Sibbaldia - the Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Journals)
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Waiting for the Flowers : The Role of Living Collections in Taxonomic Research at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Get PDFSince the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was established in 1670 as a collection of medicinal plants, taxonomy has been at its heart. Even before the publication of Linnaeus’s Species Plantarum it was important to establish the correct identity of medicinal plants for use by the doctors of the day. Over the years the location and focus of the Garden have evolved to serve many and varied functions. Taxonomy, however, has continued to play a key role in preserving the special nature of RBGE as a ‘botanic garden’. From the earliest years exotic plants were introduced to the Garden, giving it an international flavour, and this has continued with staff today collaborating with many different gardens and botanical institutions around the world. For over 300 years living plants have been brought to the Garden, grown to maturity and described. Many of the early novelties came from North America and China, especially gymnosperms and rhododendrons. Today, much of our effort is focused on plants from areas that are botanically rich but poorly known, such as the Malesian region, and on families Begoniaceae, Gesneriaceae, Ericaceae and Zingiberaceae. The expertise and ingenuity of the horticultural staff have been essential in cultivating unknown species and bringing them into flower so that they can be scientifically described. This has been aided by an enlightened policy of including horticulturists on collecting expeditions so that their knowledge can be used to bring plants back in good health but also to better understand the natural conditions in which they grow so that the plants can be grown to perfection in Edinburgh
Obituary : Jan Frits Veldkamp (1941–2017)
Get PDFAn obituary for Jan Frits Veldkamp who passed away on 12 November 201
The Flora Malesiana Account of Grammitid Ferns (Polypodiaceae) : A Progress Report With an Illustrated Synoptic Key to Malesian Genera
Get PDFFourteen genera and approximately 373 species of grammitid ferns (formerly Grammitidaceae, now Polypodiaceae) occur in Malesia. The Flora Malesiana account of the group is 75% complete (280 species). The genera are illustrated and briefly described. Current studies involve working through species that have long been herbarium dumping grounds containing numerous undescribed species, such as Calymmodon cucullatus (Nees & Blume) C.Presl, Prosaptia contigua (G.Forst.) C.Presl, Radiogrammitis hirtella (Blume) Parris (as Grammitis hirtella) and Tomophyllum subfalcatum (Blume) Parris (as Ctenopteris subfalcata)
Diversity of Orchidaceae from Murum Dam, Belaga, Sarawak, Borneo
Get PDFMurum Dam in Sarawak is located about 70 km upstream of Bakun Dam, on the rivers Murum, Danum and Plieran, forming a reservoir over an area of 245 km2. The area consists of mainly lowland to hilly mixed dipterocarp forests, with riparian and alluvial forests along the main rivers and streams, as well as patches of mossy and heath forests. Most of these forests are logged over and some areas have been converted into oil palm plantations. A flora rescue project was carried out to collect selected plant species including orchids from the areas affected by the dam. Most epiphytic orchids were collected from partially submerged trees. Over 2,000 specimens of orchids from 80 genera and c. 276 species were collected from May 2013 to December 2014. The most abundant genus recorded is Bulbophyllum Thouars (c. 44 species). Of these, 37 species are endemic to Borneo, two (Bulbophyllum upupops J.J.Verm., P.O’Byrne & A.L.Lamb and Thrixspermum lingiae P.O’Byrne & Gokusing) are newly described and ten species are new records for Sarawak. The collection of species from this work has provided valuable material for the research and conservation of orchids from vulnerable areas around dams
The Art and Science of Planning a Garden\u27s Future: Who Sets the Direction?
Get PDFSuccessful long-term plans for gardens require creativity and objectivity and need to include the insight of the horticultural teams caring for them. Garden plans take different forms and there are rival schools of thought about the merits of using external consultants or authoring exclusively in house. This essay makes the case for a ‘third way’, blending the skills of internal and external teams, and shows how the past can inspire the future
Genetic Variation and Genetic Structure of Two Closely Related Dipterocarp Species, Dryobalanops aromatica C.F. Gaertn. and D. beccarii Dyer
Get PDFLarge-scale genetic structure revealed in tree populations in SE Asia, as well as in many temperate forests, has been shaped by climatic fluctuation in the late Pleistocene, most importantly by that in the last glacial period. In a comparative study of the phylogeographic patterns of two closely related dipterocarp species, Dryobalanops aromatica C.F.Gaertn. and D. beccarii Dyer, we investigated how changes in land area associated with changes in climate affected large-scale genetic structure. We examined the genetic variation of D. aromatica, collected from nine populations throughout the Sundaic region, and of D. beccarii, collected from 16 populations mainly in Borneo, using seven polymorphic microsatellite markers. The two species were clearly distinguishable in the STRUCTURE analysis, although hybridisation probably occurred in sympatric populations and also in several other populations. The D. aromatica populations were divided into two main groups by the STRUCTURE analysis: Malay–Sumatra and Borneo. Mixing of the Sumatra and Borneo clusters occurred on the Malay Peninsula, supporting the hypothesis that tropical rainforests expanded over a dried Sunda Shelf during the last glacial period. The two main genetic clusters might have been formed by repeated cycles of fluctuation in land area. The D. beccarii populations in Borneo were divided into four geographically distinct groups: western Sarawak, central inland Sarawak, central coastal Sarawak and Sabah. The population on the Malay Peninsula (Gunung Panti) was an admixture of the four Bornean clusters. This suggests that this population is a relic of the recent range expansion of D. beccarii during the last glacial period
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Professor Hermann Sleumer\u27s Classic Treatment of the Ericaceae for Flora Malesiana
Get PDFThe major taxonomic changes that have been made within the Ericaceae since the publication of Professor Sleumer’s classic Flora Malesiana account are presented, as well as how these affect the Malesian region. Examples of Professor Sleumer’s acuity in taxonomic research are cited
The Genus Athyrium Roth in Malesia : A Checklist With Working Names and Distributions
Get PDFAthyrium Roth is a terrestrial fern genus in Athyriaceae, mostly distributed in temperate and sub-tropical regions. In Malesia, this genus is confined to higher altitudes. We have scrutinised the names listed in the literature as well as those used from specimens housed in herbaria that are possibly true Athyrium. Of the 25 species names, 12 are attributed to the Philippines, eight are recognised from Java and seven from Borneo and Sumatra. Other parts of Malesia contribute fewer species. A list of names together with information on distribution and specimens examined is provided