Systematic Botany, Taxonomy, History of Botany

A broad overview of the history, publication, author, introduction, rediscovery, distribution, habitats, typification, and relationships of Agave ellemeetiana K.Koch is given. The species was first published by K.Koch in 1865 from cultivated
plants of unknown origin and was rediscovered in habitat only in the last couple of years in Central Veracruz (Sierra de Zongolica), northern Oaxaca (Sierra Mazateca and near San Bartolomé Ayautla), and in western Oaxaca (Putla/Tlaxiaco region). Plants from western Oaxaca differ consistently in their finely denticulate leaf margins and are distinguished as Agave ellemeetiana subsp. subdentata (Trelease) Thiede comb. nov.
from the plants in Veracruz and northern Oaxaca with entire, smooth leaf margins (= Agave ellemeetiana subsp. ellemeetiana).

The Jamaican herbarium assembled by Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) in 1687 formed a recorded part of his extensive museum collection from the 1730s until its purchase by the British state in 1753. The detailed examination of the organization of the botanical specimens which account for the first seven volumes of the Sloane herbarium illustrates the use of printed books in natural history collecting practices in mid-eighteenth-century Britain. Sloane's personal copy of his own work, A Voyage to Jamaica (1707-25), played a central role in the cataloguing and classifying this highly organized natural historical collection. The collection was arranged according to a coherent, rational system, composed of a range of printed works, manuscripts and specimen labels which interacted with the physical spaces in which they were kept.

The authors of this edition propose a novel and inspiring research approach to the subject of plants, which – being a form of life that is different, yet akin to us – is a constant source of nourishment and metaphors, decoration and obsessions. The articles included in this thematic block on plants enter into lively ongoing debates on genetics, feminism, ecology and plant ontology. They are excellent examples of the fact that in Polish philosophical and cultural reflection there was an understanding very early on of the challenges that posthumanism poses to our anthropocentric intellectual habits. Foreign readers will recognize in these Polish reflections a bold willingness to ask ethical and aesthetic questions of great relevance to the modern world that go far beyond the safe, though most likely imagined, limits of what it is to be human.

