BEN IS MOVING Our host, old friendly cue.bc.ca, is closing down and all users, including BEN, got their eviction notices. BEN will move to freenet.victoria.bc.ca and we are working on setting up a listserv that will handle mailing and subscribing automatically. All current BEN subscribers will included on a new mailing list and you will get more details about the listserv soon. I would like to thank John Nemeth, the invisible man behind the cue.bc.ca system, for all the help he gave me running BEN. I enjoyed the way the system was set up, and I greatly appreciated all the work John Nemeth has done for us. Many, many thanks. I also relied on the help of Gary Shearman, who will remain in close contact with BEN as a principal figure in the Victoria Freenet Association. Please, address all your mail to aceska@freenet.victoria.bc.ca (any submissions to BEN - short or long - are welcome). Thanks. - Adolf Ceska (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ BACK ISSUES OF BEN All the back issues of BEN have been stored on gopher freenet.victoria.bc.ca (as four large ASCII files - ca 350 K each) and they are WAIS indexed. Using this index, you can search BEN for any key word and you will get all the articles that contain the key word. The address of the gopher is freenet.victoria.bc.ca (in "All the Gopher Servers in the World" this gopher is listed under "Victoria Freenet Association") and when you connect with the freenet gopher, you select 4. Environment and Science Information / 4. Botany. (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ ADVANCED AND SPECIALTY FIELD SEMINARS FOR PROFESSIONAL BOTANISTS From: EAGLHILL@MAINE.maine.edu The following intensive weeklong seminars will be held this summer on the coast of Maine at Eagle Hill Wildlife Research Station, just east of Acadia National Park and just west of Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. The seminars are offered primarily for an advanced and professional audience, but also for well-qualified university and college students and amateur naturalists. Two graduate credits are available for each seminar from the University of Maine. For more information, please contact ... Eagle Hill Wildlife Research Station PO Box 99 Steuben, ME 04680-0099 207-546-2821, FAX -3042 EAGLHILL@MAINE.MAINE.EDU List of seminars: Quantitative Sampling of Vegetation (Dr. Ala S. White, June 5- 11) Field Ethnobotany (Dr. James A. Duke, June 12-18) Sedges - Cyperaceae (Dr. Anton A. Reznicek, July 3-9) Northern Forest Workshop: Insect/Tree Associations (Richard Dearborn, July 3-9) Advanced Mycology Foray (Dr. Allen Bessette, July 10-16) Ecology, Geology, & History of Eastern Maine Salt Marshes (Dr. Harold Borns, Dr. George Jacobsen, Dr. David Smith, July 17-23) Marine Botany: The Macroalgae (Dr. Arthur Mathieson, July 17-23) Advanced Wetlands Ecology (Dr. William A. Niering, July 24-30) Wetland Identification, Classification, and Delineation (Ralph Tiner, July 31-August 6) Aquatic Flowering Plants (Dr. C. Barre Hellquist, August 7-13) Northern Forest Workshop: Soil/Site Relationships (Dr. Russell Briggs, August 7-13) General Lichenology (Dr. Sharon Gowan, August 14-20) Advanced Natural History Illustration Workshop (Dennis O'Brien, September 4-10) Mosses and Liverworts. I (Dr. Howard Crum, September 11-17) Mosses and Liverworts. II (Dr. Howard Crum, September 18-24) The Science of the Professional Botanical Survey (Jerry Jenkins, September 25 - October 1) Fall Mushroom Foray (Dr. Samuel Ristich, September 25-October 1) (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ PLANTS OF COASTAL BRITISH COLUMBIA Pojar, J. & A. MacKinnon [eds.] 1994. Plants of coastal British Columbia including Washington, Oregon & Alaska. - B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria and Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton. 527 p. ISBN 1-55105-042-0 [paperback] CDN$ 24.95 This book is a sequel to the very successful guide "Plants of northern British Columbia" [see BEN # 31]. It deals with a much larger area and with many more species than the first book. The impressive number (1,100) of colour photographs is almost double of that in the first book. A new feature of this guide is a large number of distribution maps - the distribution is shown for 794 taxa. The guide combines illustrations and 1/2 to one page write-ups on featured species with keys, diagrams and comparison tables. In this book, I missed some comparison tables that were included in the first guide: character tables of violets, lilies, poten- tilla. --- Some keys are dangerously simplified: Carex lasiocarpa will be identified as Carex rossii, Ceratophyllum as Myriophyllum. --- Problems of synonyms are treated with a phrase "also known as ...." and no distinction is made between true synonyms (Dodecatheon pulchellum is also known as D. pauciflorum) and different taxonomic concepts (Dryopteris ex- pansa is also known as D. assimilis [true synonym], D. austriaca and D. dilatata [different concepts]). I was horrified to read that Myriophyllum verticillatum "is also known as M. spicatum var. spicatum," endorsing a unique blunder that was made in Hitchcock et al. Similarly, Plectritis brachystemon is mentioned as "P. macrocera," Cornus unalaschkensis is treated as "C. canadensis," etc. --- I don't think that it is politically correct to segregate carnivorous, parasitic, and saprophytic vascular plants into a group called Oddballs. Why don't the Oddballs include Cuscuta or mistletoes? What about louseworts, paintbrushes and other parasitic plants of the Scrophulariaceae? In spite of this criticism, the guide is a nice piece of work and it will serve as an excellent learning tool to all people interested in plants of the Pacific Northwest. The authors, editors, and publishers have done a nice job and the book fills a very important niche in the botanical literature for this area. The book includes a wealth of ethnobotanical information, and is available in bookstores, or if you are interested in contacting the publisher, Lone Pine Publishing's phone number is 1-800-661-9017. (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ VASCULAR PLANTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - PART 4: MONOCOTYLEDONS Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley & Del Meidinger [eds.]. 1994. Vas- cular plants of British Columbia. Part 4 - Monocotyledons. Special report series # 4, B.C. Ministry of Forests. 257 p. [paperback] ISBN 0-7718-8757-4 (set); ISBN 0-7718-8761-2 (pt.4) Cost: CDN $26.00 [Available from: Crown Publications Inc., 546 Yates Str., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1K8 (604) 386-4636 Fax.:(604) 386-0221] The last volume of the Vascular plants of British Columbia deals with the monocotyledons. The fourth volume is about twice as large as any of the previous volumes and besides the treatment of monocots (keys, synonymy and distribution) it gives the summary chapters to the whole set (phytogeographic elements, number of taxa in each family, etc.). (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ CORDILLERA - A JOURNAL OF BRITISH COLUMBIA NATURAL HISTORY Cordillera is to be published twice a year, initially, by the Federation of British Columbia Naturalists and those working on, or interested in, the natural history of British Columbia. The first (March 1994) issue started with an important article on "The fameflower (Talinum sediforme): Portrait of a Northwest endemic" by Trevor Goward & Helen Knight and a review article on serpentine soils by Bert Brink & Kay Fletcher. Subscription orders (FCBN members CDN $15.00, others and in- stitutions CDN $20.00) should be sent to Cordillera, Subscrip- tion Department, Box 473, Vernon, B.C., Canada V1T 6M4; submis- sions should be sent to The Editor, Cordillera, Box 625, Kam- loops, B.C., Canada V2C 5L7. (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ TODAY IN THE HISTORICAL SCIENCES From: DARWIN@iris.uncg.edu MAY 4, 1556: LUCA GHINI dies at Bologna, Italy. One of the founders of modern botany, Ghini was born in Croara d'Imola around 1490. He studied medicine at the University of Bologna and taught at Bologna for many years, DEVISING A METHOD OF PRESERVING PLANTS BY PRESSING, DRYING, AND MOUNTING THEM ON CARDS TO PRODUCE THE FIRST MODERN HERBARIUM OR "HORTUS SICCUS". Ghini left Bologna in 1544 to take up a professorship at the University of Pisa, and he established there one of the first university botanical gardens. He travelled extensively in the vicinity of Pisa and Bologna collecting specimens for his garden and herbarium, and his scientific correspondents sent him botanical material from as far away as Egypt. Although he pub- lished little during his life, Ghini numbered among his students an entire generation of early modern European botanists, includ- ing Andrea Cesalpino, Ulisse Aldrovandi, Luigi Anguillara, William Turner, and John Falconer. MAY 23, 1707: CARL LINNAEUS is born at Sodra, Smaland, Sweden. The son of a country parson, Linnaeus will rise to be one of the most prominent figures in the history of natural history. Fol- lowing study in medicine and botany at the Universities of Lund and Uppsala, Linnaeus will first spend time travelling in Lapland, and then will move to Holland where he will receive his medical degree. While in Leiden he will publish the first edi- tion of his masterwork, _Systema Naturae_ (1735), which he will revise and expand many times over the course of his life. In 1741 Linnaeus will be appointed professor of medicine at Up- psala, and through his many students and his voluminous writings on systematics and natural history, his influence will spread throughout Europe and the world. Today in the Historical Sciences is a feature of Darwin-L, an international network discussion group for professionals in the historical sciences. For more information about Darwin-L send the two-word message INFO DARWIN-L to listserv@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu, or gopher to rjohara.uncg.edu (152.13.44.19). [To susbcribe send SUBSCRIBE DARWIN-L first_name last_name to LISTSERV@UKANAIX.CC.UKANS.EDU - you should know by now.] [DARWIN-L is an interesting list. Its "TODAY IN THE HISTORY" submissions are great. Interestingly enough, a large portion of the subscribers are linguists and their main goal is to prove that the evolution of biological species and languages have something in common. Botanists with limited disk space can find those discussions irritating. - AC] (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ QUATERNARY - A NEW INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUP A new listserver has been created for all interested in research in the Quaternary sciences, particularly, but not exclusively in Canada. This listserver was established through the initiative of the Canadian Quaternary Association, especially Dana Naldret and Dave Liverman, with the assistance from the Memorial Univer- sity of Newfoundland, and the Newfoundland Department of Mines and Energy. We hope that this will be of interest to anyone with an interest in the Quaternary geological period, including geologists, geomorphologists, soil scientists, palaeoenvironmentalists, archaeologists, paleontologists, geochronologists, palynologists, geotechnical engineers, and others. To subscribe, send SUBSCRIBE QUATERNARY first_name last_name to LISTSERV@MORGAN.UCS.MUN.CA - the list grew astronomically fast and the initial traffic was heavy. You can put "SET QUATERNARY MAIL DIGEST" (no apostrophes) as a next line after your "SUBSCRIBE ... " Submissions to the list will be collected and sent to you once a day - good way to handle busy discussion lists. The list owner is Dave Liverman . (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ CARL OFFERS OPEN ACCESS TO UNCOVER From: Edward A Riedinger posted in ECOLOG-L CARL (Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries) has for many years been providing a table of contents service called UnCover. Such a service gives a user the table of contents of periodicals as they are issued so that one may decide which articles to read or quickly survey current research and publishing in one's field. CARL indexes over 17,000 journals world-wide (primarily English but also many other languages), and is the largest database of its type. CARL has now announced that it has begun a new service called UnCover Reveal. This service will deliver the table of contents of the journals one chooses, directly to one's e-mail address. There is no charge for the service, and one is free to share the information with other individuals. In addition to the table of contents service, CARL also provides document delivery. If one finds an article of interest, an order can be placed and it will be delivered by fax within 24 hours. For this service there is a base charge of $8.50 per article, plus any applicable copyright royalty fees or fax surcharges. In order to initiate the Reveal service, you must access the Uncover database, establish a profile by supplying information about yourself (Note: you need not supply any of the financial information if you do not intend to use the document delivery service), and identify the journal titles you wish to have forwarded to you. To access the database, telnet to: 192.54.81.76. 1) At the first screen, enter your terminal type, such as VT100. 2) At the next screen, indicate that you wish to use the Uncover file, no. 1. When you are asked for an access password, press enter, and you will be given open access. 3) At the following screen, you can create your profile (new). At the end of this process, you will be given a profile number. With it, you will be able to mark the journals for which you wish to receive the table of contents. These notices are sent within a few days of the publication of each journal. 