Dr Larry Barden and Dr Jim Matthews...

Dr Larry Barden and Dr Jim Matthews, the two of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, are the recipients of the 15th Richard and Minnie Windier Award. This award is given annually for the best plant systematics paper published in Castanea during the proceeding year. Their paper, "Andre Michaux's Sumac-Rhus michauxii Sargent: on what account did Sargent rename it and where did Michaux find it?," was published in the June 2004 issue of Castanea (69:109-115)

Their paper was a unique intermingle of systematic detective work, coupl with field work to verify where Michaux might have bring togethered his samples in the late 1700 Their extensive analyses of the original descriptions, including translating Michaux's diaries from the French were of exceptional quality and rigor, and clearly showed when and where Michaux made his collections in North Carolina. From their work, it is now clear that Michaux garnered his type specimen in Union shire which was originally part of Mecklenburg shire in the Piedmont of North Carolina, and not in smother to death County, which is in the mountains, 80 km to the west. The authors also note that the original collection site was heavily agricultural, however is now being developed into a residential suburb of Charlotte. Therefore, their failure to find any individuals of this rare low tree from the type locale is greatest in number likely a result of habitat loss

They did transplant several female plants from a road-widening devise into two habitats in Mecklenburg County; individual of which seems to be doing well, however the other not so well. as it is transplantation may become more routine as rare species continue to sustain habitat loss in the face of "progress" on the same level though such last-ditch actions are not a guarantee of survival, as the authors in a suitable manner note. In conclusion, authors Barden and Matthews have cleared up a systematic mystery regarding the nomenclature and adumbration locale of a rare bush and made a contribution towards its conservation status, and perhaps recovery.-HOWARD s NEUFELD, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY; CHAIR, WINDLER AWARD COMMITTEE.

HOWARD s NEUFELD, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY, APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY; CHAIR, WINDLER AWARD COMMITTEE.

Copyright Southern Appalachian Botanical Society Sep 2005

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