 Albert Ruth Collection Finds a Permanent Home at BRIT By AMANDA NEILL Albert Ruth (1844-1932) From the collection of the Fort Worth Public Library Amateur botanist Albert Ruth (1844-1932) is more Ruth collections from various sources over fondly remembered at BRIT as one of the first the past two decades. Finally, in September plant collectors in the Fort Worth, Texas area. 2006, the balance of Mr. Ruth’s personal Mr. Ruth spent most of his career in herbarium was delivered to BRIT by the Fort Tennessee as a superintendent of schools in Knoxville, while he collected plants all over the eastern half of that state. Several Worth Museum of Science and History. residential area. We are lucky to know what circuitous route through our city over the last 75 species lived there when it was still a prairie, years to arrive at its final home. After his death, making the case for baseline data to monitor Mr. Ruth’s collection was sold “for a nominal change.” sum” to a coalition comprised of the Fort Worth wildflower identification classes where century- Club, and the Fort Worth Park Board. It was old plants impressed students with their stored at the Botanic Garden. In 1950, Mary sustained bright colors. collected are move many of its holdings to storage or other University (TCU). Hewatt wrote a letter to TCU institutions while its new facility was being President M. E. Sadler to convince him that the constructed. Yet again the Ruth Herbarium was university would be the best home for the Ruth considered in terms of “where will it be of most Collection. use?” The idea of moving the collection to BRIT and finally a decision was made and approved by Herbarium from the TCU biology building. the board of the FWMSH to permanently [Apparently there was little interest in the transfer the Ruth Collection to BRIT. collection at TCU at the time. Again the decision The materials arrived in custom-made cabinets in September after a complete count by most use.”] The FWMSH welcomed the museum staff listed 8025 specimens in total. As orphaned collection, despite the fact that its the specimens are processed at BRIT, we are scope (plants from all over North America) was discovering that about half of these plants were continued his prolific botanizing in Texas, keeping not in keeping with their focus on Texas and the collected by persons other than Ruth. They are some of his collections for his own herbarium southwest. Nevertheless, they had room for it. nationwide in origin as a result of Ruth’s and conducting exchange with other botanists. General plans were to keep it safe and intact exchange of specimens with others. The average Mr. Ruth shared many of his collections with until a better home could be found. collection date is around the turn of the last him. When he moved to Fort Worth in 1907, he other herbaria, such as the Arnold Arboretum at IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 had been discussed several times over the years, and History (FWMSH) picked up the Ruth was one of “where the collection could be of now named for 18 In early 2006, the FWMSH prepared to Hewatt, a biology professor at Texas Christian In 1972, the Fort Worth Museum of Science he first He says the specimens were also used in Botanic Garden (FWBG), Fort Worth Garden Lake, then director of FWBG, contacted Willis species Polytechnic. Poly is now a large, sprawling, urban Albert Ruth’s personal collection took a For 30 years, the Ruth Collection was a century, so this is indeed a historically valuable Harvard, the New York Botanical Garden, and FWMSH feature for classes and workshops, assemblage. Despite their itinerancy, the Ruth the Smithsonian. Southern Methodist University primarily to illustrate the value and utility of plant specimens are in remarkably good physical shape. obtained 300 of his collections for class use, collections. Jim Diffley, FWMSH’s V.P. and BRIT is excited to now count the Ruth which were eventually transferred to BRIT upon Curator of Collections states, “Some Ruth Collection among its own, with specimens that its inception. specimens were collected in the vicinity of a are definitely “of use” to our community and to small section of southeast Fort Worth called botanists around the globe. The BRIT Herbarium acquired about 500 “What’s in Your Brown Bag Lunch?” Can you say “BRIT’s Brown Bag Botany?” If not, just say “B4!” (Grab your lunch and head on down to BRIT’s Learning Center for our noontime informal presentations) BRIT trustee and provost of Texas Christian Coordinator of School Services, BRIT. University Dr. Nowell Donovan, is now the Next on the menu, Dr. John Janovec presented proud father of a fascinating new project: “Great an update on the Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Trees of Fort Worth.” Recently he briefed an Program at the September brown bag while Marissa interested audience that gathered in our Oppel, Museum Assistant for the Andes to Amazon Learning Center on the concept. As a result of Biodiversity Program, described edible plants of his presentation, BRIT will be working with North Central Texas in her presentation in October. TCU and a number of local agencies to engage The October session included a deliciously tangy the community in this project. cactus pad hors d'oeuvre! To cap off the B4 Fall Tiana Franklin The initiative will involve school age children Series in November, TCU graduate student Tiana and local residents in tree awareness and Franklin, Research Assistant for the Andes to conservation. “We need to get children outdoors and engaged in Amazon Biodiversity Program, served the audience a personal projects such as this,” said Pat Harrison, BRIT’s Head of slice of the program