4) To mark with your profile number the journals for which you wish to receive the table of contents, go into the database and search for the journals by title [use B for BROWSE]. ["REVEAL" - i.e, put journal on the mailing list - is one of the options in the BROWSE mode.] Should you have a difficulty in subscribing, you can send a message to: database@carl.org . (BEN # 75 6-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ RANDY STOLTMANN (1962-1994) Randy Stoltmann died in a skiing accident in mountains near Kitimat, B.C. on May 22, 1994. "A native of Vancouver, Randy Stoltmann has an unquenchable thirst for exploring, photographing and working to protect the wilderness areas of the west coast. Combining his technical background with his love for wilderness, Stoltmann has measured, mapped and documented record-sized trees and ancient forests since high school more than a decade ago. Much of his spare time is spent hiking, bushwhacking and ski-mountaineering through the backcountry of southwestern B.C." [from "About Author" in the "Hiking guide to big trees of SW B.C."] Randy was the first person to bring attention to the Carmanah Valley and started a pleafor its protection. Randy was working as a draftsman and decrying the lack of time in his life to explore such wilderness places when Paul George, of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WC**2) persuaded him to work full time for WC**2. After about 3-1/2 to 4 years WC**2 had to downsize and Randy worked independently for mountain clubs, advocacy groups and wilderness organizations as an advocate for protection. Randy published three books and contributed photographs to numerous other publications and journal articles. Stoltmann, R. 1987 & 1991. Hiking guide to the big trees of southwestern British Columbia. Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Vancouver B.C., 144 p. - Second Edition, 218 p. Stoltmann, R. 1993. Guide to the record trees of British Colum- bia. Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Vancouver, B.C. 58 p. Stoltmann, R. 1993. Written by the wind. Orca Book Publishers, Victoria, B.C. & White Rock, WA. 95 p. I met Randy only once on a field trip to survey near record-size western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) near Port Alberni [BEN # 36]. I was deeply impressed by his intimate knowledge of "big trees" and their ecology. He was a giant human being and his death is a great loss. - AC (BEN # 76 24-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ LYME DISEASE - BORRELIA BURGDORFERI - IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Sources: Dr. S.N. Banerjee (pers. comm.), Hospital Medicine (August 1993: 53-64), VERONICA search on "LYME" Lyme disease was first recognized during the 1970s when inves- tigators analyzed an unusual cluster of juvenile arthritis in coastal Connecticut. Erythema migrans (EM) served as a clinical marker and field studies revealed ixodid ticks to be the vector. In 1982 Burgdorfer visualized spirochetes in the midguts of these ticks and serum from Lyme disease patients contained antibodies to the spirochete. Soon thereafter, researchers recovered and cultured spirochetes from infected humans, then characterized them morphologically and biochemically and gave them the name Borrelia burgdorferi. In about 60% of the cases, a characteristic rash or lesion called erythema migrans develops. It begins a few days to a few weeks after the bite of an infected tick. The rash generally looks like an expanding red ring with a clear center, but can vary from a reddish blotchy appearance to red throughout. Some- times there are two or more lesions. Unfortunately, in those patients who never get a rash, the diagnosis can be difficult. At about the same time that the rash develops, flu-like symptoms may appear along with headache, stiff neck, fever, muscle aches and general malaise. The later complications of Lyme disease are quite severe. Most common is arthritis, usually of the large joints (e.g., knees, hips, shoulders). Other complications include meningitis and other neurological problems such as numbness, tingling and burning sensations in the extremities, severe pain, loss of concentration, memory loss, confusion, loss of confidence, withdrawal, depression, fatigue, (often extreme and incapacitating), and Bell's palsy (loss of control of one side of the face). Cardiac symptoms include heart palpitations and irregular heart beat. Shortness of breath, dry mouth, voice changes, and difficulty swallowing can occur. Eye symptoms include conjuctivitis, double vision, and loss of vision. Remem- ber, some patients do not get the rash and progress directly to these later symptoms. Symptoms, including pain are intermittent and changing, occurring in any combination and lasting from a few days to several months and possibly years. It is important to seek medical attention if any of these symptoms appear, especially after being bitten by a tick or visiting an area where Lyme disease is common. Timely treatment with antibiotics (within a few days of symptoms appearing) will increase chances of recovery and may lessen the severity of any later symptoms. If ignored, the early symptoms may disappear, but more serious problems can develop months to years later. Chronic Lyme disease, because of its diverse symptoms, is par- ticularly difficult to diagnose. Treatment for later stages is more difficult and is often less successful, sometimes requiring several months of intravenous antibiotic therapy. In British Columbia Borrelia burgdorferi was detected in juvenile ticks Ixodes angustus and adults of Ixodes pacificus collected from Bowen Island, Cultus Lake, Galiano Island, Har- rison, Hope, Lasqueti Island, Langley, Metchosin, Nanoose Bay, Sechelt, and Squamish. According to Dr. Banerjee (pers. com- munication) there are about 30 patients with Lyme disease in British Columbia, 10 of them were most probably infected here in British Columbia. Dr. Satyen N. Banerjee studies Lyme disease in British Columbia and is interested in receiving LIVE ticks and he would like to scan them for Borrelia spirochete. Ticks could be sent in a small screw-top vial in which one should add a small ball of cotton wetted in water. The address to send the ticks is: Tick-borne Diseases Research Laboratory Provincial Laboratory, B.C. Centre for Disease Control 828 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1L8 (Phone: 604-660-6070) (BEN # 76 24-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ MYOSURUS APETALUS = MYOSURUS ARISTATUS From: Novon 4 (1994): 77-79. In his article on "New names in North American Myosurus (Ranunculaceae)," A.T. Whittemore is treating Myosurus aristatus as conspecific with the Chilean species M. apetalus Gay. B.C. plants belong to a new variety, M. apetalus var. borealis Whit- temore characterized by 1-nerved sepals. Another variety, M. apetalus var. montanus (G.R. Campbell) Whittemore (transferred from M. minimus) occurs in Canada (Saskatchewan), and US (AZ, MT, CO, NV, ND, OR, UT, WY) and has sepals 3(-5)-nerved. (BEN # 76 24-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ CAREX SYLVATICA NATURALIZED ON PENDER ISLAND AND SATURNA ISLAND From: A. & O. Ceska and Jan Kirkby In the 1970's and 1980's Harvey Janszen made several collections of a sedge which he identified as Carex sprengelii from Pender and Saturna Islands (part of Gulf Islands, British Columbia). T.M.C. Taylor, A. Ceska, and others confirmed Harvey's original identification. During a field trip of the Pender Island Naturalists on June 12, 1994, we revisited the locality of the sedge in the "Enchanted Forest" on South Pender Island and realized that the sedge is NOT Carex sprengelii, but naturalized European forest sedge, Carex sylvatica. Consequent examination of the specimens in the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, B.C. [V] showed that all the specimens of "Carex sprengelii" collected on Gulf Is- lands belong in fact to Carex sylvatica. Carex sylvatica Huds. is a European sedge of mesic alluvial forests. In North America it is occasionally planted in gardens as an ornamental "grass" and was reported naturalized on Long Island, NY (Mackenzie, K.K. 1940. North American Cariceae, Vol. II.). C. sylvatica is indeed very similar to C. sprengelii. C. sylvatica is "aphyllopodic" - it has several short bracts at the base of the plant, not fully developed leaves as "phyllopodic" C. sprengelii. C. sprengelii has a rhizome with conspicuous fibrous remnants of old leaves. Two other collections of Carex sprengelii from British Columbia in the Royal BC Museum (from Williams Lake and Prince George) were correctly identified and are C. sprengelii. Carex sylvatica is the second sedge recently found naturalized in British Columbia. Several years ago Richard Martin found Carex pallescens on Hornby Island. C. pallescens grows there in open meadows, along the roads, and in ditches. (BEN # 76 24-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ BIODIVERSITY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA - OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT Harding, L.E. & E. McCullum [eds.] 1994. Biodiversity in British Columbia: Our changing environment. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa. 426 p. ISBN 0-662-20671-1 [paperback] Cost: CDN $29.95 Available from: Crown Publications Inc., 546 Yates Str., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1K8 (604) 386-4636 Fax.:(604) 386-0221 This is a valuable collection of papers on various aspects of biodiversity in British Columbia. Thirty chapters are grouped into four sections: 1) Introducing biodiversity, 2) Species diversity, 3) Ecosystem diversity , and 4) Prospects for the future. Botanical topics are well covered and the book gives good discussions on rare algae (M. Hawkes), fungi (S. Redhead), lichens (T. Goward), bryophytes (W.B. Schofield), and vascular plants (H. Roemer, G.B. Straley, and G.W. Douglas). Native rare vascular plants species are listed, grouped by the status categories established by the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre. Exotic species of animals and plants are discussed as a threat to biodiversity. (The list of introduced plants is unfor- tunately restricted to "Introduced Flowers" - no grasses, sedges or rushes - and even lists as introduced some species that are on the Rare Native Vascular Plants List - e.g. Lupinus densiflorus.) Chapters on Ecosystem diversity deal with forests and grasslands, with urban ecosystems and (mostly marine) ecosystems of the Strait of Georgia. British Columbia Ecological Reserves are listed in the "Prospects for the future" together with an outline of the B.C. Protected Areas Strategy etc. (BEN # 76 24-June-1994) ------------------------------------------ SWEDISH TIMBER INDUSTRY FEARS GREENER FUTURE From: The European 1-7 July 1994, p. 25 [abbrev.] Sweden's timber industry is launching a campaign against paper recycling, after years of effort to develop a renewable resource. In a letter to Sweden's government, the Swedish pulp and paper association, Skogsindustrierna, voiced deep concerns about plans by the country's environmental protection agency to promote paper recycling, which would mean a fall in domestic demand for virgin wood fibres for pulp and paper production. Sweden already recycles almost half its total yearly consumption of 1.9 million tonnes. A further 20 per cent is burned for heating purposes. Only a fifth of the country's total production of 12 million tonnes of pulp and paper is consumed domestically. Of the ten million tonnes that are exported, 8.4 million go to EU countries. Through its domestic antirecycling campaign, the forestry hopes that the Swedish government will lower its recycling demands to the proposed EU levels, thereby protecting its European market from growing environmental pressure. The government has already rejected the industry's plea for broadening the definition of recycling to include "energy extraction" - that is incineration - as an accepted form of recycling. If the paper is burned, it will not compete with virgin fibre as a base for pulp produc- tion. Over the past five years, Swedish industry has faced growing criticism - domestic and international - for impoverishing biodiversity. Timber companies are now changing forestry prac- tices and trying to market themselves as a "green" industry. So when Greenpeace Germany managed to reach a deal where four large German paper consumers buy only "clear-cut free paper", Sodra, the leading forestry company in southern Sweden, rushed to Hamburg to convince their German customers and their environ- mentalist partners that Swedish forestry has now abandoned its old methods. (BEN # 77 10-July-1994) ------------------------------------------ BRITISH COLUMBIA PREMIER TO COUNTER GREEN OFFENSIVE From: Times-Colonist, July 7, 1994, p. A3 [abbrev.] British Columbia Premier Mike Harcourt left for San Francisco where he hopes to convince newsprint buyers that the province has cleaned up its forestry practices. "British Columbia has some of the most environmentally sound forest practices and highest-quality forest products in the world," he said. "I'm hoping our customers will appreciate the changes we're bringing in." Greenpeace has been advocating a California boycott against B.C. companies that clearcut ancient forests in the province. Such a boycott would affect MacMillan Bloedel Ltd., the largest province's most important industry. Harcourt also faces heat from California state Senator Tom Hayden who has introduced a bill in the state legislature to ban the use of newsprint made from old-growth trees. The bill is in the committee stage. Harcourt said he will highlight his government's environmental record during his trip to California, which buys 30 per cent of the province's newsprint. He will point to the new Forest Prac- tices Code, and will spotlight the government's plan to increase protected parkland while retraining forestry workers in tree- planting, environmental restoration and other green occupations. (BEN # 77 10-July-1994) ------------------------------------------ ANNOUNCING CITES-L From: conslink CITES-L, a list for discussion and postings of issues relating to the trade in wildlife and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), will provide a medium for discussions on wildlife trade and CITES related issues. The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), where the list will be maintained, has had over 12 years of experience in dealing with wildlife trade issues and maintains a database of all reported trade in CITES-listed species on behalf of the CITES Secretariat. WCMC has regular contact with the CITES Secretariat in Geneva, which will also be a source of up-to-date informa- tion. The 9th Conference of the Parties of CITES will be held in November of this year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA and we hope to post decisions and results of discussions as they take place. Subscribing: send a one line message to LISTPROC@WCMC.ORG.UK with the command line (in message body): SUBSCRIBE CITES-L e.g. SUBSCRIBE CITES-L Ronald MacDonald Signing off: send a one line message to LISTPROC@WCMC.ORG.UK with the