John L. Strother

Chromosome studies: Mexican Compositae

Chromosome observations reported here from 70 collections representing 65 species from 40 genera of Compositae (mostly Heliantheae) provide taxonomically useful information. First counts for 28 species, including the first count for Psacaliopsis, may prove to be especially interesting in relation to phyletic and taxonomic alignments of the taxa. Of special interest among first reports is 2n = 5 II for Stevia lita; other stevias have x = 11, 12, or 17. Thirteen of our counts differ from prior reports and may also be of particular interest in phyletic and taxonomic contexts.

Arnica lanceolata subsp. prima, the Correct Name for Arnica lanceolata Nuttall subsp. amplexicaulis (Nuttall) Gruezo (Asteraceae, Heliantheae)

ABSTRACT The new combination Arnica lanceolata subsp. prima (Maguire) Strother & S. J. Wolf is proposed as the correct name for Arnica lanceolata subsp. amplexicaulis (Nuttall) Gruezo.

Meet Me in St Louis

Judy Garland signed with MGM at age 13. Garland’s life has been dissected in countless journals and most folks are knowledgeable about her horrendous upbringing and tragic life. Needless to say, at 13 she was already a professional having performed since age two with her siblings as The Gumm Sisters. Although Mayer and the studio have deservedly taken the blame for her induction to chemicals, as a child her mother had already introduced her to “pep” pills for late-night shows and alcohol to calm her nerves. Once signed by MGM, Garland and fellow adolescent crooners Mickey Rooney and Deanna Durbin bided there time at the studio by doing bit parts until their “big break.” Judy’s, of course, was “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) in which she was cast at age 16. It was Arthur Freed who pushed Mayer to cast Garland; Mayer had wanted Shirley Temple.

Vilobia, a new genus (Compositae—Tageteae)

The new genus,Vilobia, is described and its position within the Tageteae is discussed. The type species from Bolivia,V. praetermissa Strother, is described and illustrated.