through a visually stimulating photographic Education. The statement was underscored by the following account of her journey through Peru. B4–the education staff’s thought-provoking presentation What’s on the B4 Spring Schedule? Take a look below. “Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder,” led by Amber Keller, Brown Bag Lunch Schedule 2007 14 February 2007 11 April 2007 16 May 2007 Red Dirt Sand Dollars: An East Texas Tall Tale A Year’s Work with Vanilla in the Palm Swamps of Madre Who Is the Hunter and Who Is the Hunted? Robert George, project assistant for the East Texas flora, de Dios in Peru: Natural History, Use, and Conservation Romina Gazis, Graduate student, TCU/BRIT exposes the geology and the plants of East Texas. Ethan Householder, Graduate student, TCU/BRIT Come listen to Romina Gazis talk about the bizarre Environmental Studies program relationships between mushrooms and insects in the 14 March 2007 Can youPEuseP? some Hear a dynamic presentation, from one of BRIT’s youngest Peruvian rainforest. Romina is a TCU graduate student explorers, on vanilla natural history, phenology (flowering and research associate with the Andes to Amazon and fruiting cycle), ecology, pollination biology, Biodiversity Program (AABP). She studies the fascinating demography, and distribution, with fascinating tidbits life-forms we call fungi in southeastern Peru. Marissa Oppel, MS, herbarium technician thrown in for fun! Throughout, the perspective will Learn about ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and always be on using vanilla within its natural system and pharmacological literature combed by Marissa to review how the plant’s biological peculiarities affect its 53 plants that grow in the Rio Grande Valley of South management and intelligent use. Texas. Of the 22 families, 44 genera, and 53 species reviewed, 10 families, 18 genera, and 22 species had literature reporting effects on or interaction with living animal tissues. This means arid-zone South Texas plants may be likely candidates for drug discovery and for the development of dietary supplements. And you’ll get the scoop first! here! Nothing p la in vanilla IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 The Pharmacology, Ethnobotany, and Phytochemistry of South Texas Plants 19 goldmines Discover in BRIT’s books and reprints Accounts of botanical explorations found in library books and in the reprint collection One can find numerous accounts of explorations in the Library and Reprint Collection. The BRIT collections are especially rich in accounts dealing with the opening of the American West and in explorations of the Pacific Rim countries. The Library catalog reveals many treasures when you search using the words ‘explor’, ‘discover’ or ‘voyag’. Report on the U.S. and Mexican Boundary Survey 1857-1859 Using a truncated version of these words allows the catalog software to search for any words that start with those letters. Catalog records for books in the Library using any of the words explore, explorers, exploring, or explorations will be brought up. Western explorations: Exploration of the Red River, 1852. Reports … Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi … , 1856. Report … Surveys West of the 100th Meridian … , 1875-79. Voyages: Humboldt et … Bonpland … Mexico … , 1808-09. Nova Genera et Species Plantarum … , by Bonpland, 1815-25. Voyages of various of His Majesty’s Ships including the Blossom (1833), the Sulphur (1844), the Herald (1852), and the Challenger (1873). Discoveries: Annals of Nature … by Rafinesque, 1820. Flora of the State of New York … , 1843. Enumeration of all the Plants Known from China … , 1886. The titles listed above represent only a very few of the titles in the Library dealing with explorations. Further research would reveal numerous others. And you can do this right from home by going to the BRIT website and navigating to the library. There you can search titles. The Reprint Collection dealing with specific plants is divided first by Family, Genus, then by Species if warranted. Articles about collectors, collections and expeditions are filed with the Family or Genus. Special articles about geographic regions and subjects are in a separate collection. The main collection has both vascular and non-vascular plants and also explorations made in pursuit of them. However, a few specific groups, such as Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Algae, and Fungi, have explorations made in pursuit of them with the specific group. These works are vital as historical documents in their own right. In BRIT’s botanical library they play additional roles. They function as virtual botanical time machines giving perspectives on botanical aspects of the geographical areas explored. Many important botanical details are mined from these writings such as the different species of plants in an area and the condition of the habitat. Botanists also consult these to find the original descriptions of new species. This is just one small part illustrating the depth of BRIT’s collections. &Shakers Discover Distance Learning at BRIT Wild Flowers of Mombacho (Nicaragua) by Helen Pickering 2006 This photographic guide, Wild Flowers of Mombacho (Nicaragua), is color-coded and arranged by family within the color sections. It covers flowering plants found on the whole of the volcano, which includes both tropical cloud forest and dry, deciduous forest at lower altitudes. The book covers 200 plants, each of which has two or three photographs and a short description in both English and Spanish giving common name(s); a description of the plant, including height, flowering period, and habitat; and any known use of the