command line (in message body): SIGNOFF CITES-L or UNSUBSCRIBE CITES-L Caution: replying to a message from the list will reply to EVERYONE on the list unless you take precautions to make sure that does not happen. If you have any questions please direct them to the list manager: Helen Corrigan Wildlife Trade Monitoring Unit World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0DL, U.K. E-mail: helen.corrigan@wcmc.org.uk (BEN # 77 10-July-1994) ------------------------------------------ BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE (LYTHRUM SALICARIA) BRITISH COLUMBIA UPDATE - AUGUST, 1994 From: Roy Cranston In 1991, following rigorous host specificity testing, North American federal governments approved the introduction of natural agents to attack purple loosestrife. The three agents approved for release in Canada are a root-feeding beetle (Hylobius transversovittatus) and two leaf-feeding beetles (Galerucella calamariensis and Galerucella pusilla). The initial B.C. release of G. calamariensis took place in June, 1993 at the Canadian Wildlife Service property on Westham Is- land. Subsequent releases were made to Jericho Park in Van- couver, Burnaby Lake, the Vedder wetlands at Chilliwack, Cheam Lake and at the Okanagan Drainage Canal at Penticton. Monitoring has proven successful establishment at most locations evidenced by presence of adults, larvae, eggs and feeding damage on the leaves. Releases of G. calamariensis continued this spring with intro- ductions to the Fraser River shoreline in east Richmond, Bound- ary Bay, Penticton and Kootenay Lake. The second leaf-feeding agent, Galerucella pusilla was introduced to Campbell River and the Kelowna area in June. The Hylobius root beetle was released to Iona Beach Regional Park in Richmond in July. All bioagents have been supplied from propagation facilities managed by Agriculture Canada at Lethbridge, Alberta. Agencies currently involved in releasing loosestrife bioagents include the Minis- tries of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, U.B.C., City of Burnaby, Okanagan-Similkameen, Greater Vancouver and Fraser- Cheam Regional Districts and the Chilliwack, North Cowichan and Okanagan Naturalist Clubs. Monitoring to determine survival and impact of all agents will occur over the next several years. The purpose for these initial introductions is to establish large colonies of insects that can be used for collection sites for eventual redistribution throughout the B.C. range of purple loosestrife. In its native European habitat, purple loosestrife is rapidly controlled by natural insect agents. Once the insects ac- climatize and begin reproducing, there is a high probability for successful reduction of British Columbia's increasing purple loosestrife populations. Roy Cranston Provincial Weed Specialist B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (BEN # 78 2-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ FLORA NORTH AMERICA GOPHER & WORLD WIDE WEB From: Flora of North America Newsletter 8(3):21. [abbrev.] Many useful Flora of North America files are now available on the Missouri Botanical Garden gopher (gopher.mobot.org). In addition to all taxonomic information from Volume 2, and several sample illustration images, chapters from Volume 1 have been put up and can be searched for words or word strings. The gopher files are also available via the World Wide Web (WWW) server. The URL (Universal Record Locator) for the Missouri Botanical Garden WWW home page is: http://straylight.tamu edu/MoBot/welcome.html (BEN # 78 2-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ BOOK REVIEW: INTERMOUNTAIN FLORA VOLUME 5 - ASTERALES From: R.T. Ogilvie, Royal B.C. Museum, Victoria, B.C. The newest volume of the Intermountain Flora, the Asteraceae, has just come out in July this year. The author, of course, is Arthur Cronquist, the high-priest of the Asteraceae in North America. In one sense this book is a memorial volume to Arthur Cronquist since he died in March 1992 while he was making the finishing touches to this manuscript. But since then a lot of editing and other work has taken place to bring this volume into print. The Intermountain Flora is very relevant to botanists in British Columbia. Often one can gain a better understanding of a local species from its features and behaviour in other parts of its geographic range. We are at the northern extremity of both the Pacific Northwest region and also the Intermountain region. The Intermountain region is the arid area lying between the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade-Sierra Nevada Mountains, and with vegetation largely dominated by sagebrush and chenopods such as shadscale, greasewood, and winterfat. Although the northern boundary of coverage of the Flora runs along southeastern Oregon and southern Idaho, members of this arid flora extend well into the dry interior of British Columbia along the southern Similkameen, Okanagan, Thompson, Kettle, and Kootenay Valleys. The Intermountain region is the centre of species diversity for several genera and families, for example: Astragalus has 156 species, Penstemon has 104 species, Phacelia with 50 species, Eriogonum with ca. 70 species, and Gilia with 33 species. The Asteraceae is the largest family, with 130 genera; Artemisia has 27 species, Chrysothamnus has 17 species, Haplopappus 35 species, Erigeron 71 species, and Townsendia with 15 species. The book is not arranged alphabetically by genus and species as in the Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. The Aster Family is divided into seven Tribes, and within each Tribe the genera are grouped into Subtribes, and the species are ordered within the genera by morphological similarity. This makes sense morphologically and taxonomically; plants like Tragopogon, Sonchus, Hieracium, Crepis, and Taraxacum are found together rather than being separated by the alphabet. But if you don't know that these plants are closely related and are in the Tribe Lactuceae, then they may be hard to find in the book. There is a key to the Tribes, and within each Tribe there are keys to Subtribes and genera; there is also an artificial key to go directly to genus. The index is essential if one wants to find, for example, Artemisia to key out a specimen, or if one wants to go to Artemisia cana to find its distribution range. Cronquist's taxonomic concepts will be familiar to users of Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. His genera are broad and conventional and so are his species. In general there are few changes from his 1955 treatment in Volume 5 of Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Chrysopsis villosa is main- tained separate from Heterotheca, and Chrysanthemum leucanthemum is maintained for oxeye-daisy instead of splitting it off into the perennial Leucanthemum. But Solidago is segregated into Euthamia (for E. graminifolia, E. occidentalis). Aster is segregated into Machaeranthera (for M. canescens), but other Aster-segregate genera are not used, such as Lasallea falcata or Virgulus for the pansus-ericoides-campestris complex. The variety rank is used for morphological variation within species correlated with different habitats or different geographic ranges. For example, Chrysothamnus nauseosus has 20 regional or ecological varieties. Cronquist occasionally uses both subspecies and varieties to deal with the pattern of variability in complex species. For the common subalpine-daisy - Erigeron peregrinus, the Intermountain populations are sub- species callianthemus consisting of variety callianthemus, var. scaposus, var. angustifolius (the Coastal populations are sub- species peregrinus, consisting of variety peregrinus, var. thompsonii, var. dawsonii). A similar infraspecific hierarchy is used for the pattern of variation in Artemisia ludoviciana: the northern populations are subspecies ludoviciana, consisting of variety ludoviciana, var. latiloba, var. incompta; the southern populations are subspecies mexicana variety mexicana, var. albula (and 2 other varieties further south). Some patterns of species variation, especially those involving apomixis and polyploid complexes, are not given taxonomic recog- nition. This is the situation in several species-complexes in Antennaria and also Taraxacum. According to Cronquist there are only 2 native species of Taraxacum in the Intermountain Region and the Pacific Northwest (T. ceratophorum, T. lyratum); all other native species reported for these areas are reduced to synonyms under these two species. Populations with other dif- ferences in achene morphology, involucre bracts, and leaf-lobing are not recognised. As a consequence much taxonomic and phytogeographic information is lost by reducing all this diver- sity to 2 species. There has been recent detailed research on the circumpolar and northern European Taraxaca, in which the multitude of apomictic and polyploid microspecies are combined into a manageable number of related Species Groups, and these in turn are grouped into a small number of Sections. This approach has been successfully applied to the arctic and polar Taraxaca of North America; it should be used in the cordilleran and intermountain floras. The printing quality of the Intermountain Flora is very high standard, as is true for all of the New York Botanical Garden publications. The Asterales book is big, 500 pages. Several botanical artists prepared the plant illustrations: John Rumely who did all of the illustrations for the Asteraceae of the Vol. 5 of Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, and all of the new illustrations were drawn by Bobbi Angell, Anthony Salazar and Robin Jess. The art work is very fine, but the printing quality of some of the new illustrations is disappointing: some of the fine details of the bracts, achenes and pappus are lost through fading or blurring. A lot of additional work went into bringing Cronquist's manuscript into print: besides the three additional artists, Noel H. Holmgren and Patricia K. Holmgren added 48 new synonyms and a list of 20 new taxa, and a lot of editorial work was done by a number of botanists. This big, handsome book on the Compositae is an appropriate memorial to Arthur Cronquist; it will be used by botanists for years to come. The following is the information for the published parts of the Intermountain Flora: Volume 1: Geological and botanical History, Plant Geography, Vascular Cryptogams, gymnosperms, Glossary. By A. Cronquist, A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, and J.L. Reveal. 1972. 270 pages. $32.00. Volume 3, Part B: Fabales. By R.C. Barneby. 1989. 292 pages. $58.00. Volume 4: The Asteridae Except the Asterales (Gentianales, Solanales, Lamiales, Callitrichales, Plantaginales, Scrophulariales, Campanulales, Rubiales, Dipsacales). By A. Cronquist, A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1984. 573 pages. $75.00. Volume 5: Asterales. By A. Cronquist. 1994. 506 pages. $75.00. Volume 6: The Monocotyledons. By A. Cronquist, A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1977. 584 pages. $40.00. Published by: the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 10458-5126. [A 25% discount is given when ordering all 5 pub- lished volumes of the flora: $210.00]. The parts of the flora remaining to be published are: Volume 2: The Magnoliidae, Hamamelidae, Caryophyllidae, and Dilleniidae. Key to the families of dicotyledons, and Comprehen- sive Index for the six volumes. Volume 3, Part A: The Rosidae. (BEN # 78 2-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BROOM REMOVAL ON MT. THZUHALEM !!! From: Evelyn Hamilton A broom removal event is scheduled for Mt Tzuhalem Eco Reserve (near Duncan) for Sept 24 and OTHER WEEKENDS UP TO OCT 12. Please spread the word and contact me (387-3650) for more info. Joel Ussery BCFN is the coordinator, his phone is 474-4105. We should meet for car pooling at Helmken Park and ride at 9:30 a.m. Bring gloves, pruners, clippers , lunch. BC Parks is hoping to get a big turnout to generate media interest. The intent of the project is to remove the broom that is threatening native species and increasing the risk of fire hazard in the reserve. The project is a cooperative one between Cowichan Valley Naturalists, FBCN, BC Parks, District of N Cowichan, Friends of ER, and the developer of the property adjacent to the eco reserve, to minimize negative effects of the development. Therefore funding from the developer and others to remove broom from the reserve is being solicited. BC Parks is funding helicopter removal of the cut broom on October 12, so the plan is to cut as much as possible before then, starting Sept 24. A number of schools, institutions and volunteer or- ganizations as well as BC PArks and District of N Cowichan are providing labour for the broom removal. Come join the fun!! Long term follow up is also planned. (BEN # 79 19-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ COMING EVENTS IN VICTORIA Sept. 20, 1994 (Tuesday): The authors of the Plants of Coastal British Columbia, Andy MacKinnon, Nancy Turner and others will discuss their popular field guide. Royal B.C. Museum, Classroom, 7:30 p.m. (Botany Night, Victoria Natural History Society) Sept. 21, 1994 (Wednesday): Syd Cannings, Conservation Data Centre: "What we're all about?" - University of Victoria, Biology Seminar, Elliott 060, 3:00 p.m. Sept. 24, 1994 (Saturday): A broom removal event is scheduled for Mt Tzuhalem Eco Reserve (near Duncan) for Sept 24 and other weekends up to Oct 12. Please spread the word and contact Evelyn Hamilton (387-3650) for more info. [See Volunteers needed !] Oct. 7-10, 1994. Schmok Foray 1994, organized by the Vancouver Mycological Society and South Vancouver Island Mycological Society will be at the Blue Lake Resort between Hope and Lillooet, off Highway 1 near the Stein Valley. Cost CDN $135.00 or US $115.00 per person. The deadline for registration Sept. 21, 1994. For more information call Hannah Nadel (604) 544-1386. (BEN # 79 19-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ BRYONIA ALBA IN THE WASHINGTON STATE ? From: Terry Taylor c/o In the beginning of July, we took a holiday around central Washington, and found an interesting plant at Walla Walla. I tentatively identified it as Bryonia alba. It forms long vines, with tendrils, hanging from the trees in Lewis and Clark Trails State Park, east of Walla Walla. The leaves are lobed, and it has black berries with flattened white seeds. The flowers are yellow with green veins. We saw what is probably the same plant at the Whitman Mission, but those ones were sterile. The plants at Lewis and Clark Trails Park looked identical to B. dioica, which I have seen in England, except for the black fruits. No Bryonia is shown in Hitchcock, but B. dioica is in the new Jepson Manual. [Note: Terry Taylor did not collect a voucher specimen for this report, thus the question mark in the title of this report. Can somebody from the area collect a specimen to document this report? Do you have any friends in Walla Walla ?