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Sulla base di ricerche bibliografiche, d'erbario e di campagna, viene presentata una rassegna delle specie di querce caducifoglie presenti in Sicilia. Per ciascuna di esse viene fornita una descrizione morfologica corredata da disegni e completata da osservazioni corologiche ed ecologiche. Viene infine evidenziato come la variabilità fenotipica esistente in Sicilia nell'ambito delle specie appartenenti al ciclo di Q. humilis, anche considerando l'area tirrenica meridionale come possibile centro di speciazione del gruppo, deve necessariamente essere posta in relazione col disboscamento, che ha favorito il rimescolamento genetico tra le popolazioni. Il presente studio ha portato al riconoscimento di 9 specie ben distinte in base a caratteristiche morfologiche, ecologiche e fenologiche. Si tratta di: Q. cerris, specie ben conosciuta, in Sicilia ampiamente diffusa nella parte nord-orientale dell'isola; Q. gussonei, endemismo strettamente affine alla specie precedente e presente nella fascia submontana della Sicilia settentrionale, ove si localizza su substrati silicei; Q. fontanesii, probabilmente un ibrido stabilizzato tra Q. gussonei e Q. suber, distribuito nell'area pertinente alla prima delle due specie parentali; Q. petraea, in Sicilia rappresentata esclusivamente dalla nuova ssp. austrotyrrhenica, raro endemismo siculo-calabro localizzato in avvallamenti freschi e nebbiosi all'interno della fascia interessata dalle faggete; Q. congesta, Q. virgiliana, Q. dalechampii, Q. amplifolia, e Q. leptobalanos, tutte appartenenti al gruppo di Q. humilis. In particolare: Q. congesta è una specie acidofila ed orofila endemica della Sicilia, Calabria e Sardegna, caratterizzata soprattutto dall'avere una corteccia con scaglie piccole e regolari, un asse fruttifero estremamente raccorciato recante numerosi frutti aventi una piccola cupida ciaziforme coprente non oltre ¼ della ghianda e recante piccole squame finemente embriciate; Q. virgiliana è diffusa soprattutto nella fascia basale e submontana, presenta una corteccia abbastanza simile alla precedente ed ha come caratteri differenziali più rilevanti ghiande molto grosse, ricoperte fino ad ½ da una cupula emisferico-doliforme a bordo molto irregolare e con scaglie uniformemente sericee; Q. dalechampii è una specie orofila caratterizzata da una corteccia con costolature molto spesse e prominenti, ghiande ricoperte fino a ⅔ da una cupula emisferico-ogivale con bordo regolare e lunghe scaglie sericee alla base, carenate e scure all'apice; Q. amplifolia è la più termofila delle querce caducifoglie siciliane e presenta una corteccia simile a quella della specie precedente, ma le grosse ghiande ricoperte fino ad ¼ da una cupula ciazio-doliforme con scaglie gibbose, subglabre o sparsamente pelose rendono inconfondibile questa specie; Q. leptobalanos è un endemismo localizzato in alcune stazioni montane della Sicilia nord-occidentale, dove si rinviene su suoli silicei incoerenti ed è caratterizzata principalmente da una corteccia grigiastra con scaglie piccole e regolari e dalla produzione di un gran numero di piccoli frutti recati da assi generalmente allungati. Infine è da sottolineare che Q. siculo, segnalata per la Sicilia da varî autori, deve essere considerata specie dubbia, in quanto descritta su un campione raccolto da una pianta coltivata nell'Orto Botanico di Palermo e probabilmente identificabile con Q. canariensis; mentre Q. minaae è probabilmente una forma ibrida di incerto valore tassonomico. Diverse altre specie, anche se riportate per la flora sicula, sono in realtà da escludere in quanto menzionate in seguito ad errata identificazione dei campioni; questo è il caso di Q. crenata, Q. humilis, Q. robur, Q. frainetto, Q. brachyphylla. On the basis of literature, herbarium and field investigations, a survey of deciduous oaks occurring in Sicily is presented. A morphological description with drawings and some chorological and ecological observations is reported for each species. It is emphasized that the phenotypical variability observed within the Q. humilis group in Sicily, even if the S. Thyrrhenian area is considered as probable center of speciation for the group, related to deforestation, which had previously favoured the genetic mixing among the population. This study shows there are 9 species in Sicily, all well distinguished by morphological, ecological and phenological features. They are: Q. cerris, a well-known species, widespread in Sicily, in mountain sites of the north-eastern part of the island; Q. gussonei, an endemic closely related to the previous species, occurring in the sub-mountain belt of N-Sicily, where it is localized on siliceous substrata; Q. fontanesii, probably a hybrid between Q. gussonei and Q. suber and distributed within the area pertaining to the former parent; Q. petraea, in Sicily represented exclusively by the new subsp. austrotyrrhenica, very rare Sicilian-Ca- labrian endemic localized in fresh and foggy valleys within the beech belt; Q. congesta, Q. virgiliana, Q. dalechampii, Q. amplifolia and Q. leptobalanos, all belonging to the Q. humilis group. Q. congesta is an acidophilous and orophilous species endemic to Sicily, Calabria and Sardinia, mainly characterized by having small and regular ribs on the bark, an extremely short fruiting axis bearing several fruits, a small cyathiform cup covering not more than ¼ of the acorn, and very small and finely imbricate scales; Q. virgiliana is mainly distributed in the basal and submountain belt, and has a bark quite similar to the previous species, but with very big acorns covered up to ½ by an hemispheric-barrel-shaped cup with a very irregular border and uniformely silky scales. Q. dalechampii is an orophilous species characterized by very prominent thick ribs on the bark, acorns covered up to ⅔ by an hemispheric-ogival-cup with a regular border and long scales silky at the base, carinate and dark at the tip. Q. amplifolia is the most thermophilous among the Sicilian deciduous oaks and has a bark very similar to the previous species but very big acorns covered up to ¼ by a cyathio-barrel-shaped cup with humped subglabrous or sparsely hairy scales, make this species unmistakable. Q. leptobalanos is a very localized Sicilian endemic growing exclusively on siliceous soils in the mountain-belt of NW-Sicily; it is mainly characterized by a greysh bark with small and regular ribs and by the production of a great number of small fruits generally borne on long axes. Finally, it must be stressed that Q. sicula, quoted from Sicily by several authors, must be considered a phantom species, since it is described from a specimen taken from a plant cultivated in the Botanical Garden of Palermo, probably to be ascribed to Q. canariensis, while Q. minaae is likely to be an hybrid of uncertain taxonomical value. Some other species, even if previously reported for the Sicilian flora, must now be excluded from it, since their mention is mosdy due to mistakes in specimen identification, as in the case of Q. crenata, Q. humilis, Q. robur, Q. frai- netto and Q. brachypbylla.

