Since the last newsletter, in March, there has been much activity in our project: the volume coordinators have been selected and have agreed, the format has been worked out, and a new grant proposal has been submitted to NSF to fund the project. These areas, as well as other items of interest, are detailed below.
The first two fascicles of the new Cuban flora were published earlier this year, as numbers of the journal Fontqueria, out of the Real Jardín Botánico in Madrid, Spain. The first fascicle, by Angela Leiva, treats the Loranthaceae, and is Fontqueria 34: 1-16. 1992. Seven species of Dendropemon are covered, with each mapped, and one, D. confertiflorus, illustrated.
The second fascicle treats three families, the Eremolepidaceae by A. Leiva, and the Clethraceae and Ericaceae by Rosalina Berazaín. They were published as: Fontqueria 35: 1-80. 1992. The Eremolepidaceae are represented in Cuba by a single species, Antidaphne wrightii, as are the Clethraceae, by Clethra cubensis. The Ericaceae comprise the bulk of fascicle two, with one species each of Befaria, Kalmia (with two varieties), Pieris, and Symphysia, and Lyonia with species, 14 species, and Vaccinium with six species.
The coordinators for each of the proposed 40 volumes of the Flora of the Greater Antilles are now in place. The lists of contributors for each of the volumes, i.e., those who wrote to me at NY to express an interest in participating, have been forwarded to the coordinators. They should be writing to you in the not too distant future to verify the genera on which you are interested in working, and to resolve conflicts when more than one botanist wants to work on the same group. In part the coordinators have been waiting on the format, that is presented here in the newsletter.
The proposal submitted to NSF (National science Foundation) year was rejected, at least in part because the coordinators and format were not finalized. With these areas resolved, as well as additional progress that has been made, we are hopeful that this years proposal, sent in for the October 15 deadline for the panel on Surveys and Inventories, will be successful.
The Flora of the Greater Antilles covers a diverse taxonomic spectrum, from unicellular algae to large trees, and has numerous contributors. Consequently the following guidelines are meant to provide a degree of uniformity to the projected 40 volumes. However, because of the taxonomic and contributor diversity, it is hoped that these guidelines are not excessively restrictive--that is not their intent--but rather it is expected they will allow individual authors a degree of flexibility that best suits the appropriate taxa of the manuscript.
Geographical coverage. The flora will cover all groups of plants and fungi occurring within the region of Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Navassa Island. A list of the geographical and political divisions to be used in the Flora can be found at the end of the "Guide". Descriptions should cover all native and naturalized plants and fungi, but not those solely persisting from cultivation. If there is some doubt about a plant's status, it should be included. For example, although bananas only persist from cultivation, they are widespread and are found in apparently natural areas, and thus they should be included.
Language. The organizing committee decided that the language of the flora, or at least the first edition, will be in English. However, all keys should be prepared in both languages. The organizing committee is investigating the possibility of publishing a Spanish edition, or at least an abridged, manual-like Spanish edition.
Nomenclatural novelties. The decision on whether or not to include new combinations or descriptions of new taxa is left to the author. In some cases, publication may be rapid enough to satisfy the author. In other cases an author may have to wait until all the manuscripts of his/her volume are ready, and thus publication of a given manuscript may be significantly delayed. If an author is concerned about nomenclatural priority, he/she is encouraged to publish nomenclatural novelties in scientific journals prior to submitting manuscript to the Flora. If new taxa are described in the Flora, only short Latin diagnoses should be used, not lengthy Latin descriptions.
Taxonomic categories. The use of categories between family and genus, between genus and species, and below the level of species, are left to the discretion of the author. However, if they are used, they need to be treated fully (see Format), in the same way that the category above them is treated.
For vascular plants, the family scheme will be a modified Cronquist system. Contributors will receive a list of the families to be included in their particular volume. For cryptogamic groups the subject coordinators will decide upon the sequence of families (but contributors are encouraged to make suggestions). However, within a contributor's taxon, the contributor is responsible for all taxonomic decisions. For example, if an individual is contributing an entire family, that individual is responsible for deciding upon generic boundaries and species inclusions. If there are conflicts, e.g., if a genus is claimed by two different contributors for different families, the volume coordinator(s) will mediate the dispute.