- AC] (BEN # 79 19-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ GOLDEN PAINTBRUSH - CASTILLEJA LEVISECTA (SCROPHULARIACEAE) ON THE US THREATENED LIST From: Federal Register Vol. 59, No. 89, Tuesday, May 10, 1994, page 24106-24111. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list Golden Paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta - Scrophulariaceae) as a threatened species. This species once occurred from Oregon north to Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Only 10 disjunct populations of this plant now exist, in open grasslands ranging from south of Olympia, Washington north through the Puget Sound to Southwest British Columbia, Canada. The proposal published in the Federal Register gives valuable information on the species, its distribution and problems with its protection. (BEN # 79 19-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ NEW INVENTORY OF CALIFORNIA'S RARE AND ENDANGERED PLANTS SHOWS CONTINUED DECLINE OF STATE'S MAGNIFICENT NATIVE FLORA From: California Native Plant Society Press Release [abbrev.] The new fifth edition of the INVENTORY OF RARE AND ENDANGERED VASCULAR PLANTS OF CALIFORNIA, edited by Mark W. Skinner and Bruce Pavlik, (California Native Plant Society, 1994) lists 1742 types of California native plants that are now rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. This number repre- sents nearly 28% of California's 6,300 native plants. This summary of the latest information on the state's rare and endangered vascular plants includes ferns, fern allies, cone- bearing seed plants and flowering plants. Land resource managers, conservationists, field biologists, consultants, and botanical researchers will find the new INVENTORY an indispen- sable reference for identifying, protecting and managing California's rarest botanical resources. CNPS has simultaneously published an ELECTRONIC INVENTORY for MS-DOS personal computers. Using the state-of-the-art Microsoft Fox-Pro(tm) database, this application provides instant and simplified access to the detailed information contained in the print version. Users of the ELECTRONIC INVENTORY can search for plants based on hundreds of specific criteria, using pre- existing or customized report formats. The self-installing program requires no additional hardware or software, and takes up 8 megabytes of hard disk space. The ELECTRONIC INVENTORY will be updated regularly and will replace the print edition as the most up-to-date compilation of rare, threatened and endangered California plants. Purchasers are required to update their program every 18 months Among the 1742 special status plants in California, the new INVENTORY lists 857 species, subspecies and varieties that are "rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere", nearly 14% of the flora. This is an increase of 27% -- a net increase of 182 plants -- since the fourth INVENTORY was pub- lished in 1988. 34 plants that occurred in California are now extinct here. Since the last edition was published 13 plants thought to be extinct in California were rediscovered, however 11 other new plants are now presumed to be extinct. The book is the result of three years of intensive research and review. Mark Skinner is the California Native Plant Society Botanist and Bruce Pavlik is Associate Professor of Biology, Mills College. Ordering information: Mark W. Skinner & Bruce M. Pavlik [eds.]. 1994. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California, 5th ed. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 336 p. ISBN 0-943460-18-2 [softcover]; retail price: US$22.95 Electronic inventory ISBN: 0-943460-19-0; includes MS-DOS dis- kettes and manual; price US$195.- program update (required after 18 mos): US$95.- Order from: CNPS, 1722 J St., Ste. 17, Sacramento, Ca 95814. Phone: 916/447-2677; FAX: 916/447-2727 (BEN # 79 19-September-1994) ------------------------------------------ POLLINATION OF EPIPACTIS HELLEBORINE (ORCHIDACEAE) From: Marilyn Light <009211@acadvm1.uottawa.ca> [compiled from ] Epipactis helleborine is a European orchid that, since it was first reported at Syracuse, New York in 1879, has spread to appropriate habitat from coast to coast. This orchid was first reported in Illinois by Julian Steyermark in 1954. More details may be found in "An Introduction to the Ecology of the Illinois Orchidaceae" by Charles Sheviak (Illinois State Museum. Scien- tific Papers XIV, 1974). Wasps (Vespidae) were reported as pollinators of Epipactis helleborine in Europe by Darwin 1877 in "The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilized by insects." William Judd reported four species of wasp feeding at flowers of E. helleborine in "Wasps (Vespidae) pollinating Helleborine, Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz at Owen Sound, Ontario" (Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Ontario (1971) 102:115-119). The species were Vespula arenaria, V. consobrina and V. vidua. He also observed a Polistes fuscatus worker feeding in the flowers. I study native orchids including their population dynamics, inter- and intra-clonal reproductive compatibility and mycor- rhizal associations. I work primarily with Epipactis helleborine and Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens. I also have some interest in the reproductive strategies of Platanthera psycodes. Recent studies have included tracking the movement of pol- linators (Vespula sp.) by colouring the pollen with a dye and looking for dyed pollen on the stigmas of other nearby flowers. I have found that there is a higher incidence of visits between flowers on the same inflorescence than between plants. Another investigation has employed ultra-violet reflectance photography as a technique to determine whether or not a flower has been pollinated. Pollinated stigmas of E. helleborine become par- tially UV reflective within 15 minutes post-pollination, totally UV absorptive within 30 minutes. Investigations of pollen ger- minability with this species suggest a good case for pollen competition. While I have never seen Polistes feeding in the flowers, I have observed Vespula visits. The orchid flower has two pollinia attached to a sticky projection (viscidium). These pollinia are fragile sacs which fragment fairly readily after they are taken from the flower. The wasp alights, bends forward to lap nectar from the flower lip, and while doing so brushes the viscidium with the head. When the wasp backs out of the flower, it carries the pollinia on its head. Wasps can collect quite a few pollinia over time. Each time a pollen-carrying wasp visits a flower, pollen is left on the stigma. Occasionally an entire pollinium is deposited intact. Wasps visit flowers repeatedly, whether or not the flowers have been previously visited/pollinated. Visits normally last 2-5 seconds although they can be considerably longer if the wasps get 'drunk' on the nectar. On August 9 I observed a wasp carry- ing one pair of pollinia enter a virgin flower, leave then re- enter the same flower a few seconds later. It then visited two other previously pollinated flowers on the same stem. The same wasp then moved to another plant 25 cm distant and visited Flowers 8,6,5,8,1,3,2, all of which had been previously pol- linated. It then left the site. (Flowers are numbered from the base of an upright inflorescence.) This inflorescence had 42 buds/flowers, 11 of which were open. I had just self-pollinated Flower 11 approximately five minutes prior to the pollinator visit and had removed Flower 10 for photographic record. I have observed some anomalies which may be of interest. Most orchids such as E. helleborine produce pollen in tetrads. I have observed some plants producing monads interspersed amongst the tetrads. These monads are essentially giant undivided grains. They do not germinate in vitro. Another plant produced tetrads with two of the four elements shriveled. In this instance, all the tetrads were similarly affected. Normal elements germinate in vitro. Any suggestions as to what might be causing such anomalies would be appreciated. Marilyn Light University of Ottawa Chairman, Conservation Committee, Canadian Orchid Congress (BEN # 80 24-October-1994) ------------------------------------------ GIVE-AWAY JOURNALS - MADRONO From: "Jo Bohanan" (Natural Resources Library, North Carolina State University) We have the following issues of the journal Madrono (A West American Journal of Botany published by the California Botanical Society) available to anyone who would like to have them: Jan. 1957-Jan. 1973. If interested, please send e-mail to jo_bohanan@ncsu.edu (BEN # 80 24-October-1994) ------------------------------------------ PLANT SYSTEMATIST POSITION - UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON From: Mary Piper The Department of Botany invites applications and nominations for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in systematics of higher plants. The successful candidate must be qualified to teach under- graduate and graduate courses in plant systematics, develop a rigorous research program in molecular plant systematics/phylogeny/evolution, and curate a major Herbarium. There is extensive opportunity to develop collaborations within the Department of Botany and with other units on campus as well as the potential to attract graduate students in systematics through departmental fellowships. A Ph.D. in Botany or a related area is required. Postdoctoral experience is desirable. Candidates should exhibit potential for independent and innovative research and teaching, and a willing- ness to cooperate with a broad spectrum of biologists on campus. Salary: Commensurate with education and experience. Position available: September 16, 1995 but may be extended if suitable candidates are not found. To apply: Send a letter of application with a statement of your teaching and research experience and interests, curriculum vitae and a list of publications (up to three reprints may also be sent), and arrange to have three letters of recommendation forwarded to: Dr. E. Van Volkenburgh, Chair Search Committee, Department of Botany, KB-15, University of Washington, KB-15, Seattle, WA 98195. Phone: 206-543-1942, FAX 206-685-1728, e-mail Mary Piper, piper@u.washington.edu. Priority will be given to applications received by 30 November 1994. The University of Washington is building a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and minority candidates. (BEN # 80 24-October-1994) ------------------------------------------ NEW PUBLICATIONS Goward, Trevor, Bruce McCune, & Del Meidinger. 1994. THE LICHENS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, ILLUSTRATED KEYS. PART 1, FOLIOSE AND SQUAMULOSE SPECIES. Special Report Series No. 8, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, B.C. 181 p. ISBN 0-7726-2194-2 [soft cover] Available from Crown Publications Inc., 521 Fort Street, Vic- toria, B.C. V8W 1E7, Phone: (604) 386-4636, Fax: (604) 386-0221, Price: CDN$ 32.00 Hurd, Emerenciana G., Goodrich, Sherel, & Nancy L. Shaw. 1994. FIELD GUIDE TO INTERMOUNTAIN RUSHES. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-306. Ogden UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Inter- mountain Research Station. 56 p. Abstract. This guide provides technical descriptions of 23 Intermountain rushes (Juncus spp.), including the common and several less abundant species. Line drawings and color or black and white photos illustrate diagnostic characteristics of each species. An illustrated morphology and a glossary acquaint the layperson with the terminology used to classify rushes. The guide is intended as a tool to aid in classification; it is not inclusive. Greuter, W., J. McNeill, et al. 1994. INTERNATIONAL CODE OF BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE (TOKYO CODE) 1994. Adopted by the Fif- teenth International Botanical Congress, Yokohama, August- September 1993. Regnum Vegetabile Vol. 131. