John H. Beaman

Diversity and distribution patterns in the flora of Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu (4,101 m) in northern Borneo, encompassing an area of about 700 km2, has one of the richest floras in the world. The flora includes c. 4,000 species of vascular plants, about one-third of which are known from a single collection. A high percentage of the species have extremely restricted distributions, frequently associated with ultramafic outcrops. Ideal conditions for a diverse flora and rapid evolutionary rates apparently result from several factors including a vast range of climatic conditions, numerous geologically recent habitats on a diversity of substrates (particularly ultramafic outcrops), regularly recurring El Nino droughts that may drive catastrophic selection, precipitous topography resulting in strong reproductive isolation over short distances, and small population size of many species which may be susceptible to genetic drift. Numerous apparent neo-endemics in many genera and families suggest that frequent speciation events in the recent past may have contributed significantly to the great diversity of the flora. Short- and long-range dispersal of some plants pre-adapted to montane environments also may have contributed to the high floristic diversity. Some species may be relictual, but the relict nature of the flora is not considered to be as significant as previously thought. Because 40 percent of the flora is known from a single locality and most species are very restricted in occurrence, the flora is highly endangered by shifting and permanent agriculture, various development projects, and mining activities, notwithstanding the park status of a portion of the mountain.

Data Model and Comparison and Query Methods for Interacting Classifications in a Taxonomic Database

An information-theoretic view has been applied to biological classification to capture taxonomic concepts as taxonomic data entities and to develop a system for managing these concepts and the lineage relationships among them. In order to develop the data model, it has been necessary to apply explicit definitions to several taxonomic terms that generally have not been precisely defined and to coin and define several new terms and concepts. Methods are outlined for comparing interacting classifications and querying hierarchical taxonomic databases. A program/database system called HICLAS, which provides an X-Window interface to query classification data, is available on the Internet.

HICLAS: a taxonomic database system for displaying and comparing biological classification and phylogenetic trees.

MOTIVATION Numerous database management systems have been developed for processing various taxonomic data bases on biological classification or phylogenetic information. In this paper, we present an integrated system to deal with interacting classifications and phylogenies concerning particular taxonomic groups. RESULTS An information-theoretic view (taxon view) has been applied to capture taxonomic concepts as taxonomic data entities. A data model which is suitable for supporting semantically interacting dynamic views of hierarchic classifications and a query method for interacting classifications have been developed. The concept of taxonomic view and the data model can also be expanded to carry phylogenetic information in phylogenetic trees. We have designed a prototype taxonomic database system called HICLAS (HIerarchical CLAssification System) based on the concept of taxon view, and the data models and query methods have been designed and implemented. This system can be effectively used in the taxonomic revisionary process, especially when databases are being constructed by specialists in particular groups, and the system can be used to compare classifications and phylogenetic trees. AVAILABILITY Freely available at the WWW URL: http://aims.cps.msu.edu/hiclas/ CONTACT pramanik@cps.msu.edu; lotus@wipm.whcnc.ac.cn

A new data model for biological classification

In the domain of biological classification, classifications are performed hierarchically. There are no standard classifications which are unanimously accepted by the community of each domain; many different interacting views of classification exist about the same data, and the discovery of new data results in changes to the existing classification. Even a single individual may change his or her own classification of a particular group. Since multiple classification views interact, they are semantically related. It is difficult to model this kind of dynamically evolving and semantically interacting classification system using traditional data models, which lack the structural flexibility necessary to support dynamic views of hierarchic classifications, and cannot properly capture the history of these complex interactions. We have developed a new data model which is suitable for supporting semantically interacting dynamic views of hierarchic biological classifications. On the basis of our new data model we have developed a prototype database system called HICLAS (HIerarchical CLAssification System); its domain is plant taxonomy. HICLAS is available through the Internet and an X-window interface has been implemented to support queries to classification data.

Studies in eupatorium (Compositae), III. Apparent wind pollination

Eupatorium is a large, chiefly American genus in which some species have deviated from the usual reproductive methods of insect pollination and outcrossing. Apomixis and autogamy are two reproductive specializations which have been reported previously. A third, anemophily, is suspected inE. solidaginifolium, E. solidaginoides, E. monanthum, and several other species. Our assumptions are based upon morphological modifications of the inflorescence, anther appendages, style branches, and pollen. Wind pollination in the Compositae has heretofore been known only in the tribe Anthemideae and the subtribe Ambrosinae of the Heliantheae; its occurrence inEupatorium is an independent evolutionary event. The occurrence of apomixis, autogamy, and anemophily in members ofEupatorium from the same geographical region probably represents (at least in part) correlated responses to the same environmental stress, a scarcity of insect pollinators.