Illustrations. As a rule, each genus will receive a single plate. In very large genera, each section or other taxonomic grouping will be illustrated. The individual contributor should recommend the species to be illustrated. To be considered are species previously not illustrated or those restricted to the Greater Antilles. Contributors' recommendations will be followed except in those cases where the Flora already has an illustration on hand from Pedro Acevedo's "Flora of St. John." Otherwise, illustrations will be prepared by an artist at The New York Botanical Garden. Contributors will see the illustrations done in association with their contribution to check for accuracy.
Format. The following format is meant to standardize the flora. It should cover only those items that are common to every kind of organism treated. Certainly it should be assumed that "(if any)" follows almost every entry. All genera within a family, and all species within a genus will be numbered, even if the family is unigeneric and/or the genus is unispecific. It is suggested that the sequence of taxa be based on evolutionary relationships, but even if an author chooses an alphabetical arrangement, all taxa below family should be numbered.
Within the flora, the names of authors and literature references (e.g., journal and book titles) should not be abbreviated, but spelled out in full. For books and journals, this includes prepositions and articles.
In the following outline of the format, nouns are to be considered descriptive, and are not to be used themselves. For example, "number" should be replaced by an actual number, and the word "number" should not be used.
The sequence of items below should be followed. Please note the punctuation, it is as it should be in the flora:
Number. Genus species Author, Literature citation;
Basionym Author, Literature Citation. Year; [additional homotypic synonyms in chronological order with literature citations]. Type: Country: Major Geographic Locality, date, collector number (herbaria).
[NOTE: Only proper nouns should appear in the type citation, not vegetation types, etc. If the kind of type is known, e.g., holotype, lectotype, then this should directly precede the acronym of the herbarium in which it is located, followed by no punctuation. For example: (holotype NY, isotypes A, GH, MO). or (syntype IJ) . However if an author does not wish to make decisions as to the kind of type that is being cited, then acronyms should be cited within parentheses without descriptors. In the case of lectotypes, the designator and year, or the phrase "designated here" should follow in brackets. For example: (lectotype [Jones, 1934] CM).]
Basionym of heterotypic synonym Author, Literature Citation. Year; [additional combinations based on the name]. Type: [as above].
Latin diagnosis (if a new taxon is being described).
Description. Proceed from whole organism to smallest parts.
Vegetative parts should be described before reproductive parts. Use periods between organ systems and semicolons [;] between organs within an organ system. Descriptions should be as brief as possible but still informative enough to allow identification. They should not be monographic descriptions. Extralimital variation should be enclosed in brackets. Information present in the description of the next higher rank(s) should not be repeated in descriptions of included taxa. If known, chromosome numbers should be the last item in the description. Descriptions should be technical and use Latin-based vocabulary, not anglicized alternatives. This allows speakers of romance languages, specifically Spanish, to read the descriptions more easily. e.g., in a family the key descriptions more easily. Major nouns should be italicized.
Key. [If lower taxa are included, e.g., in a family the key should be to genera, unless subfamilies are used, and then only to those; within a genus the key should be to species unless there are subgeneric categories used; within a species there should be keys only if infraspecific categories are used. Keys should be numbered and indented. Keys must be in English and Spanish, with the English key coming first.]
Description [if key precedes].
Distribution. [This word, and those that head the following paragraphs, should be present.] Global. Greater Antilles (in the following order: Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Navassa, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands). [NOTE: Do not use words like endemic. The presentation of the information should make that clear.] Within Cuba and Dominican Republic, provinces should be cited; within Jamaica, parishes should be cited; and within Haiti, departments should be cited. Political subdivisions should be given in alphabetical order. No political subdivisions of Puerto Rico should be used. Additionally, an explanation of the distribution should be given. The following format should be followed: Country: Province [in alphabetical order]; locality, locality. For example: Cuba: Prov. Cienfugos and Sancti Spiritus; Sierra del Escambray. Dominican Republic: Prov. El Siebo, La Rornana and San Pedro de Macoris; along the coast from the Rio Soco to Bahia Catalinita, including Isla Saona. Specimen citations (only for documentation of rarities and paratypes; should not be used for most taxa).