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein. 389 p. Available from: Koeltz Scientific Books, P.O. Box 13 60, D-61453 Koenigstein, Germany. Phone: (+49) 0617493720, Fax: (+49) 06174937240, Price DM 60.00 (BEN # 80 24-October-1994) ------------------------------------------ THE CEREMONY HONOURING PROF. DR. VLADIMIR J. KRAJINA IN PRAGUE From: Vladimir J. Korelus, Victoria, B.C., Canada On June 1, 1994, the urns containing the ashes of Prof. Dr. Vladimir J. Krajina and his wife Marie were ceremoniously deposited in the Vysehrad Cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic -- their homeland. The day marked the first anniversary of Krajina's death, and the third year after his wife's departure. Prof. Krajina's family and friends, and representatives of the President of the Czech Republic, the Czech Government, the Charles University, and the Canadian Embassy assembled in the newly restored church of St. Peter and St. Paul. The urns -- covered with the Canadian flag -- were displayed together with Krajina's many decorations, including the Order of Canada and the Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion. While Boy Scouts kept the guard of honour, four ministers celebrated an Ecumenical Mass. The Canadian anthem was played as the Canadian flag was being lifted, and the former Czechoslovak anthem was played while the Czechoslovak flag was put in its place. This symbolized the formal return of Krajinas' ashes to their homeland. The celebration continued with speakers recollecting Krajinas' lives and deeds. The poem of Frana Sramek "If I were a keeper of horses" ("Kdybych byl pastevcem koni"), and an excerpt from Dostoyevsky's "The brothers Karamazov" were read. Then, the procession with the urns left for the cemetery only to assemble again in front of the church to listen to more eulogies by some members of Krajina's former political party. Finally, the procession reached the memorial of Dr. Milada Horakova, a fighter against fascism, and a victim of the communist regime. At the memorial, the urns were deposited among those of other national heroes. Several days before the ceremony, on the occasion of the release of Krajina's book of memoirs called "High Game" ("Vysoka hra"), there was a press conference held in the Botanical Institute of the Charles University. The book deals mostly with his political life, and his fight against totalitarian regimes. On Krajina's request, the book was edited by Jiri Dolezal and published in Czech in Prague by the publishing house EVA. So a life circle was closed of one brave man, and woman who influenced the lives of so many, both in the former Czecho- slovakia and in Canada. (BEN # 81 13-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ DR. ROY L. TAYLOR - IN CALIFORNIA From: ASTP Newsletter Oct. 1994 Dr. Roy L. Taylor has accepted the position of Executive Direc- tor of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA, USA. He assumed his new duties on 1 November 1994. Dr. Taylor was currently President and Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Horticultural Society and Director of The Chicago Botanic Gar- den. Born in Alberta, Canada, Dr. Taylor received a BS in Biology from Sir George Williams University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Prior to his appointment in Chicago in 1985, he was Director of the Botanical Garden and Professor of Botany at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From 1965 to 1968 he was Chief of the Taxonomy and Economic Botany Section for Canada Agriculture in Ottawa, Ontario. Dr. Taylor has published extensively on plant taxonomy and horticulture and was co-author with James A. Calder of the Flora of the Queen Charlotte Islands (1968). (BEN # 81 13-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ ECOTOURISM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA From: Andy MacKinnon From the latest edition of "Super, Natural Islands" from the B.C. Tourism Association: Saturna Island (things to do) "Plan a picnic and a hike up Mount Warburton Pike to see the feral goats on the ecological reserve at the top." (BEN # 81 13-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ PLANT MOLECULAR SYSTEMATIST - UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS From: Alan Batten The University of Alaska Museum, the Department of Biology and Wildlife and the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks invite applications for a full-time, tenure- track position in plant evolutionary biology and systematics. The successful candidate is expected to curate the botanical collection at the UA Museum, establish an active, externally funded research program using modern methods of molecular biol- ogy, teach one course per year and participate in graduate and undergraduate training in the areas of plant systematics and collection curation. Rank: Assistant Professor Salary: Up to $40,000 (9-month basis) Qualifications: Ph.D. or equivalent in Biology or closely re- lated field. Museum curatorial, postdoctoral, and university teaching experience or demonstrated potential for university teaching experience preferred. Resources available: The successful applicant will be provided with research space and start-up in the Institute of Arctic Biology, access to the recently acquired automated DNA sequen- cer, and a curatorial assistant. The herbarium has over 160,000 Alaska and holarctic specimens and is a regional resource center for floristic and biogeographic studies. Position available: Fall 1995. To apply: Send curriculum vitae, statement of research and teaching interests, copies of reprints, and have at least three letters of reference sent to: Dr. Gerald F. Shields (907) 474- 7656, Molecular Plant Systematist Search, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7000 Closing date: December 15, 1994 (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ BRYONIA ALBA CONFIRMED IN WASHINGTON [RE: BEN # 79] From: Adolf Ceska As a result of Terry Taylor's note on Bryonia alba in the Lewis & Clark State Park in Walla Walla, Washington, I received several specimens collected by Nancy Berlier of the Walla Walla Ranger District office. The plant is indeed Bryonia alba L. - Cucurbitaceae. In her accompanying letter Nancy Berlier wrote: "In talking to the caretaker he said that Walt Gary of the Extension Office had sent a specimen to WSU for identification several years ago. He could not remember the common or scien- tific name, but did say he recalled the family name as Cucurbitaceae..." "In wandering through the northside of the park, we found the habitat to be very overgrown with vines and shrubs amongst the conifers and cottonwoods. ... This vine grows from the ground up each spring to many feet into shrubs, hardwoods and conifers by fall. The caretaker said it dies back in the fall as soon as the weather cools off to 45 degrees F or so (rather than freezing)... " Two species of Bryonia - B. dioica L. and B. alba Jacq. - are listed in Kartesz 1994 "A Synonymized list of the vascular flora of the United States ..." (2nd Edition). Both are introduced from Europe. Distinguishing characters: Bryonia alba: Plants monoecious; calyx as long as corolla; stigmas glabrous; ripe fruits black. Bryonia dioica: Plants dioecious; calyx about 1/2 of corolla; stigmas with short hairs; ripe fruits red. Lit.: Jeffrey, C. 1969. A review of the genus Bryonia L. (Cucurbitaceae). Kew Bulletin 23: 441-461. P.S. The Cucurbitaceae Newsletter is published twice a year by The Cucurbit Network, P.O.Box 560494, Miami, Florida 33256. Subscription is US$10/year. (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ TWO CASES OF MUSHROOM POISONING IN VANCOUVER From: Vancouver Sun, November 16, 1994, p. A3 Two unrelated cases of kidney failure were reported in Vancouver and attributed to ingestion of Amanita smithiana, mistaken for pine mushroom - matsutake (Armillaria ponderosa = Tricholoma magnevelare). Both victims were gourmet mushroom pickers. (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ ERIOPHORUM VIRGINICUM (CYPERACEAE) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA From : Terry Taylor c/o On August 25, 1994 I collected Eriophorum virginicum L. from the northeastern part of Burns Bog, not far from River Road. The collection came from a field-like area containing several thousand heads. I first collected it on Aug. 16, 1992 from the western part of the bog, and I put this collection in UBC. The plants are scattered sporadically in this area, but are still readily apparent, as the brownish heads are easily seen for some distance. Don de Mille, who is very knowledgeable about Burns Bog believes they were probably introduced with cranberries (Oxycoccus macrocarpus) from the east, as cranberry farms are located along the north edge of the bog. I have not found E. virginicum in the central, undisturbed part of Burns Bog, or in the southern part. Oxycoccus macrocarpus is a common exotic in the bog. Frank Lomer collected E. virginicum previously in south Richmond. On August 25 I also collected moss Campylopus intro- flexus (Hedw.) Brid., probably also introduced from the eastern US. It formed large, beautiful populations. Wilf Schofield believes it may be the first report of this moss for Canada. (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ CATALOG OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN LIBRARY ONLINE From: Peter Scott telnet LIBRISC.NYBG.ORG (or telnet 192.77.202.200) login: library (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ NEW BOOK: WHY CATS PAINT: A THEORY OF FELINE AESTHETICS Busch, H. & B. Silver. 1994. Why cats paint: A theory of feline aesthetics. 10 Speed Press Berkeley, CA 96 p. ISBN 0-89815-612-2 [paperback] US$ 14.95 The publishers of David Arora's Mushrooms demystified - 10 Speed Press - came with another obvious bestseller. "In this lavishly illustrated and thoroughly researched book, Heather Busch and Burton Silver outline the many different aspects of feline creativity and offer a detailed examination of representative works from the best-known cat artists around the world." (BEN # 82 29-November-1994) ------------------------------------------ PLANT SYSTEMATIST - CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY From: Mike Gleason The Department of Biological Sciences is seeking to hire a tenure-track biologist at the level of assistant/associate professor to teach and conduct research in botany and genetics. Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will share responsibilities for teaching general botany, plant taxonomy, genetics, evolution, and general biology, and may be asked to teach other courses in her/his specialty area. Additionally, the successful candidate will curate a teaching herbarium, advise biology undergraduates, and serve on Departmental and University committees. The successful candidate will also be expected to engage in scholarly activity and participate in the Department's Masters degree program. Qualifications: Ph.D., by start date, in a related biological field is required. Applicants must have experience in teaching; and research experience in molecular aspects of systematics, phylogeny, or evolution. Preference will be given to candidates with specialization in areas complementary to the needs of the Department. Starting Date: 15 September 1995. This position is contingent on University funding. To Apply: Send a cover letter describing qualifications and experience in teaching and research, a statement of teaching philosophy and research interests, curriculum vitae, (unoffi- cial) college transcripts, and the names, addresses, and the telephone numbers of three references to: Dr. Michael L. Gleason, Chair, Plant Systematist Hiring Committee, Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, El- lensburg, WA 98926-7537. Screening will begin on 6 January 1995 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, a city of about 13,000. A two hour drive from Seattle, Ellensburg is located on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains in Kittitas Valley and offers a fine living environment. CWU is a comprehen- sive state university which serves approximately 7,000 students by offering undergraduate and graduate degrees through the colleges of Letters, Arts and Sciences; Professional Studies; and Business and Economics. (BEN # 83 6-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ BRYONIA ALBA - CORRECTION From: Adolf Ceska I released the last BEN one day too soon. I was still searching for more information on the distribution of Bryonia alba in North America after BEN was sent out, and I contacted (through e-mail) several Cucurbitaceae experts and Dr. John T. Kartesz, author of the "Synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States ... etc." Many of you still did not even have BEN # 82 in your mail box when I got a phone call from Dr. Kartesz. He told me that he had records of Bryonia alba from Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. He also told me that I should read a paper on Bryonia alba published in Madrono 1993. I did, and I was shocked. To speak about the "confirmation" of the occurrence of Bryonia alba as I did in BEN # 82, was slightly silly. The article by Laferriere et al. (1993) in Madrono lists about 18 localities of the plant from Idaho and Washington, including the 1985 collection of Bryonia alba from Lewis and Clark State Park in Walla Walla Co. The earliest collection cited by the authors was one from 1972 from near Turner, Columbia Co., Washington State. One of the authors, Jodi L. Engle, wrote an M.Sc. Thesis on "The spread and effect of the vine Bryonia alba in Whitman County, Washington" in 1988 (Department of Botany, Washington State University, Pullman). The article gives a very good description of the plant, and a key to the identification of the genus Bryonia within the Cucurbitaceae family. I apologize to BEN readers for this oversight. Lit.: Laferriere, J.F., J.D. Mastrogiuseppe, J.L. Engle, & R. R. Old. 1993. Noteworthy Collections: - Idaho, Montana and Washington - Bryonia alba L. (Cucurbitaceae). Madrono 40: 180-181. (BEN # 83 6-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ FIRE DESTROYS LABS AND FACILITIES AT LAS CRUCES, COSTA RICA From: Carol Mozell via CONSLINK On November 23, a fire razed the central buildings of the Las Cruces Biological Station in San Vito, Costa Rica, site of the Robert and Catherine Wilson Botanical Garden. The fire, which began around 7:00 p.m. in a downstairs apartment, swept through the Stanley Smith Science Building and the adjacent laboratory. Lost are the living quarters for researchers, students and natural history visitors and the kitchen, dining hall, and library. At the time of the fire three Costa Rican students were staying in the facility. However, station director Luis Diego Gomez said that no one was injured. In addition, Gomez reports that the garden's extensive plant collections, one of the richest in Central America, were not affected. Las Cruces is owned and operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies, a non-profit consortium of 50 universities and research institutions. Charles Schnell, the head of OTS in Costa Rica, estimates the loss to be approximately $500,000, of which insurance will cover only a fraction of the replacement value. Schnell reports that the station's operations will continue and that commitments will be met. "Living quarters for researchers, students, and guests are being improvised in the former home of Robert and Catherine Wilson," said Schnell. "We expect Las Cruces to continue as a major education and research site and as an important locale for birders and natural history visitors, though temporarily with fewer amenities and services." OTS Executive Director Donald Stone has issued an urgent appeal for emergency funds to sustain the Garden's operations. Stone notes, "The potential loss of the station as an important center for research impacting La Amistad National Park, one of the largest parks in Central America, and for graduate training in conservation biology and the wise use of natural resources is devastating." Contributions should be sent to OTS/Save the Garden Fund, Duke University, Box 90630, Durham, NC 27708-0630. (BEN # 83 6-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ FLORA FOR FAUNA PROJECT From: Dr. Pamela Munn via B-Mail (Bee Newsletter) A nationwide campaign to encourage gardeners to grow trees, shrubs and flowers which are food sources for Britain's wildlife was launched recently