plant. The vast majority of plants are likely to be found in similar habitats throughout tropical America and nearly one third are pan tropical, making this book of interest to a wide audience throughout the tropics. Mombacho cover FIN 14/10/05 4:04 PM Page 1 HONDURAS Puerto Cabezas • NICURAGUA MANAGUA CARRIBEAN SEA • Bluefields• ••Volcan Mombacho Granada NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN •San Carlos This guide covers the whole of Volcan Mombacho including both the evergreen, humid forest above 800m and the dry, deciduous forest below this level. The majority of plants can be found in similar habitats throughout Central America and about one third are widely distributed in the tropics. COSTA RICA NICARAGUA ISBN 1-889878-14-6 BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS 509 PECAN STREET FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-4060 USA TELEPHONE: 1 817 332-4441 FAX: 1 817 332-4112 WEBSITE: www.brit.org E-MAIL: sida@brit.or g 9 781889 87814 0 HELEN PICKER ING Annette Gunter, seven year member of the BRIT staff, has joined the Texas Independent College Foundation as Director of Development. Her graciousness and impeccable sense of style were evident in the publications and events she organized and implemented for BRIT. Members and staff of BRIT wish her success in her new endeavors. A BRIT veteran has moved east. Dr. Roger Sanders has relocated to the green hills of southeastern Tennessee, where he’s taken a faculty position at Bryan College in Dayton. During his time at BRIT, Roger was Associate Collections Manager (caring for the Vanderbilt collections). He conducted taxonomic research on the genus Lantana (which includes species that are both widely appreciated for their garden beauty and those that have become noxious weeds, especially in Australia) and conducted detailed plant surveys of state and national parks and of preserves in the Texas region. His voluminous collections documenting the park surveys enrich the BRIT herbarium. We’ve appreciated the botanical intelligence and experience that Dr. Sanders contributed to our institution. We especially honor his contribution to BRIT's conservation mission. We’ll miss him, but we wish him the very best as he continues as a researcher, moving into academia and adding teaching to his daily rounds. IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Above: Stems of Chamaedor ia and inflorescen ce of Iresine diffusa. W I L D F LO W E RS OF MOMB ACHO FLO RES SILV ESTR ES DEL MO MBA CHO HELEN PICKERI NG To order, contact: Judy MacKenzie/BRIT Press 509 Pecan Street, Suite 101 Fort Worth, TX 76102-4068, USA jmackenzie@brit.org Phone: 817.332.4441 Fax: 817.332.4112 Sida, Botanical Miscellany (No. 28) www.brit.org/sida/sidaBotMis.htm WILD FLO WER S OF MOM BAC HO $15 + postage & handling (USA $3; International: $7; Texas residents add $1.24 sales tax) Amanda Morris, Donor Relations Coordinator at BRIT, came on board in September of 2006. Recently with The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas in Austin, she was their program manager in charge of special events. She bid farewell to her hometown of Lubbock, Texas, to attend The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations in May, 2004. “I’m thrilled to be working with the incredibly talented BRIT staff,” Amanda said. “And I adore my new hometown of Fort Worth, Texas!” STAFF PHOTO BRIT is partnering with the Education Service Center for Region XI to present distance learning programs. The Education Department welcomes Pamela Chamberlain as the Distance Learning Coordinator. The system emphasizes interactive broadcasting where students not only see and hear each BRIT presenter; they can also be seen and heard by the presenter. This puts BRIT within the classroom while speakers stay on site here and use our many immediately available resources. Look for BRIT offerings of interactive virtual explorations of the natural world and join the fun at www.Connect2Texas.net. Frances Ockels joined the BRIT staff in September as a herbarium technician. She will be mounting and filing specimens to add to our extensive plant collection. Frances earned a B.A. in Physics with a minor in Biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In June 2006, Frances graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science from the Ohio State University. Her research focused on a disease called Sudden Oak Death, which is caused by the pathogenic fungus, Phytophthora ramorum. This disease-causing fungus from unknown origins is having a significant impact in California and Oregon. In fact, it’s responsible for widespread mortality of several oak species. Frances’ research provided her an opportunity to plan and conduct surveys in the eastern U.S. and gain experience working with several molecular and chemical techniques. She’ll be a valuable addition to the BRIT staff. STAFF PHOTO Movers 21 Contributions to Botany) is an international journal of systematic botany and has been a source of current research in classical and modern systematic botany for readers throughout the world for 44 years. The journal publishes primary research papers in fields such as anatomy, biogeography, chemo-taxonomy, ecology, evolution, floristics, genetics, paleobotany, palynology, and phylogenetic systematics. Coverage is not restricted to any geographical area, and papers are contributed from authors around the world. It is published twice a year, with papers and abstracts in both English and Spanish. All papers are peer-reviewed and are frequently illustrated with maps and line drawings. Each issue includes short communications on floristic discoveries, book reviews, and notices of new publications. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas: ■ Annual 2007 subscription rates for individual subscription within the U.S., $41 ■ Individual subscription outside the U.S., $41 ■ Organizational subscription within the U.S., $85 ■ Organizational subscription outside the U.S., $95 ■ I am interested in subscribing, please send a free sample copy. ■ I would like to subscribe; payment is enclosed. Guidelines for contributors to Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas are available at www.brit.org/Sida/AuthSubmit.htm. NAME: _____________________________________________ ADDRESS: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ PAYMENT: ■ Check ■ Visa ■ MasterCard ■ Amex ■ Discover $_____________ total in U.S. dollars Credit card number: _______________________________________ Expiration date: _____/_____/_____ Print name as listed on credit card: BRIT Press Botanists Discover New Species—Published in Fall Issue of Sida, Contributions to Botany Finding, naming, and studying new species has been the pursuit of “botanists” since civilization began. Solving the puzzles of plant relationships, evolution, origins, and distribution to piece together a complete understanding of nature is an ongoing task. In the fall issue of Sida, Contributions to Botany (Vol. 22, No. 2, 2006), now in its 44th year, are articles by 66 botanists from nine countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A. Included are reports about exciting field efforts around the globe, but particularly noteworthy are descriptions of over two dozen brand new species and varieties never before discovered or described. Previously unknown to science, 11 are from the U.S.A. In addition, authors detail accounts of all vascular plants in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and in the Lance Rosier Unit of East Texas’ Big Thicket National Preserve. Notes on plant distributions in other parts of the USA are added. Among the new species from the USA: • Hamamelis ovalis (witch hazel family) from Perry County in southern Mississippi • Eriogonum callistum (buckwheat family) from the Tehachapi Mountains of Kern Co., California • Carex reznicekii (sedge family) from mesic (moist) to dry-mesic forests of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia • Boltonia montana (sunflower family) from depression wetlands and riverine habitats in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania • Ericamerica nauseosa subsp. ammophila (sunflower family) from Colorado on stabilized sand dunes of the Great Sand Dunes National Park • Sphagnum (6 species) (sphagnum moss family) from Alaska and Canada • Matelea (4 species) (milkweed family) from Hispaniola • Nymphaea minuta (water lily family) from Madagascar (see photo) • Zeuxine pantlingii (orchid family) from India Two BRIT authors are represented in this issue of Sida, Contributions to Botany in the articles below. Lipscomb, B.L. 2006. A new name for Sida, Contributions to Botany. Sida 22(2):847–848. Nesom, G.L. 2006. Taxonomic review of Symphyotrichum patens (Asteraceae: Astereae). Sida 22(2):1075–1080. The current study recognizes and maps only 2 varieties within the blue-rayed aster Symphyotrichum patens—previous botanists recognized 3 varieties. Within var. patens, tetraploids (chromosomes in sets of 4) apparently have twice arisen independently from persistent diploid (chromosomes in sets of 2) ancestors. Nesom, G.L. and B.L. Turner. 2006. New distribution records for Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) in the United States. Sida 22(2):1249–1253. Distribution records for various species of the Eupatorium group, as presented in corresponding FNA treatments, are documented and discussed. These are Sida’s fall contributions to solving the botany puzzle. Rick Edwards Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (J.Bot.Res.Inst.Texas) (formerly Sida, Photo of Nymphaea minuta, a new species of water lily from Madagascar (note scale indicated by fingers) Compare with white water lily from East Texas IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 Signature:__________________________________________________ 22 For information or subscription payment, contact: Judy MacKenzie/BRIT Press 509 Pecan Street, Suite 101, Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4068 USA jmackenzie@brit.org Phone: 817.332.4441 Web site: http://www.brit.org/Sida Also there are a number of new species from outside the USA: • Bromus ayacuchensis (grass family) from Peru • Poa matri-occidentalis (grass family) from Mexico • Eugenia haberi (myrtle family) from Costa Rica • Psidium cauliflorum (myrtle family) from Brazil • Calyptranthes and Eugenia (myrtle family) from Ecuador and Peru Bob O'Kennon ____________________________________________________________ By contrast, white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) from East Texas measures to seven inches across Botany 101 for Lifelong Learners Botany 101 mini-courses offer a peek into the renowned plant collections at BRIT and star BRIT’s talented staff who are eager to share diverse expertise about their areas of interest. This popular series has a number of components. A two-part class on local tree identification in September featured BRIT botanists Guy Nesom, Barney Lipscomb, and Robert George. Participants, including members from local master naturalist groups, teachers, and gardeners, learned about family characteristics and were challenged to identify numerous native and naturalized tree species and shrubs collected in Fort Worth (see story at bottom). Then, in October, Lee Luckeydoo, Ph.D., BRIT Collections Manager, instructed participants on how to collect, press and mount plant specimens. By popular