Se explica el origen de los nombres de plantas que usa Juan de Jarava, Historia de las yervas y plantas, 1557, versión española abreviada del famoso libro de Leonhart Fuchs, De historia stirpium, Basilea 1542. Muchos de ellos parten de Dioscórides y tienen un origen griego, otras son denominaciones latinas medievales y otros son nombres españoles.

La Basilicata, nel corso del tempo, ha dato i natali a illustri botanici, tra questi sicuramente alcuni hanno avuto più fortuna e notorietà di altri, tanto da aver costruito importanti carriere professionali e di cui è viva la memoria, è il caso di Guglielmo Gasparrini di Castelgrande, o Orazio Gavioli di Potenza. Altri, invece, hanno svolto la propria attività in sordina, con molta modestia e l'incanto di una modalità silenziosa tutta volta alle erborizzazioni, un termine che evoca un passaggio nella natura, fondamentale per comprenderla e raccontarla. Tra questi ultimi una figura di rilievo che desideriamo riportare alla memoria è quella del pomaricano Giordano.

Cohniella lacera (Lindl.) Cetzal comb. nova is proposed here and Cohniella stipitata (Lindl.) Christenson is treated as a taxonomic synonym due to priority. Oncidium stipitatum Lindl. was incorrectly cited by various authors as validly published either in 1843 or 1844, when the correct date was 1846. In the meantime, Oncidium lacerum Lindl., previously considered one of its taxonomic synonyms, was described in 1844 and therefore has nomenclatural priority. I discuss the status and geographical distribution of Cohniella lacera comparing it to the morphologically similar species Cohniella nuda (Bateman ex Lindl.) Christenson. In addition, I include for each species a discussion of diagnostic characters, range of morphological variation, specimen citation, an illustration, and a distribution map. A key to distinguish both species is also provided.

A number of Czech researchers have been devoting their attention to the personality and work of Adam Zalužanský of Zalužany, yet the examination and evaluation of his most interesting work – the botanical treatise Methodi herbariae libri tres – is still insufficient. Somehow the chapter on plant sexuality has been overestimated, although it does not hold any outstanding position either in the treatise itself or in the realm of Renaissance botany.
This paper outlines the state of botanical knowledge in the sixteenth century and discusses Zalužanský’s work in this context. It introduces authors and concepts that could have inspired or influenced the work of Adam Zalužanský. Concerning the treatise itself, we focus on features that are considered new and progressive in the realm of botanical inquiry – the methodological approach to the botanical subject, its emancipation from medicine and other disciplines, and the attempt to systematize particular plant species.

The study about material contained in Barringtonia seeds were conducted for the first time using the standard procedure of AOAC. For present work, two species of Barringtonia were selected viz., B. acutangula and B. racemosa, which are distributed along the west coast of Maharashtra. The proximate composition and mineral constituents of Barringtonia seeds were evaluated. The B. acutangula seeds contained ash 4.24%, crude protein 9.23%, crude lipids 0.68%, crude fibre 13.54% and carbohydrates 66.17%. While in seeds of B. racemosa, ash 4.02%, crude protein 12.09%, crude lipids 0.75%, crude fibre 15.18% and carbohydrates 64.67% were observed. Both the species have a high energy value on dry basis. Comparing the mineral content with recommended dietary allowances (RDA), the results indicated that seeds of B. Acutangula fruits couldbe a good supplement for some nutrients such as calcium, fibre and carbohydrates, whereas the B. Racemosa seeds could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as fibre, potassium, zinc and carbohydrates. The seeds of Barringtonia could be promoted as a carbohydrate supplement. Hence, this piece of work claims the potential of Barringtonia species indicating its proximate and mineral composition.

