| BEN |
| BOTANICAL ELECTRONIC NEWS |
|---|
| ISSN 1188-603X |
| No. 82 November 29, 1994 | aceska@freenet.victoria.tc.ca | Victoria, B.C. |
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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 biology, 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 related 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 sequencer, 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
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 scientific 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:
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.
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.
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 introflexus (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.
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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."