Ecology. Habitat type (following the terminology of Richard A Howard, The vegetation of the Antilles. Pages 1-38. In: A. Graham (ed.). 1973. Vegetation and vegetational history of northern Latin America. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam; the outline from this article is included here). Elevation (in meters). Substrate. Pollinators (CM will identify the insects; see notice in Flora of the Greater Antilles Newsletter no. 3). Frequency. Phenology (for flowering plants follow this format: Flowering: Mar-Jun; Fruiting: Apr-Aug. For cryptogams: Fertile: Jan-May.).
Vernacular names and uses. [These should be grouped by island, in the order islands are listed under distribution, even if it means repeating a common name; e.g., Cuba: yerba mala; Jamaica: evil eye; Dominican Republic: yerba mala. Cuba: infusions for eye ailments; Jamaica: aphrodisiac; Dominican Republic: paste for headaches.] If used sparingly, vouchers may be cited.
Discussion. [This section is for important information not included above, including, but not limited to, discussion about differences between closely related species. In this section, any problems should be admitted so that future researchers can find worthwhile areas of investigation.]
Conservation Status. [Authors are encouraged to include information on this subject whenever possible.]
Taxonomic Literature. [Only taxonomic monographs
should be cited here. Other pertinent literature, such as wood anatomy studies, etc., can be listed under the Discussion
section.]
[Notes to authors:
1. When submitting your manuscript, you should also submit a list of all scientific names, with synonyms italicized and new names bold-faced, to be used in preparing the
volume index.
2. Three hard copies of all manuscripts should be submitted, and when possible a copy on diskette.
3. All manuscripts should be double-spaced throughout.
4. Each volume will have a glossary for specialized terms. These terms within your treatment should be listed and defined in a glossary that will be intercalated with those
of other authors in the volume.]
From: Howard, R. A. 1973. The vegetation of the Antilles. In: A. Graham (ed.), Vegetation and vegetational history
of northern Latin America. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
In order to consider the composition, distribution and relationships of the Antillean vegetation it is desirable to discuss and illustrate some of the vegetational types. The following modified classification will be followed which utilizes the geographic location as well as the ecological factors of the area.
Coastal formations : beach, strand, rock pavement, mangrove
Lowland formations : thorn scrub, savanna, marsh or swamp, alluvium
Montane formations :
wet or dry forests
on limestone, montane sclerophyll, palm brakes, tree fern communities, pine forests, cloud forests, volcanic and
soufriere communities, crater lakes, elfin thickets
Geographical and Political Divisions Used in the Flora of the Greater Antilles
Cuba (Provinces; ciudad de la Habana)
| Camaguey | La Habana |
| Ciego de Avila | Las Tunas |
| Cienfuegos | Matanzas |
| Ciudad de la Habana | Pinar del Rio |
| Granma | Sancti Spiritus |
| Guantanamo | Santiago de Cuba (formerly Oriente) |
| Holguin | Villa Clara (formerly Santa Clara) |
| Isla de Juventud (formerly Isle of Pines) |
Cayrnan Brac
Grand Cayman
Little Cayman
Jamaica (Parishes)
| Clarendon | St. Elizabeth |
| Hanover | St. James |
| Manchester | St. Mary |
| Portland | St. Thomas |
| St. Andrew (including Kingston) | Trelawny |
| St. Ann | Westmorland |
| St. Catherine |
Haiti (Departments)
Artibonite
Nord
Nord-ouest (including Île de la Tortue)
ouest (including Île de la Gonave)
Sud (including Île à Vache)
Dominican Republic (Provinces; Distrito Nacional)
| Azua | Independencia | Salcedo |
| Bahoruco | La Altagracia | Samana |
| Barahona | La Romana | Sanchez Ramirez |
| Dajabon | La Vega | San Cristobal |
| Distrito Nacional | Maria Trinidad Sanchez | San Juan |
| Duarte | Montecristi | San Pedro de Macoris |
| Elias Pina | Pedernales | Santiago |
| El Seibo | Peravia | Santiago Rodriguez |
| Espaillat | Puerto Plata | Valverde |
Virgin Islands (only largest islands listed)
British Virgin Islands
Anegada
Jost Van Dyke
Norman
Peter
Tortola
Virgin Gorda
U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Croix
St. John
St. Thomas
Flora of the Greater Antilles Newsletter is published by The New York Botanical Garden. For information or to send notices for future issues, please contact Thomas A. Zanoni or William R. Buck, Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, U.S.A. E-mail: tzanoni@nybg.org or bbuck@nybg.org.