demand, Barney Lipscomb told all about his experiences and extensive research in forensic botany. April 2007 “Botany 101” with instructor, Amanda Neill, BRIT Herbarium Director, and co-director, Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program Learn the elements of plant identification after Amanda provides a foundation of basic botany. This course equips learners with specific terminology and techniques and reveals a whole new world of plants before your very eyes! Classes take place in our comfortable, centrally SPRING SCHEDULE 27 February 2007 Plant Rx: “Medicinal Plants of North Texas” with instructor, Marissa Oppel, M.S., Pharmacognosy Is it a weed? Well… Did you know that the common dandelion is very useful for medicinal purposes? This is just one of the plethora of medicinal plants growing right here in North Texas! In this course learn the basic ethnobotany and pharmacology of plants right here in our own D/FW backyards, gardens, alleys, parks, and roadsides. Course Fee: $15 ($12 for donors $100 and up) 27 March 2007 “How to Use Your Library: Botanical Information and Beyond” with instructor, Gary Jennings, BRIT Librarian Can you find out everything you really want to know about plants or botany? If not, then come learn how to make use of all the fabulous resources available to you right here, both in and out of the Library. Course Fee: $15 ($12 for donors $100 and up) TREE To register, phone Kathy Scott at 817.332.1741 or kscott@brit.org. BRIT is located in downtown Fort Worth at the corner of 4th and Pecan Streets May 2007 “Abandoned Plants” with instructors, Guy Nesom & Robert George, BRIT botanists Learn the identities of about 30 common weeds in local lawns, lots, and sidewalk cracks. To the diligent observer, all are beautiful in their own way. Classes followed by short urban walks May 2 and 9. Field trip to local weedy park, location and date TBA Course Fee: $35 ($26 for donors $100 and up) Twenty civilians earned their stripes as botany cadets and were indoctrinated into the world of plant identification by three BRIT botanists on two nights in September. “Common Trees (and shrubs) of Fort Worth” (AKA Tree Botany 101”) presented 60 species cuttings and solved I.D. mysteries brought in by attendees. They were an energetic and inquisitive group of teachers, Master Naturalists, and just regular people off the street. Shrub sleuths and BRIT botanists, Robert George, Barney Lipscomb, and Guy Nesom helped I.D. the behemoths of biomass and beauty, a fun way to show that even a city’s concrete jungle harbors and nurtures an amazing array of plant life—all of which have names! The “Tree Trio” will repeat the course next year, adding a field trip, and hoping for an equally diverse and enthusiastic group of recruits. One enthusiastic participant glowed: “Thank you so much for an excellent class on tree identification. I am BRIT Fort Worth, Texas major arteries A tree I.D. free- for-all! still processing and absorbing it all. I really enjoyed the exploration style learning— and the stand-up comedy routine! But the best part was how it was backed up by the awesome knowledge and experience of all three instructors. Thank you.” IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 C l a s s The Value of Botany + How to Use a Key April 4 Plant Morphology April 11 Important Plant Families I April 18 Important Plant Families II April 25 Field ID April 28 Course Fee: $65 ($50 for donors $100 and up) located BRIT Learning Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 23 ~ summer 2006 ~ Environmental Science Youth Mentoring Program UNT graduate students assist program participants in identifying macroinvertebrates in the Trinity River. IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 The BRIT 2006 Summer Environmental Science Youth Mentoring Program was a unique opportunity for eight middle and high school students and three teachers to work with local professionals in the real world of environmental science. Young people gained information about careers related to the environment by working with professionals in different community agencies and identified relevant environmental issues through exciting activities and interaction. The three teachers who participated in the mentoring program expressed excitement. We’re taking these ideas back to our students,” said one of the teachers, Donnette Durham, who started a journal then and keeps one now. She has added journaling to her curriculum. Students in her class prize their journals and use them daily. Here is an extended quote from Donnette. 24 { Students and teachers learned to make seed balls as part of a habitat enhancement project at El Tesoro. “ My involvement with the summer mentoring program allowed me to grow immensely in my understanding of myself as a scientist and as a science teacher. Being in the field daily, participating in multiple scientific inquiries, discoveries, and discussions, working with many different scientists and watching the impact of that exposure on the students and the mentors… I see science differently–through a different lens. My involvement with the mentoring program fired a passion in me for sharing science. It helped me to begin to have a different point of reference as I planned and scoped my own lesson agenda for the following year. I believe that I must help students to see themselves as scientists and as stewards of the earth. All of the work they do needs to matter to them. When students are immersed in their field of study they Rebecca Royal and Cameron Noyce assess wildlife populations on El Tesoro by examining scat they collected on the preserve. absorb more. When they are actively journaling, discussing, testing, and