Ophiocaryon nicolasii, from the “Camino de los Andaquíes,” in the Amazonian slope of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, Caquetá
department, is described and illustrated and its morphological relationships with other similar Ophiocaryon species are discussed. This new
species is a small tree from the foothills to montane forest (500–1000 m). Morphologically it is related to O. manausense (W.A. Rodrigues)
Barneby, but it differs by: smaller leaves, petioles, petiolules, and inflorescences; leaflets with 8–16 secondary veins; leaflets, bracteoles,
staminodes and ovary with different shape; margins of .sepals erose. Information about the Andakí region and its ancestral inhabitants is
presented. An updated key to the species of Ophiocaryon is provided.

La première partie de cet article est consacrée aux liens entre les sciences naturelles à Genève et la Palestine vers 1860. La seconde partie aborde le rôle des sciences naturelles dans les premières implantations agricoles étrangères en Palestine.

From the herbarium to the agro business: how can one appropriate a land through work and study? When culture in the largest sense becomes a ferment of identity and a tool of the colonial process.

Muñoz Capilla was an Augustinian friar from Cordoba who, despite his eventful biography, dedicated an important part of his life to studies, among others, in the field of Natural Sciences, creating a herbarium of mainly Andalusian plants that is located in the Historical Herbarium of the University of Córdoba. The herbarium is preserved thanks to the efforts of Dr. Diego Jordano who allowed these plants not to be lost, preserving them for more than 60 years in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Córdoba. The material, in general, is quite deteriorated, but still retains part of its botanical and historical value. It consists of 1614 sheets and incorporates a small number of complete plants in good condition (19%). More than 70% do not present information about their place of collection, or it is difficult to locate them, most come from the province of Córdoba and a smaller part of Seville and Jaén. We do not find that new species can be found among the material, as indicated by Jordano & Ocaña (1955,1957).
Muñoz Capilla fue un fraile agustino cordobés que, a pesar de su azarosa biografía, dedicó una parte importante de su vida a realizar estudios, entre otros, en el campo de las Ciencias Naturales, llegando a crear un herbario de plantas principalmente andaluzas que se localiza en el Herbario Histórico de la Universidad de Córdoba. El herbario se conserva gracias a los desvelos del Dr. Diego Jordano que permitió que estas plantas no se perdieran, conservándolas durante más de 60 años en la Facultad de Veterinaria de Córdoba. El material, en general, se encuentra bastante deteriorado, pero aún conserva parte de su valor botánico e histórico. Consta de 1614 pliegos, e incorpora un pequeño número de plantas completas y en buen estado (19%). Más del 70% no presentan información de su lugar de recolección, o resulta difícil su ubicación, la mayoría procede de la provincia de Córdoba y una parte menor de Sevilla y Jaén. No constatamos que entre el material se puedan encontrar especies nuevas, como indican Jordano & Ocaña (1955,1957).
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The aim of this study was to find why the historical population of Martagon Lilies or
Turk’s-cap Lilies Lilium martagon L. is declining at Linnaeus’s Hammarby, Uppland,
Sweden. I initially proposed that they were subject to light-competition from Sweet
Cicely, Myrrhis odorata, but my preliminary study from 2005 revealed that Dog’s
Mercury Mercurialis perennis L. was present everywhere in the park. That species
was thus introduced into the study as another possible competitor for the light. Since a
large number of L. martagon exhibited shaded spots and necrosis leading to wilting,
samples were examined for possible pathogens. The results revealed M. odorata to be
the main competitor for light, but also that there were pathogens present in the ground
and in leaves of L. martagon. My studies also revealed that the lack of light in the
shaded park affected the number of L. martagon directly by leading to fewer flowers
on the plants. Also, I can conclude that L. martagon growth is favoured by part light,
part shade conditions.