at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. This move in nature conservation commenced with thousands of 'Flora for fauna' labels, placards, posters and booklets being distributed to selected garden centres throughout Britain. Plans are already under way for this British project to be extended to France and Germany, as after 1 January it will run parallel with European Conservation Year - ENCY 95. It is being supported by some of the most prestigious conservation and scientific or- ganizations in Britain, as well as the Horticultural Trades Association. The first stage of 'Flora for fauna' is providing information about what plants are hospitable for wildlife. Already 25,000 plant labels covering 25 species have been attached to plants from the north of Scotland to south Cornwall as part of a six- month pilot scheme. The information has been extracted from the introductory 'Flora for fauna' database which highlights the preferred plants for wildlife in British gardens. It details what birds, butterflies, frogs, bats and other forms of wildlife eat; what eats them; what is needed for nests and homes; what special plants relate to different forms of wildlife; and which cultivars of a species still have a good nectar and pollen yields. The next stage is further development of the database, which will be launched in a comprehensive version in December 1995. Bees have a good mention in the introductory publicity, and key plants that are useful nectar and pollen sources will be high- lighted in the database. Details of the 'Flora for fauna' database disk and accompanying booklet are available from: The Duchess of Hamilton, c/o The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1V 0LQ, UK. Orders: phone (+44) 171-351-4266, fax 171-352-5655, e.mail john@linnean.demon.co.uk (BEN # 83 6-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ BOTANY BC 1994 - FINALLY ON BEN From : Ted Lea I finally got around to completing the writeup on Botany BC for BEN. ... Sorry this took so long. BOTANY BC took place June 20 to June 25, 1994 in the Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) and was one of the finest meetings ever, comparable to the earlier Bamfield meeting of 1989. The organizing committee of Ros Pojar, Jim Pojar, Trudy Chatwin and Evelyn Hamilton should be congratulated for a well organized and excellent program of both botanical and non-botanical activities Highlights included: A short morning session of informative talks by Jim Pojar, Leslie Goertzen, Alvin Yanchuk, and Mike Hawkes, followed by field tours of tidal wetlands, coastal forests and sand dunes. The expertise of Jim Pojar, Hans Roemer, Wilf Schofield and many others was greatly utilized by participants. We saw some inter- esting sand dune plants: beach peavine (Lathyrus littoralis), beach lupine (Lupinus littoralis), seashore bluegrass (Poa douglasii var. macrantha) and beach glehnia (Glehnia littoralis). An evening salmon feast in the sun at Tlell, was followed by Woodhenge on the beach, celebrating summer solstice. The site was blessed by an eagle feather which assured no rain for the remaining days. This was also the scene for a variety of bizarre botanical rituals. Some botanists also took the oppor- tunity to visit the famed Golden Spruce. The following day consisted of field tours visiting an amazing array of bogs, including the blanket bogs with their sundew, yellow waterlily, and natural bonsai of hemlock and yellow- cedar, as well walks up Tow Hill and to the blow hole. That evening incredible Hors d'oeuvres in Masset were followed by a Haida feast in Old Masset (Haida) where botanical and piscerian products were consumed with great relish. This was followed by native dancing, including a male only dance for botanical guests. A highlight of the whole tour was the boat trip through Skidegate Inlet to the west coast aboard the Anvil Cove, hosted by Barbara and Keith Rowsell. Meals were again to high standard- s, and camping in the forest was a wonderful experience without the usual Queen Charlotte rain. Early morning sessions on marine plants by Mike Hawkes led to the search for the elusive Sea Palm (never found). Tidal pools teamed with interesting sea life such as, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, starfish, many species of marine algae and much, much more. Unfortunately, the helicopter trip to the alpine limestone areas and endemics, was cancelled due to low cloud, however, hearty souls hiked as close as they could get and were treated by seeing filmy fern, Mecodium wrightii and the Queen Charlotte endemics: Newcombe's butterweed (Senecio newcombei), Queen Charlotte butterweed (S. moresbiensis), curly-hair moss-heather (Cassiope lycopodioides ssp. crista-pilosa), Queen Charlotte violet (Viola biflora subsp. carlotae), Calder's lovage (Ligus- ticum calderi) and Taylor's saxifrage (Saxifraga taylori). Many people took the boat tour to Gudal Bay, and Marble Island to see the Horned Puffin nesting sites and the speedy Peregrine Falcon. No whales were seen, assuring a return to the Misty Isles in the future. The new book Plants of Coastal British Columbia was put to many uses during the field sessions. Many keen botanist were busily seen keying out plants, while others were seen using it as a fine seat cushion or sun block. For those who missed this year's BOTANY B.C., many of the magi- cal moments were recorded by John Parminter on his camcorder and will be shown at next year's 10th annual meeting which will be held in the Chilcotin area. (BEN # 84 9-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ CONSERVATION OF NORTH AMERICAN FUNGI From: Amy Rossman (originally posted on the Biological Conservation News- letter No. 138 - distributed by CONSLINK@SIVM.SI.EDU) The number of fungal species estimated to exist on earth is approximately 1.5 million, yet little is known about the rela- tive abundance of these species, or if any are endangered. Nevertheless, many species of fungi appear to be declining in Europe and in the Netherlands. Eef Arnolds points to nitrate deposition as being responsible for the decline of many mycor- rhizal species, which are necessary for the health of their tree hosts. Some mycologists are also concerned about the effects of mushroom harvest on fungal populations. The decline of these fungi could directly affect the health of the forest, and Europeans are taking steps to safeguard populations of threatened fungal species by creating "red lists," which regu- late the collection of selected species. There are no "red lists" for fungi in North America, but recent reports indicate that many fungi may be endangered in the Pacific Northwest due to habitat loss. The Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT), commissioned by President Clinton to examine forestry practices in the Pacific Northwest, lists 527 fungal species which are closely associated with late successional forest ecosystems. Of these, 80 are endemic, and destruction of their habitat could result in their extinction. One example is Oxyporus nobilissimus, which is a polypore restricted to old growth Abies; it is known from only 12 loca- tions. A less dramatic but equally notable example is Tuber rufum, a truffle which has a beneficial association with the roots of oak. Western oak habitat is being lost to agricultural and residential development, and as the oak goes, so goes the truffle. The FEMAT report calls for inventory and monitoring of western oak habitat. The inclusion of fungi in federal ecosystem assessments is a landmark in the history of mycology and conservation. Management agencies are starting to acknowledge that good stewardship includes consideration of all species, and that microbes such as fungi occupy important ecosystem niches and require protection. The FEMAT report can be obtained by calling (503) 326-2877. (BEN # 84 9-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ NITROGEN, ENVIRONMENT, AND PEOPLE: AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE From: Craig MacConnell February 23 & 24, 1995 Everett, WA A conference focusing on nitrogen in our environment: What role does it play ? What are the health concerns ? How do we manage it successfully ? Nitrogen, Environment, and People is a two-day conference focus- ing on the effects and management of nitrogen in our environ- ment. The conference is intended to provide a comprehensive view of nitrogen to gain a better and broader understanding of its effect on our natural resources - particularly water. Conference topics will include the sources and movement of nitrogen in our environment, potential health concerns, and successful management tools for reducing nitrate contamination. The goal: to provide the tools and understanding needed to help achieve sustainability of our natural resources. The conference will provide valuable information to anyone dealing with resource sustainability issues - health officers, land use planners, public policy makers, agricultural commodity groups, environmental organizations, Tribes, local governments, conservation districts, and agriculture and water quality professionals. Those who see nitrogen as a pollutant and those who see it as a benefit will want to attend this conference to learn more. The conference is designed with three concurrent sessions under the broad categories of: Big Picture Health Management Physical Processes The conference has scheduled 74 speakers on a wide range of topics. Registration is $80 before January 10, 1995. Conference registration includes: Continental breakfast, refreshments, and lunch both days plus all conference proceedings (including abstracts). For a complete electronic version of the conference brochure and registration form send an e-mail request to: Craig MacConnell Washington State University Cooperative Extension Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA (206)676-6736/Fax(206)738-2458 Internet: cbmac@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu (BEN # 84 9-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ DR. E.D. (TED) HAGMEIER DIED - DECEMBER 9, 1994 Dr. Edwin Moyer Hagmeier, known as Ted to most of us, was born on March 24, 1924 in Kitchener, Ontario. He studied at Queen's University in Kingston (B.A. 1950) and at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (M.A. in 1952 and Ph.D. in 1955). He taught at the University of New Brusnwick from 1955-1961, contributing to the herbarium there, and in 1961 he came to the University of Victoria as an Associate Professor, and taught Ecology, Biogeography and Limnology. He retired from the Univer- sity of Victoria in 1987. His major contribution was the biogeography of North American mammals. Older graduates of UVIC know him as an author of a nifty computer program for cluster analysis, and accidently, he was the first person who explained to me what "nifty" meant. His many interests included zoology, botany, and fishing. He was a warm and reliable friend to all UVIC biology students. (BEN # 85 15-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ BOTANIST MAYOR OF MONTREAL From: R.T. Ogilvie Pierre Bourque was elected Mayor of Montreal in the November civic election. Pierre Bourque was director of the Montreal Botanical Garden, and had a major role with the Garden for 25 years. Bourque was a very dynamic and creative director and has been called the major successor to Marie-Victorin the original founder of the botanical garden in 1931. During his directorship there have been many innovations: the Arboretum, Japanese Garden, the Insectarium, Chinese Garden, Ericaceae Garden, Streamside Garden, and Rose Garden, and the Biodome - a museum of world ecosystems. Annual visitors to the Botanical Gardens are now more than one million. The Institute of Botany, a partnership between the University of Montreal and the Botani- cal Garden, was strengthened and new research laboratories were opened. A high quality journal of botany and horticulture was started, called "Quatre-Temps" (which is the Quebec name for Cornus canadensis). (BEN # 85 15-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ DELTA SOFTWARE MAILING LIST From: Phillip Hoover via TAXACOM A trial DELTA (DEscription Language for TAxonomy) users e-mail discussion list is being established in December of 1994 using the listserver at the University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada). The list will be of a temporary nature, running until April 1994. The purpose of this list is to allow discussion regarding the use of the DELTA system for its users and those interested in learning the use of the system. It could allow posting an- nouncements of new upgrades and additional programs for use with the DELTA system and meetings and workshops of interest to DELTA users. We are setting it up for the education of our students in a final year undergraduate course: Taxonomy and Biodiversity. To subscribe, send a message to the listserver LISTSERV@UVVM.UVIC.CA (or LISTSERV@UVVM.BITNET) with a message in the text saying: subscribe DELTA-L your name The subject line should be left blank. Questions regarding the list can be sent to the list manger Phillip Hoover (phoover@sol.uvic.ca). (BEN # 85 15-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ SOUTH PACIFIC INDIGENOUS NUTS From: "R. M. Bourke" via NEWCROPS list [The following article was written for Tropical Forest Manage- ment Update, published by the International Tropical Timber organisation and posted on the New Crops electronic forum.] Numerous indigenous tree species bear edible nuts in the South Pacific. There are over 40 nut bearing species in Papua New Guinea alone, many self-sown in lowland forest. Some of these have high quality kernels which have considerable potential for commercial development in domestic South Pacific and overseas markets. In 1989 commercial development of canarium nuts commenced in the Solomon Islands where they were marketed under the name "Solomon nuts" (Evans 1993). Canarium nut oil has also been exported for use in personal care products by the UK based Body Shop Interna- tional. Since then, interest in these nut species has increased rapidly and small industries have also been established in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. South Pacific Indigenous Nuts Workshop This commercial development has received further impetus through a recent workshop held in October in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. The South Pacific Indigenous Nuts Workshop was attended by 55 people from the South Pacific countries of Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and West- ern Samoa, as well as from non-island countries (Australia, Philippines, UK and USA). Participants came from a wide range of backgrounds, with people involved in commercial development of these nuts well represented. Over a five day period, 22 papers were presented; and working groups on production, processing and marketing nuts met on three occasions. Participants saw a demonstration of a prototype mechanical commercial nut cracker developed by a Ni-Vanuatu engineer at the University of Hawaii; they visited local vil- lages where nuts were growing; and they also sampled locally produced nuts at Mr. Charles Long Wah's 'Kava Store'. The workshop was sponsored by the US Agency for International Development, Australian International Development Assistance Bureau, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Re- search and the Institute for Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture at the University of the South Pacific Apia campus. A workshop proceedings will be published by ACIAR. Nut species Most interest to date has been on canarium species. Pili nut (Canarium ovatum [Burseraceae]) is sold in the Philippines. Canarium vulgare nuts are processed and sold locally in Suluwesi, Ambon and other islands in East Indonesia. Canarium indicum is the most important species in the Melanesian countries of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Its natural distribution also includes eastern Indonesia. Canarium occurs as self-sown forest trees and planted or protected trees in woody regrowth and village areas. A number of Terminalia species [Combretaceae] bear high quality nuts. Terminalia catappa is the very widely distributed sea almond. This grows on beaches and nearby areas. As well as the South Pacific, sea almond is widely grown in South East Asia and other regions such as the West Indies. Terminalia kaernbachii produces a very high quality nut, some- what similar to the almond. Its natural distribution is confined mainly to the south side of the island of New Guinea and some other islands. It bears poorly near the ocean, but does well in inland locations from very low altitudes up to an altitude of 1100 m. Cut-nuts (Barringtonia procera, B. edulis and B. novae-hiberniae [Lecythidaceae]) are distributed from New Guinea to Fiji. Unlike canarium species and Terminalia kaernbachii, Barringtonia procera is not a forest species. It is planted in disturbed sites or in villages. B. novae-hiberniae is a forest species. The Barringtonias are quick bearing trees and produces nuts within three years of planting, They contrasts with Canarium indicum and Terminalia kaernbachii which do not bear until about seven years. The compact habit of the Barringtonias is also an advantage when they are planted with other trees. Market accept- ance of cut-nuts has been very good in Vanuatu where it is being processed and sold in Port Vila. The Polynesian chestnut (Inocarpus fagifer [Fabaceae]) is a widely distributed nut tree throughout most of the South Pacific. It has not been developed commercially in any of the island countries and market prospects are poorer than for the other species. Karuka nut (Pandanus julianettii [Pandanaceae]) grows only at high altitude locations (1800 to 2600 metres) on the island of New Guinea. It has not been developed commercially to date. However, the nut is very popular in the Papua New Guinea High- lands and is sold in large numbers during the harvesting season. If it was to be developed commercially in Papua New Guinea or in other countries, it is likely to be well accepted. Country strategies Different approaches are being pursued in the different South Pacific countries. Commercial development of indigenous nuts commenced in the Solomon Islands with exploitation of natural stands of Canarium indicum and C. harveyi. After a promising start, the industry has seen little expansion. Processing and sales are done through the Department of Agricultural and the government-run Commodities Export Marketing Authority. In Vanuatu a local businessman, Charles Long Wah, has commenced buying and processing three local nuts. These are canarium nuts (C. indicum and C. harveyi) cut-nuts (Barringtonia spp.) and sea almond (Terminalia catappa). Processed nuts are sold only in the small national capital Port Vila where demand outstrips present supply and production continues to expand from a small base. Because of the significance of the tourist industry in Vanuatu, future expansion will be targeted at the tourist market. There are three developments in Papua New Guinea, all commencing in 1994. Okari Eco-Enterprises is selling small quantities of fresh okari nuts (T. kaernbachii) through a supermarket chain in Port Moresby. On New Britain, two organisations started to buy canarium nuts (C. indicum) in 1994. One is an Australian-funded rural development project in the Kandrian and Gloucester Dis- tricts of West New Britain. The other is a local NGO, the Pacific Heritage Foundation, based near Kokopo in East New Britain. organisers in both locations were agreeably surprised at the ease with which they could buy large quantities of nuts harvested from planted and self-sown trees in local forests. Both organisations are seeking alternative non-timber forest products to generate income for local villagers. Processing and sale will commence in early 1995. Sales will be targeted at the domestic Papua New Guinea market. Demand is expected to be good because of the relatively large urban population (500,000) and the proportion of PNG population who live in the highlands where lowland nuts cannot be grown. There has been no development of indigenous nuts in Fiji to date but following the South Pacific Indigenous Nuts Workshop, inter- est is focussed on two species. These are cut-nut (Barringtonia spp.) and candle nut (Aleurites moluccana [Euphorbiaceae]). The future Processing and sale of South Pacific indigenous nut species is a very new industry and only very small quantities are currently being produced for local sales. However, some of the nuts are high quality ones and have appeal outside the islands. Prospects for further rapid expansion are good for sales locally, to tourists and eventually as export crops. Labour inputs are low compared with annual horticultural crops. The nuts have a rela- tively high value and can absorb high freight costs. They offer the prospect of providing sustainable incomes to villagers in remote locations. Lit.: Evans, B. 1993. Canarium nuts--a new cash crop for the Solomon Islands. Tropical Forest Management Update 3(2):7,19. R. Michael Bourke, Visiting Fellow, Department of Human Geog- raphy, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA E-mail: rmbourke@coombs.anu.edu.au - Fax: 61-6-2494896 [Pili nuts - Canarium ovatum - are available in Vancouver in De Azur Grocery, 18-1472 Commercial Drive.] (BEN # 85 15-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ NEW "LIVING FOSSIL" FIND IN AUSTRALIA From: Ken Hill originally on TAXACOM A small stand of trees that are considered to represent a third living genus of Araucariaceae was discovered by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife officers in late 1994. This, now known as the "Wollemi Pine", occurs in a deep, very wet and very sheltered gorge in the Wollemi National Park, in a rugged moun- tainous area within 200 km north-west of Sydney in eastern Australia. With only about 20 adult trees in a single stand, it is one of the rarest trees in Australia. Of the other extant Araucariaceae, it appears closest to Agathis, but it has many features in common with Cretaceous and early Tertiary fossil groups such as Araucarioides. Staff of the Royal Botanic Gar- dens, Sydney, in conjunction with National Parks officers plan to describe and name the new genus and species in 1995 in the journal "Telopea". Studies of DNA and detailed morphology are also in progress at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, together with investigation of vegetative and tissue culture propagation. It is, however, unlikely that plants will become available in less than two years. [See the good article on it in the Thursday, 15 Dec. New York Times. Only 39 individuals (23 adults, some are large trees). Illustrations show trunk, distichous "fernlike" foliage, and cone.] Another recent exciting news was that Gilbert's Potoroo (Potorous gilberti) was rediscovered in Western Australia. A zoology Ph.D. student trapped one at Two Peoples Bay on WA's south coast. They haven't been seen for over 100 years and were thought long extinct. Two Peoples Bay is where the Noisy Scrub- bird was rediscovered in the 1960s again after being thought extinct. Gilbert's Potoroo is a relative of the Long-Nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) which still exists in reasonable numbers in eastern Australia. (Potoroos are small kangaroo-like marsupials). Andrew Taylor (BEN # 86 28-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ INVITATION TO CARNIVOROUS PLANT LISTSERV From: dngess01@vlsi.ct.louisville.edu (Don) Anyone reading this is invited to join the carnivorous plant listserve. To join, send the message: sub cp First_name Last_name Send this to the address: listserv@opus.hpl.hp.com By the way, south-west Australia has the largest concentration of Drosera species in the world. Some people in our group are working on in-vitro cultivation of Drosera. Anyone with ex- perience in this area is invited to join our group. There is also a society, the International Carnivorous Plant Society. We are always looking for people to write articles for the quar- terly bulletin and to supply seeds (especially Nepenthes and Heliamphora) to our seed exchange. If anyone wants to join the International Carnivorous Plant Society, the dues are $15 (U.S. dollars) per year for those living in the USA or Canada; and $20 per year for others. Send this to: International Carnivorous Plant Society Fullerton Arboretum California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, CA 92634 USA To supply extra carnivorous plant seed to our seed exchange, the address is: Gordon Snelling 300 West Carter Dr. Glendora, CA 91740-5915 USA (BEN # 86 28-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ NEW MAILING LIST ON BIOLOGICAL CONTROL From: Dan Freidus via entomo-l@uoguelph.ca A new list on Biological Control have been set recently. It is running from a listserver in Brazil, and even so the presenta- tion message is in portuguese, I don't believe will exclude messages written in English or Spanish. Subscription to this list can be done by sending the message SUBSCRIBE BIOCONTROL-L Your_First_name Your_Last_name to listserv@ftpt.br The owner of the list is Sidnei de Souza or Dr. Luiz Alexandre Nogueira de Sa' at EMBRAPA/CNPMA C.P. 69 13.820-000 - JAGUARIUNA - SP (BEN # 86 28-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ NATIVE WILDFLOWERS OF CALIFORNIA From: Brother Eric Vogel I am in the process of producing a CD-ROM containing 2,000 pictures of 665 species of native wildflowers of California. This is from a collection of 20,000 slides collected by Brother Alfred Brousseau over his lifetime. It takes the form of super- card stacks, a stack for each alphabetical (latin name) group of flowers. The material has been sent out to a commercial disk producer and I am in the process of checking the "one off" CD before having multiple disks stamped out. You need a Macintosh with a minimum of 4 MB and 256 color capability. I have available a sample (one card, with one flower) that I could e-mail you. It is contained in a self extracting file and since I use Eudora as an internet interface, Eudora "binhexs" everything it sends out. If you are using Eudora, it will auto- matically "binhex" it back to the original form, otherwise you need something like the program BINHEX4. The file that results is a .sea file which self expands upon clicking, yielding a standalone super card stack which is viewed by double-clicking. The file is about 650K hence takes some time unless you are directly connected to internet. I will gladly send it to you upon request. The CD-ROM should be available early January. The CD results from a project whose purpose is to distribute the work of Brother Alfred, and is non-profit, hence I am asking for a $35.00 donation for the CD. Brother Eric Vogel Saint Mary's College POB 5150, Moraga, Ca. 94575 (510)-631-4296 Internet: evogel@stmarys-ca.edu (BEN # 86 28-December-1994) ------------------------------------------ AQUATIC PLANT INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (APIRS) From: Vic Ramey [For BEN, and thanks very much for thinking of us:] For almost 15 years, the Center for Aquatic Plants (IFAS, University of Florida) has been building a computerized library and database about freshwater aquatic plants: the Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System (APIRS). The APIRS database con- tains more than 40,000 articles and reports from hundreds of journals and research institutions around the world. APIRS can be searched by topics, species, authors, keywords, and any combinations thereof. Use of APIRS is free of charge to anyone, in exchange for contributions of articles, reports and other items to the database. As of now the APIRS database is not on-line. We are working toward that end and expect to make an announcement within the year. APIRS also produces the newsletter AQUAPHYTE, a semi-technical 16-pager which informs of meetings, research projects and other topics of interest to more than 5,000 researchers, institutions and government personnel in more than 80 countries. It is free of charge for the asking. In addition, the APIRS office produces various products having to do with aquatic plants including a full-color 2' X 3' poster and copyright-free line drawings for educational and research purposes. APIRS also maintains an educational videotape production unit. We have produced about 30 programs on various aspects of aquatic ecosystem functioning and management. Some videos are more for aquatics manager training, and some are more for public educa- tion purposes (such as lakeside homeowners associations). Among the videos are seven tapes which comprise the aquatic plant identification series. In ordinary (non-botanical) lan- guage, 115 plants are treated in 2-minute identification seg- ments. These, and all of our videotape programs, are available for sale or for borrowing. For more information about APIRS, the database, newsletter, drawings