Chromosome studies of Mexican alpine plants

SummaryCytological studies were made of 16 species in 11 genera and 5 families in the alpine flora of Mexico. Only one of these species (Eryngium carlinae) has received previous chromosomal study, and the first record of a chromosome count in the genusOxylobus (n=16) is included. Meiotic chromosome counts are reported for 15 species, and the mitotic count of 1 species is given. Bight species appear to be polyploid, 3 species have the lowest chromosome number known in their genera, and 4 species have numbers slightly higher than the lowestknown number in their genera.

Allergenic Asian Anacardiaceae

Abstract The family Anacardiaceae includes about 70 genera and 600 species of trees, shrubs, and vines, occurring mostly in the tropics but with some species in temperate regions. It is generally classified in the order Sapindales, which has 15 families including the maples (Aceraceae), citrus (Rutaceae), and horsechestnut (Hippocastanaceae). Although the families of this order are chemically diverse, often producing resinous compounds or triterpenoid bitter substances and frequently also containing alkaloids, 1 most dermatitis-causing species of the order are concentrated in the Anacardiaceae. Mitchell and Rook 2 note that the members of this family probably cause more dermatitis than those in all other families combined. The Anacardiaceae are most abundantly represented in South-east Asia, where nearly one-half of all species in the family occur. In this chapter, 16 genera will be discussed as dermatitis-causing plants. Included in these genera are some 250 species native to Asia, which may well be claimed as having the greatest number of dermatitis-producing species of any continent. The genera discussed in this chapter can be divided into three groups on the basis of what is known about their allergenic properties. One group of five genera— Anacardium, Gluta, Mangifera, Semecarpus , and Toxicodendron —is relatively well-known and documented. A second group of seven genera— Campnosperma, Drimycarpus, Holigarna, Melanochyla, Nothopegia, Pentaspadon , and Swintonia —includes plants that are probably as allergenic as those in the first group but for which the literature concerning their allergenicity is very limited. This group should be given greatly increased attention by dermatologists, plant taxonomists, and phyochemists. A third group of four genera— Buchanania, Lannea, Parishia , and Spondias —includes questionably allergenic plants about which the current literature is ambiguous. Most tropical Asian allergenic Anacardiaceae are trees of primary forests. These forests are being destroyed at a rapid rate, in some countries exceeding one million acres/year. 3 Myers 4 concludes that virtually all lowland forests of the Philippines and peninsular Malaysia are likely to be logged by 1990 or very shortly thereafter, and almost all of Indonesias lowland forests have been scheduled for timber exploitation by the year 2000. Remaining forests are mostly remote from populated areas, so it is unlikely that much of the Asian population will contract dermatitis from anacardiaceous plants, despite the numerous species in that part of the world. Persons most likely to be affected are those living in what is left of the forests, working in forest industries, or producing lacquer ware.

Notice of the Formation of an Economic Botany Section in the Botanical Society of America

At the meeting of the Council of the Society for Economic Botany on June 11, 1978, the concept of an Economic Botany Section in the Botanical Society of America was endorsed. Such a section would enable persons attending Botanical Society meetings, whether or not they also attend Society for Economic Botany Meetings, to sponsor symposia, contributed papers, or conduct other activities concerning economic botany. The Botanical Society has 12 other sections, which have functioned well over the years in facilitating information flow between its members and those of related societies. The Council of the Botanical Society of America, at its June 25, 1978, meeting, authorized the establishment of an Economic Botany Section. The next step, therefore, is development of a list of interested members. Any member of the Botanical Society of America who has interests in economic botany and wishes to affiliate with the Economic Botany Section should notify

The Society for Economic Botany

At the meeting of the Council of the Society for Economic Botany on June 11, 1978, the concept of an Economic Botany Section in the Botanical Society of America was endorsed. Such a section would enable persons attending Botanical Society meetings, whether or not they also attend Society for Economic Botany Meetings, to sponsor symposia, contributed papers, or conduct other activities concerning economic botany. The Botanical Society has 12 other sections, which have functioned well over the years in facilitating information flow between its members and those of related societies. The Council of the Botanical Society of America, at its June 25, 1978, meeting, authorized the establishment of an Economic Botany Section. The next step, therefore, is development of a list of interested members. Any member of the Botanical Society of America who has interests in economic botany and wishes to affiliate with the Economic Botany Section should notify

The society for economic botany: Report on the eighteenth annual meeting Coral Gables, Florida June 11–15, 1977

Toxic Plants was the subject of the symposium featured this year at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Economic Botany. The meeting was cohosted by the Morton Collectanea of the University of Miami and the Fairchild Tropical Garden, with Dr. Julia Morton serving as local representative. In addition to the symposium there were contributed papers and field trips, including visits to the Fairchild Tropical Garden, the U.S.D.A. Subtropical Horticultural Research Unit, Orchid Jungle, and the University of Florida Agricultural Research and Education Center at Homestead. About 100 persons registered and nearly half that number participated in the field trips, making this the most heavily attended annual meeting in the history of the Society. Much public attention was achieved, with events being noted by newspapers and all four local television channels.