Some historians of biology have pointed out that a major reconfiguration of biology took place around the 1880s but it has so far remained largely unclear what this 'new alignment' consisted in and how it related to the major events of Darwin's theory of evolution (1860) and the emergence of genetics (1900). This thesis clarifies the stakes and the dynamic of this epistemic shift, which, I argue, should be conceived as the demise of biology and the emergence of life science, i.e. the contemporary study of life. The key observation supporting this argument is that scientists such as Fritz Müller, Gottlieb Haberlandt, Wilhelm Roux, and Karl Möbius visibly deconstructed the basic dogmas and epistemic structure of biology which revolved around comparative anatomy and physiology, structure and function. Instead of biology, they-and no doubt others who are not discussed in this thesis-established an epistemic structure for studying life forms which was radically different. Life science would consist of ecology and systematics. Whereas ecology inquires into the preservation or ongoingness of life forms, seen as a nexus of process and part/whole relations, systematics considers the existence or occurrence of life forms, seen as a nexus of transitivity and ancestrality. It is argued, moreover, that the ever-returning problematization of the questions of evolution is a phenomenon inherent to life science. The gap left by the separation of ecology and systematics constitutes a domain of aporia which, however, is concomitant of life science itself.

This is an abstract for a paper given on Saturday 8th June 2017 for the British Society of the History of Science annual conference at the University of York.

In 1763, the Trustees of the recently opened British Museum appointed the renowned systematist and former student of Carl Linnaeus, Daniel Solander (1733-1782), to reclassify their natural historical collection according to the Linnaean system. During the 1760s, Linnaean systematics received an uneven reception among British naturalists, some of whom rejected it in favour of earlier classificatory systems, such as that developed by John Ray (1627-1705). In this talk, I explore the rare acceptance of the Linnaean system at the British Museum and how Solander applied Linnaean methods of classification and cataloguing to the Museum’s herbarium collection, which remained classified according to earlier systems as it had been left by its former owner, Hans Sloane (1660-1753). Solander’s main task was to reclassify these collections, opening them to researchers who followed the Linnaean system whilst ensuring that naturalists who used earlier systems of classification could still use the collection. This provides a new insight into the practical aspects of reorganising earlier natural historical collections in line with the emergence of Linnaean systematics during the 1760s and the important natural historical work which took place during the earliest years of the first public museum. This work ultimately led to Solander’s participation in the Endeavour voyage (1768-1771) and formed the basis for the classification of the new species he and Joseph Banks (1743-1820) collected from the Pacific.

The delocalizing, expropriatory intent behind the Linnaean taxonomical enterprise is well known. Among other things, Linnaeus rejected indigenous plant names in favor of names that decontextualized plants and reinserted them into a European classificatory framework for the purposes of categorizing, acclimatizing and exploiting them. What has been largely overlooked, however, is the extent to which late-Enlightenment Linnaean botanists themselves continued not only to rely on indigenous knowledge and guidance in their colonial fieldwork, but also to actively cultivate a knowledge of indigenous languages – especially indigenous plant names – for themselves. One reason for this omission, I suggest, is that historians of botany have formed a more or less totalizing impression of the discipline’s late eighteenth-century cultural significance from published flora and other writings in which Linnaean binomial species names predominate. My own line of inquiry, on the other hand, contrasts the marginality of indigenous plant names in published texts with their far greater prominence in unpublished materials. For the purposes of this paper I draw particularly on Daniel Solander’s Plantae Otaheitensis, a manuscript virtually ignored by historians. The intention is threefold: to draw attention to a heretofore underutilized resource for Cook voyage historians; to augment a growing scholarly awareness of indigenous knowledge-making contributions to Enlightenment botany; and finally, in highlighting the disjuncture between exoteric print conventions and esoteric plant-collecting practices, to shed further light on the oft-observed correlation between botany and early Romantic epistemology.