and videotapes, contact Victor Ramey or Karen Brown at: Information Office, Center for Aquatic Plants, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71 ST, Gainesville, FL 32653. Voice: 904/392- 1799 Fax: 904/392-3462 E-mail: varamey@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu (BEN # 87 5-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ PACIFIC MADRONE (ARBUTUS MENZIESII) SYMPOSIUM - CALL FOR PAPERS From: Paul West via bionet.plants Unravelling the Mystery of Pacific Madrone Why is pacific madrone declining around Seattle? Can it be resurrected in the urban landscape? A day-long symposium en- titled "The Decline of Pacific Madrone: current theories and research directions" will be held Friday, April 28th, 1995 at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture. The Symposium is intended to galvanize new research on the topic of madrones (Arbutus menziesii). Topics to be addressed include: natural ecology, pathology, soil and hydrologic factors, landscape performance, and propagation. For more information, contact Paul West at the Seattle Depart- ment of Parks and Recreation at phone 206-684- 4122, fax 206- 684-4126, or e-mail pwest@eskimo.com. Valerie Cholvin of Save Magnolia's Madrones can be contacted at 206-283-8643 or vpchol@aol.com. Those interested in presenting a topic with a paper for publica- tion in symposium proceedings should contact Dr. Clem Hamilton at the Center for Urban Horticulture at 206-543-8616, fax 206- 685-2692, or e-mail cwh@u.washington.edu by March 15, 1995. (BEN # 87 5-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ CHEMICAL ECOLOGY DISCUSSION LIST From: Clecio Fernando Klitzke via ECOLOG-L To attend people interested in CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, we created CHEMECOL, a discussion list in this area. To subscribe this list send a mail to listserv@iqm.unicamp.br with the message: subscribe chemecol your name After this any mail to CHEMECOL list should be sent to chemecol@iqm.unicamp.br Thanks, Clecio Fernando Klitzke chemecol list owner clecio@iqm.unicamp.br (BEN # 87 5-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ KOELTZ SCIENTIFIC BOOKS ON INTERNET From: "Pamela E. Burns-Balogh" Koeltz Scientific Books is now on the internet telnet to prairienet.org sign in as "visitor" (no apostrophes) at command prompt type "go koeltz" (no apostrophes) (BEN # 87 5-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ SENIOR WATERSHED ECOLOGIST FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE, WA From: Jim Erckmann [abbrev.] Supervise and lead biology professionals to plan and implement programs in forest and watershed ecology for City of Seattle Water Department. Develop cooperative research programs and environmental plans with universities, Indian tribes, and agencies. Work with multidisciplinary staff to design timber sales and create long-term programs to protect, rehabilitate, and restore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Requires a B.S. in natural sciences plus 5 years of experience in a related field involving developing, conducting, and super- vising field monitoring, research, and habitat management in wildlife biology, fisheries, or ecology. Related M.S. or Ph.D. involving research is preferred and may substitute for 3 years of experience. Salary $3,787/month. Send your resume by January 24, 1995, to S. Bergstrand, Seattle Personnel Dept., 1292 Dexter Horton Building, Seattle, WA, U.S.A., 98104-1793. AA/EOE. (BEN # 88 13-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ THE VENUS FLYTRAP TRADE IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA From: TRAFFIC Bulletin 13(2): 68-72. (Article by Jane C. MacKnight & Vonda Frantz - abbrev.) The Venus Flytrap is a sole representative of the genus Dionaea (its Latin name is D. muscipula Ellis), a member of the Droseraceae family which contains Sundew (Drosera - about 80 spp.), Waterwheel (Aldrovanda - 1 sp.), and Portuguese Sundew (Drosophyllum - 1 sp.). Dionaea muscipula is endemic to a 320-km strip of coastal plain in southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina where the sandy-peaty, acidic, low-nutrient soils remain wet. Populations decline rapidly when overgrown by shrubs and taller plants. Periodic fires are characteristic of Venus Flytrap habitat. Unless other management techniques are employed, drainage or suppression of fires will cause extirpation of the habitat and Venus Flytrap populations. The Venus Flytrap is traded as a novelty plant in North America, Europe and Asia. In Germany, the plants are also used in a medicine, Carnivora, which is sold as a claimed remedy for cancer and AIDS (Ref.: Walker, M. 1991. The Carnivora cure for cancer, AIDS, and other pathologies. - Townsend Newsletter for Doctors. Stamford, CT, June). The Venus Flytrap is propagated in both the USA and Europe. Methods of propagation - by division, tissue culture, leaf-base culture, from leaf blades or by seeds - are relatively easy and require between one and three years for the plants to reach a marketable size. No commercial propagation or trade in Venus Flytrap was iden- tified in South Carolina. Nine nurseries in North Carolina found to trade in Venus Flytrap were visited or interviewed by telephone. Only one nursery was found to conduct true artificial propagation, while others either propagate by division and continually replenish stock with wild plants or rely entirely on wild-collected plants. Both South and North Carolina have taken measures to protect the species. The laws prohibit collection of Venus Flytrap from public lands, or from private lands without the permission of the landowner. The listing of the Venus Flytrap in CITES Appen- dix II became effective on 11 June 1992 and requires documenta- tion for all international exports and re-exports. All wild- collected plants destined for export require export permits and artificially-propagated plants require a certificate of artifi- cial propagation. Small-scale collecting may occur in South Carolina, but it is not believed to be a serious problem. Illegal collection of wild plants in North Carolina is frequent, widespread and large- scale. The volume of Venus Flytraps collected annually in North Carolina may be as high as several hundred thousand plants. When the habitat of Venus Flytrap was abundant, the impact of collec- tion was probably negligible. But the effects of development - bulldozing and paving of habitat, drainage of large tracks for timber extraction, and fire suppression - have diminished the amount of habitat, and the impact of collection is magnified. The decrease in collecting sites causes each remaining site to be more heavily collected. Recommendations. The long-term preservation of the Venus Flytrap will require a series of measures: 1) Reduce and control collection of wild plants. 2) Enforce state regulations and CITES. 3) Establish more protected areas. (BEN # 88 13-January-1995) ------------------------------------------ PLENTERUNG, AN AGE-OLD PARADIGM FOR SUSTAINABILITY From: Dr. Rudolf W. Becking, Research Consultant, 1415 Virginia Way, Arcata, CA 95521-6855. Phone/FAX: (707) 822-1649 [Copyright R.W. Becking. Released with permission of the author to the users of BEN on Internet. For any questions, additional information or potential applications of Plenterung contact the author directly.] The earliest protocols regulating harvest of trees date from 1200-1300 A.D. in Central Europe. These regulations dictated tree harvest at specific locations in the communal forests, specified quantities or volumes to be removed and the harvest times under supervision of an elected official, the forester! The original harvest method was selective or individual tree harvest, named Plenterung. In medieval times, these communal forests played a vital role in local rural economies by supply- ing fuel wood that was used daily for cooking meals, heating homes, and for the manufacturing and processing of forest products and foods. The population explosion caused the emer- gence of commerce, the industrial revolution and urbanization around 1600. During 1600--1800, Central Europe was ravaged by religious and feudal wars resulting in concentrating political powers in large industrial cities, with a capitalistic economic control over the lands and their natural resources. Forest resources were rapidly depleted and logging activities encroached deep into the valleys and mountains. All the European forests would have disappeared, except the last remnant forests were saved by the discovery of new energy sources like coal, oil, gas, and electricity to fuel the industrial plants. The remaining heavily degraded forest, the so-called "Mittelwald", was an open forest dominated by a few overstory trees and a dense coppice of repeatedly-cut and resprouting hardwoods to be used as a fuel wood. The conifers, lacking sprouting ability, mostly disappeared. The age-old conservative Plenterung system was effectively destroyed. In the 1870's, the new science of forestry was born in Germany and France, primarily to remedy these degraded forest wastelands for economic reasons. The initial techniques were to remove the entire Mittelwald and start replanting the cleared areas with conifers, notably Norway spruce (Picea abies), white fir (Abies alba), and Scots pine (Pinus silvestris). Thus, even-aged forest management was born, and with it silviculture, mensuration, forest economics, forest engineering and forest genetics. Im- provements were made in thinning and harvesting schedules, soil amendments, insect and pest controls, and trees were projected as unsawn planks with $ returns! In spite of vigorous political control efforts, Plenterung survived in isolated mountainous communities of the Alps. During the 20th century with an unprecedented world population explosion, the long-term global effects of the capitalistic even-aged forest management system created international con- cerns and controls about global warming, preserving global biodiversity and gene pools, threatened or endangered species, clearcutting tropical and temperate rainforests, and loss of top-soil and soil fertility by erosion and monocultures. Plenterung emerges today as an alternative method to even-aged forest management. Its science was perfected by Adolphe Gurnaud, Henri Biolley and others around 1875, but its acceptance and publication was severely limited. Plenterung is the only proven silvicultural system regarding the forest as an ecosystem in which all its components closely interact with the site, soil and climate. Plenterung is also the unique forest management system to maintain constantly a dynamic all-aged stand struc- ture, volume and area controls. Plenterung relies heavily upon local natural regeneration, intensive 100% inventories to monitor stand growth in all size (age) classes every 5-7 years, and harvesting trees only upon complete inventories to control all its stand variables. Individual trees are selected for harvest to improve spacing, growth, stand composition, diversity in age and species, and the maintenance of the top canopy in- fluence. Plenterung requires a permanent intensive road net, with major haul roads and skid roads adapted to directional tree felling, no landings, and no heavy equipment entry into the stands. All the stand treatments are carried out simultaneously every 5-7 years within the same permanent compartment. Before any stand treatment, 100% inventories monitor the effects of past treatments and adjust to maintain constancy of stand struc- ture, volume and growth. Only the volume that can be grown within the harvest intervals may be removed. Stand treatment consists of maintaining a constant stand structure curve cover- ing the entire range of 2-inch DBH-classes. Harvesting is done on those trees in excess of the desired stand structure over the entire DBH range. Stand growth is precisely calculated using repeated inventories including stand ingrowth and mortality. Using dual inventories, stand growth can account precisely for intermediate windstorm or insect losses on a tree-by-tree basis! Plenterung will automatically adjust to long-term cumulative impacts and stand changes with its built-in most intensive monitoring of stand performance and the significant stand parameters. One of the unique features of Plenterung is that time is no factor at all in the decision-making or stand invest- ment. Economically it has proven to be a very stable and secure investment with steady periodic returns while maintaining full sustainability! This implies the total abandonment of even-aged concepts including clearcutting. Plenterung strives for maintaining natural processes on a com- partment basis and, by extrapolation over all the compartments, on a landscape basis. Another incalculable advantage is that niches and natural habitats within the managed compartment will be rotated among gaps and preserved within the same unit area. This preserves natural biodiversity and gene pools. Applications of Plenterung within the US have been hampered because current stand conditions in a severely depleted forest would require a lengthy period of restoration and investment. Long time is needed to attain a suitable and profitable stand structure of a mature late seral forest to implement and manage for a dynamic and constant multi-storied and all-species/all- aged stand structure. The current controversies over policies implementing the preservation of the endangered/threatened species like the Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet and Coho Salmon, coupled with the re-enactments of the Clear Air and Clean Water Acts, may provide a strong impetus to apply and practice Plen- terung on a broad commercial scale, at least on public lands, within the Pacific Northwest and the Redwood Region of Califor- nia. Elsewhere, Plenterung has wide applications. The natural forest types of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains are ideally suited for Plenterung application before they are clear-cut. The Eastside forests of ponderosa pines and their mixtures in the interior of the West are naturally structured for Plenterung applications. Similarly, the mixed oak and con- ifer forests of the eastern United States, including the Smoky Mountains, have been observed to have a well defined Plenter- structure in their original state. At the present, Plenterung remains unknown to many foresters or is misunderstood. (BEN # 89 15-January-1995) ------------------------------------------