reflecting, the work they are doing has greater value. When they are exposed to specialists who do science for a living, when they can ask questions and work through investigations side by side with real scientists, they see the future of the work they are doing today. ” The Youth Mentoring Program sparks a passion to continue learning about the environment in all its participants. Donnette says, “I prepared to return to school an active learner–someone with observation skills, with awareness of the world around me and a sense of responsibility to raise and nurture an awareness like that in my students.” } “The staff of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is proud of our involvement with the BRIT Summer Mentoring Program from its inception. Each year we have the opportunity to highlight the scientific side of our profession while the students are able to make a connection between their classroom studies and the practical application of their knowledge in the field.” – Suzanne Tuttle, Director, FWNCR “ { } While we were at the river, we experienced first-hand one rinsing off the polishing cream in the river to reveal a shined- way humans affect the Trinity River. As we were doing our up portion of the plate. The students and teachers field studies, a man carrying a tarnished brass plate made his immediately knew that this activity was detrimental to the way through to perch himself upon a big rock in the middle of the health of the river, and were able to quickly understand the river. He pulled out his importance of being educated about the effects of our actions polishing cream and a on aquatic systems. Thankfully, one of our mentors politely rag and proceeded to asked the man to stop what he was doing and the man left shine up his plate, without incident. while every so often Mentoring program participants receive an unexpected real-life lesson on environmental issues while at the Trinity River. ” – Amber Keller, Coordinator of School Services, BRIT Participants in the program: MENTORS Lee Luckeydoo Bob O’Kennon Suzanne Tuttle Rob Denkhaus Dian Smith ORGANIZATION Botanist, Botanical Research Institute of Texas Botanist, BRIT Director, Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge Natural Resource Manager, FWNCR Research Scientist, Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility Nathan Rains Wildlife Biologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Megan Davis McConnell Private Land Owner and Manager, Beekeeper, El Tesoro Nature Preserve Clarence Reed Stanley Davis Trish Shaw Jaimie Slye Rosemary Rudin Tamara Contador Rob Denkhaus and students sample life in the marsh at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. City of Fort Worth Environmental Management, Water Quality Section Team City of Fort Worth Environmental Management, Water Quality Section Team City of Fort Worth Environmental Management, Water Quality Section Team Institute of Applied Sciences graduate student, University of North Texas Institute of Applied Sciences graduate student, University of North Texas Institute of Applied Sciences graduate student, University of North Texas Students Bianca Leos Daniel Custead Cameron Blake Eddie Rojas Allie Stapleton Cameron Noyce Rebecca Royal Dustin Latham Schools Applied Learning Academy, Ft. Worth Central Jr. High School, Euless Applied Learning Academy, Ft. Worth Applied Learning Academy, Ft. Worth Applied Learning Academy, Ft. Worth Boles Jr. High School, Arlington Boles Jr. High School, Arlington Hughes Middle School, Burleson Teachers Kathy Cash Janet Rasher Donnette Durham Outdoor Educator, Fort Worth Hughes Middle School, Burleson Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center, Fort Worth Supporters EPA Region 6 Environmental Education The Ken W. Davis Foundation Donations 1 June 2006 to 30 November 2006 DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $5,000 AND ABOVE Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Bass Mr. Carroll W. Collins* Ms. Wendy Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Timothy W. McKinney Mr. and Mrs. Timothy L. Petrus Richard E. Rainwater & Darla D. Moore Charitable Remainder Unitrust 2 Southern Methodist University Texas Capital Bank Mr. and Mrs. Bill J. Zimmerman IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 SUSTAINING LEVEL $1,000 TO $4,999 Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Bartel Mr. and Mrs. Sid R. Bass Ms. S.E. Channon Mr. Jeff R. Davis Mr. and Mrs. James B. DeMoss III Mr. and Mrs. H. Paul Dorman Ms. Karen Foley Craig Hamilton and Company/Mr. and Mrs. Craig R. Hamilton Mrs. Terese T. Hershey Mrs. S. Gordon Johndroe, Jr. Ms. Joann Karges Mr. and Mrs. D. Alan Meeker Mr. and Mrs. J. David Nivens Capt. Robert J. O’Kennon* Ms. Mary G. Palko Mr. and Mrs. Sebert L. Pate Mrs. Margret M. Rimmer Mrs. A. Hardy Sanders Mr. Charles M. Simmons Dr. and Mrs. George C. Sumner Texas Christian University Wallach, Andrews & Stouffer, P.C./Mr. and Mrs. Richard Henderson* 26 PATRON LEVEL $500 TO $999 Anonymous Mr. John T. Bailey Mr. and Mrs. Delamar T. Bell Ms. Gunhild G. Corbett Mr. Early Davis Mr. and Mrs. David Diesslin Mr. and Mrs. Diego O. Giordano/Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Hickey Dr. and Mrs. Harold E. Laughlin Mrs. Phillip Laughlin Dr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Mahler Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Murrin III Native Plant Society of Texas, Trinity Forks Chapter Mr. and Mrs. Hershel R. Payne Pier 1 Imports Mr. and Mrs. Joe T. Romine Dr. and Mrs. Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano Mr. and Mrs. Tim Sear Mrs. John Reese Stevenson Wm. Rigg Co./Mr. and Mrs. Rob Wilson SUPPORTING LEVEL $100 TO $499 Dr. Robert Adamski Mr. and Mrs. William R. Allen, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Ethan D. Alyea, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Charles Andrews Dr. and Mrs. H. Barry Bailey Mr. and Mrs. J. David Bamberger Mr. and Mrs. David M. Beckerman Dr. and Mrs. U. Narayan Bhat Mr. and Mrs. William Biggs Mrs. Evelyn H. Breaux Mr. John S. Broude and Ms. Judy Rosenblum Dr. Tony Burgess Canyon Specialty Foods, Inc./ Mr. and Mrs. W. Dennis Connally Dr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Cappel Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Capper Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carl Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Carus, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David F. Chappell Mr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Christie Mr. Louis Church and Mrs. Betsy Goode Mr. John Clayton Mrs. Marie Louise Cole Mr. M. DeWitt Daggett Mr. and Mrs. Logan A. Damewood Dr. and Mrs. Ivan Danhof Mr. and Mrs. Glenn M. Darden Mr. and Mrs. Joe S. Davis Mrs. Samuel Alexander Denny Mr. Douglas Dieker Ms. Gretchen Duque Mr. O.V. Eary Ms. Joan Echols Mrs. Sally M. Ehrhart Dr. and Mrs. Mark C. Eidson Dr. Wayne Elisens Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Ellis Dr. and Mrs. David Ellis Ms. Olga M. Engel Dr. and Mrs. Fred Erisman Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Fischer Mr. Dan Fitzgerald Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gearhart Mr. Stanley Graner Grant Engineering Co./Mr. and Mrs. John A. Grant III Dr. and Mrs. Dana Griffin III Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hackett Mr. and Mrs. David Halbower Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Haltom Mr. and Mrs. Tom Harrison Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hart Mr. and Mrs. William Y. Harvey Mr. and Mrs. Richard Haskell Mr. and Mrs. Jareld Hathcock Dr. Marcia Hawkins Mr. and Mrs. Houston Hill Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Hill Mr. and Mrs. Gary Hinds Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Holamon, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Brent Holdridge Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay B. Holland Ms. Sally A. House The Right Reverend and Mrs. Sam B. Hulsey Drs. Bonnie and Louis Jacobs Jammy, Inc./Mr. and Mrs. Ralph L. Bradley KJR & Associates, Inc./Ms. Kathryn J. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kolba Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kologe Ms. Karen P. Kologe Mr. and Mrs. Lewis F. Kornfeld, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Tetsuo Koyama Lane, Buhl, Fenker & Assoc., Inc./ Dr. and Mrs. Sam H. Lane III Mr. and Mrs. Allan R. LaQuey Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Leavens Lt. Colonel and Mrs. Karl Paul Leche Mr. and Mrs. David Levine Dr. and Mrs. David P. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Grant Liser Mrs. Jacqueline Loeb Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lund Mr. John Lunsford Mr. and Mrs. Howell Mann Mr. and Mrs. John W. Mason Mr. and Mrs. William A. Massad Dr. and Mrs. James D. McChesney Mr. and Mrs. Lance K. McDonald Mr. Robert Miller Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. B. O’Dell Molpus, Jr. Ms. Maxine R. Moore Mr. and Mrs. William B. Moser, Jr. Dr. Nick Nickelson and Mrs. Karen Ostrander Ms. Betty Norvell Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. O’Brien Mr. and Mrs. Michael O’Connell Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Palmer Ms. Diane Parrotta Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pepper Dr. Gwynn W. Ramsey Dr. and Mrs. Larry E. Reaves Mr. and Mrs. Doug Renfro Mr. and Mrs. Roger B. Rice Dr. and Mrs. Roger R. Robinson Mr. and Mrs. T. Pollard Rogers Mrs. Gloria Rognlie Ms. Lupe Arriola and Mr. Chris Sanchez Dr. and Mrs. Roger Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Joel T. Sawyer Mrs. Jake M. Schrum Mr. and Mrs. Jack A. Schutts Mr. Phillip R. Shelp Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Smith Drs. Sara and Sy Sohmer Mr. and Mrs. Dulaney G. Steer Mrs. Betty H. Stevens Mr. and Mrs. John M. Stevenson Dr. and Mrs. George H. Sullivan Ms. Jo Ellen Teasdale Mr. and Mrs. J. David Tracy Mr. and Mrs. Steve Tuttle Mrs. Dieter W. Wagener Dr. and Mrs. Michael Walter Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Ware Mr. and Mrs.† Jeffrey K. Wentworth Mr. and Mrs. John D. Willbanks Mrs. Suzanne S. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Ed A. Wilson PARTNER LEVEL Up to $100 Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Anderson Ms. Abhay M. Anello Arborilogical Services, Inc./Mr. Steve Houser Ms. Victoria Ball The Beaux Arts Club Mr. Morgan Bilbo Ms. Martha Bleker Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Bowers Ms. Mary Lou Brieger Ms. Jane A. Bruckner Mr. Kerry A. Bruns and Ms. Judy K. Fabry Ms. Diane Burch Mr. and Mrs. Jack Burgen Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Burns Mr. Stephen C. Byars Ms. Sherry Clark Clint Horticulture, Inc./Mr. and Mrs. Chip Clint Ms. Melinda Coogan Mrs. Diane M. Cornwall Ms. Elaine Couch Dr. and Mrs. Gordon M. Cragg Mr. and Mrs. Calvin L. Crole Ms. Dixie Daymont Mr. and Mrs. Charles Densmore, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. William D. Draper Mrs. Editha W. Dudley Mr. and Mrs. Frank Durda Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Flados Dr. and Mrs. James H. Gardenhire Mr. Hugh Garnett Ms. Joan Gaspard Mr. and Mrs. John Hamilton Ms. Marian Hardy Mr. Dan Hays Ms. Sue W. Heaberlin Dr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Headland Drs. Noel and Patricia Holmgren Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Janovec Mr. Richard D. Janovec Mrs. Irvin Jarrell, Jr. Mr. Herbert Jarrell Mrs. Estella G. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Karl K. Keffer Mr. Bill Keller Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Kerr Ms. Teri Kramer Mrs. Jacqueline C. Kunke Mr. and Mrs. W. Cleve Lancaster Dr. and Mrs. Claudio Lehmann Dr. Ole J. Lorenzetti Ms. Shirley D. Lusk Ms. Julie Mangiameli Mr. and Mrs. Jesse A. May Ms. Linda Metcalf Mrs. John M. Michie Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller Dr. and Mrs. Alan N. Miller Ms. Jane W. Miller and Ms. Jacqueline C. Russell Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moher Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy W. Moore Dr. and Mrs. Roscoe F. Morton Mr. and Mrs. Steve B. Moss Native Plant Society of Texas, Garland Chapter Dr. and Mrs. Richard P. Norgaard Ms. Mary Joan Owens Ms. Sherry Owens Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Palmer Ms. Elizabeth B. Parks Mr. P. Michael Peck Ms. LaShawn Pennington Mr. Damon R. Phillips Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pittman Ms. Patricia J. Post Mr. and Mrs. Don Pritchard Dr. and Mrs. Peter Raven Mr. and Mrs. Jim Redmond Mr. and Mrs. Dan M. Reed Ms. Jesse T. Reinburg Mr. and Mrs. Paul K. Rodman Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Romine, Jr. Dr. John C. Rosemergy Dr. and Mrs. Nealie E. Ross, Jr. Mr. Robert W. Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sennhauser Ms. Barbara Slagle Mr. and Mrs. Scott Smith Mr. and Mrs. Bert Spencer Mrs. John W. Spruill Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Sutton Dr. Ray C. Telfair II Mrs. Joy Terry Dr. and Mrs. Martin Terry Ms. Sarah Louise Terry Mr. and Mrs. Rueben H. Walter Mr. Kimball S. Watson Mr. and Mrs. James C. Werner Mrs. Jack G. Wilkinson Mr. Joseph R. Williams Ms. Anne A. Wilson Ms. Dana Wilson Ms. Gloria T. Winfree Mrs. Florence Jones Witt Mr. and Mrs. Edwin S. Wittenberg Ms. Gerry Neal Yates Mr. Max Zischkale, Jr. Foundations Bass Foundation Greater Kansas City Community Foundation & Affiliated Trust Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation Sid W. Richardson Foundation Matching Gift Companies Bank of America# Gifts In-Kind American Airlines** Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Bartel Mr. and Mrs. W. Dennis Connally Ms. Carol Crochet Mr. Jeff R. Davis Mr. and Mrs. David Diesslin Ms. Patricia Ebert Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Finlay Mr. Dan Fitzgerald Ms. Gloria Fleming Mr. and Mrs. Diego O. Giordano Mr. and Mrs. Jacques de La Giraudiére Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Haak Mr. Richard Henderson Ms. Noel Ice Mr. Ed Martin Mr. Paul McCallum Dr. Nick Nickelson Capt. Robert J. O’Kennon Mr. Tony Palmer Mr. Ray Raney Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rasher Mr. Doug Renfro Mr. T. Pollard Rogers Dr. and Mrs. Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano Dr. Shannon H. Shipp Drs. Sara and Sy Sohmer Mr. Grady H. Spears Mr. and Mrs. Bill J. Zimmerman Thank you to all those who generously supported the 2006 Wine Event but chose not to be recognized. Gifts to the Library Mr. William S. Alverson Dr. and Mrs. Bruce F. Benz Mr. Jason Best Mr. Paul M. Brown Mr. William R. Burk Mr. John Coakley Dr. Nikolaus H. Fischer Ms. Sharon V. Foster Mr. Robert George Mrs. Pat Harrison Dr. Frank G. Howarth Mr. Gary L. Jennings Ms. Joann Karges Mr. Barney Lipscomb Dr. and Mrs. B. O’Dell Molpus, Jr. Dr. Guy Nesom Capt. Robert J. O’Kennon Mrs. Margaret H. Parker Dr. Roger Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Gordon E. Sylvester Mr. and Mrs. Bill J. Zimmerman Thank You! From The Beaux Arts Club Dr. Tony Burgess Mrs. Editha W. Dudley Ms. Gretchen Duque Mr. and Mrs. Frank Durda Mr. and Mrs. Allan R. LaQuey Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Leavens Lt. Colonel and Mrs. Karl Paul Leche Mr. and Mrs. Dan M. Reed Mr. and Mrs. Scott Smith Drs. Sara and Sy Sohmer Mr. and Mrs. John M. Stevenson Mrs. Florence Jones Witt In Memory of Mr. Perry R. Bass Mr. Jesse C. Griffin Ms. Margaret Hays and Mr. Chuck Barnes Mr. Tom Law Mr. Perry R. Bass Dr. L. J. Loeb Mrs. Joyce Bailey Lorenzetti Mr. Perry R. Bass Mr. Perry R. Bass Mr. Perry R. Bass Mr. Bill Howard Mrs. Jean Allen Mr. Jake M. Schrum Mr. Perry R. Bass Ms. Betty Brague Mr. Perry R. Bass Ms. Katherine Dupree Mr. Stuart Gentling From Mrs. Kay F. Baldwin Dr. and Mrs. Dana Griffin III Mr. Dan Hays Mrs. Terese T. Hershey Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay B. Holland Mrs. Jacqueline Loeb Dr. Ole J. Lorenzetti Mr. and Mrs. Timothy W. McKinney Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pepper Mr. and Mrs. Timothy L. Petrus Mr. and Mrs. Timothy L. Petrus Ms. Jesse T. Reinburg Mrs. Jake M. Schrum Dr. and Mrs. George C. Sumner Ms. Jo Ellen Teasdale Ms. Sarah Louise Terry Mr. Kimball S. Watson Mrs. Jack G. Wilkinson * ** # Host Committee 2006 Award of Excellence in Conservation Gala Corporate Sponsor 2007 Award of Excellence in Conservation Gala Corporate Conservator † Deceased IRIDOS v o l u m e 18 n o 1 In Honor of Mrs. Beverly Leche Dr. Lee Luckeydoo Mr. Justin Allison Ms. Susan DeBusk Mr. Frank Durda III on our 50th Wedding Anniversary Our Grandchildren, Caleb, Abby and Luke LaQuey Dr. Alain Liogier Dr. and Mrs. Stephan Urban Mrs. Iona Richardson Mrs. Mary Louise Cole The birth of Liam Seldon Gerrish Mrs. Jane Molpus Mrs. Jane Molpus 27 Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Inc. 509 Pecan Street, Suite 101 Fort Worth, Texas 76102-4068 USA Happy Holidays from BRIT! Nonprofit Org. US postage PAID Permit No 2737 Fort Worth, Texas Herbaria of SMU, BRIT and Vanderbilt Lloyd Shinners Collection in Systematic Botany