DISCOVERY OF A LEWIS AND CLARK GRASS COLLECTION, POA SECUNDA (POACEAE) SENSU LATO, AT THE HERBARIUM OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

2009·8.9 MB·English

by  Jacques Cayouette

AND
DISCOVERY OF A LEWIS CLARK GRASS COLLECTION,
POA SECUNDA SENSU AT THE HERBARIUM
(POACEAE) LATO,
KEW
OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS,
James L
Jacques Cayouette
Reveal
-
Program on Environmental Health LH. Hortorium Herbarium
Biodiversity Bailey
and Canada Departmen
Agriculture Agri-Food of Plant Biology
t
Wm.
Saunders
Building (#49) Cornell University
New
Farm
Experimental 14853-430
Central Ithaca, York U.S.A.
1,
[email protected]
Gary Moulton
E.
Nebraska
Jncoln, 68588,
U.S.A.
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Kew
In September 2005 while visiting the herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens the author
at (K),
first
discovered a collection labelled Aira brevijolia Pursh (Fig. in a Deschampsia cespitosa folder (Merritt
1) et al.
K
2006). bears labels and annotations congruent with previously detected Lewis and Clark specimens
It at
Ewan
by (1979) and Moulton (1999), but had not been seen by Ewan, Moulton, or botanists investigating
the Lewis and Clark collections examined by Frederick Traugott Pursh (1774-1820) in the preparation of
K
known
his flora (Pursh 1813). Only about ten or eleven Lewis and Clark specimens were be (Ewan
to at
&
Moulton McCourt Spamer
1979; 1999; Reveal et 1999; 2004a), these having been obtained indirectly
al.
auction by William Hooker (1785-1865) 1842
at in (Miller 1970).
J.
Kew PH
Features of the and Specimens, and Background
Historical
Kew
The
and
Aira has Lewis Clark specimens found
brevijolia collection four features typical of K: a
at
1)
Pursh hand with and 1806"
label in the locality the date: "Doubtfull River Missouri plains 28.
(Fig.
Jul.
's
1A), thus indicating Meriwether Lewis annotations by Aylmer Bourke Lambert
a collection; (1761-1842),
2)
Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 3(2)
m
and
Cayouette et Lewis Clark grass Poa secunda 765
collection,
al.
#
protector and patron of Pursh, one on the front of the sheet: "Aim Pursh Amer." and one on the
brevijolia
Fl:
back: [N America Fred. Pursh" an annotation by William Pamphlin (1806-1899), a bookseller
(Fig. IB); 3)
"
.]
An
Hb
and editor: "Herb. Pursh proper"; and an Hooker stamp. undated annotation by George Vasey
(Fig.
4),
who
(1822-1893), an American grass family specialist identified the specimen as "Deschampsia caespitosa"
1)
why
one of the reasons the specimen was in Deschampsia and not detected previously (Merritt
(sic), is filed
et 2006). Aira and Deschampsia were once considered to be related genera and some of the species were
al.
placed in Aira by some, and in Deschampsia by others example, Hitchcock
(see for 1920).
Poa group by
Nevertheless, the collection correctly identified as the secunda Presl (annotated
is
J. J.
Cayouette and S Darbyshire in 2005). In as the specimen has most of spikelets shattered, was not
fact, its
it
J.
The
recognized easily as a Poa species. shattered state of the spikelets of the secunda specimen congru-
P. is
On
ent with having been collected in the season, on July 28, 1806. that day, a Monday, Lewis and
its late
men
his were in western Montana near today's Fort Benton. In the morning they were in Chouteau County,
close to the Missouri River, after retreating from the Blackfeet Indians for three days (they killed two in the
only "battle" of the expedition; see Moulton 1993). They were fatigued but determined to reach the river.
When
they heard they assumed was Sergeant Patrick Gass and his party bringing the canoes
rifle fire, it
down
river. They reached the Missouri River, in Chouteau County, and the two groups joined up that
still
From mouth
afternoon. near the of the Marias River they journeyed downstream about miles and
fifteen
camped.
difficult to determine exactly where Lewis collected the plant. Also uncertain the "Doubtful
It is is
River" reported on the label (Fig. 1A), probably transcribed by Pursh from an annotation by Lewis that
is
now
shown
This location not mentioned in the journals nor on Clark's maps, but might
lost. is is refer to
it
mouth Crow
near Coulee (Chouteau County, 2006) which would have been
the area the of see Merritt
et
al.
"Doubtful
a River."
The main Lewis and Clark herbarium Academy
plant collections are the of the of Natural Sciences
at
&
(PH-LC) and have been documented (Moulton McCourt
of Philadelphia 1999; Reveal 1999;
fully
et
al.
&
When
Spamer 2004a, Spamer McCourt Pursh went London he brought some
2004). to in 1811, of
b;
&
new
Lewis's plants, most probably those he thought were to science (Reveal 1999; McCourt Spamer
et
al.
num-
2004b) to prepare his Flora Americae Septentrionalis that was published in late December 1813. The
him known
bers of Lewis and Clark specimens he brought with are not but probably there were about
50,
&
25%
representing approximately of the entire Lewis and Clark collection (McCourt Spamer 2003).
Pursh returned North America (Canada) and specimens
After the publication of his flora, to left his
who
with A.B. Lambert kept them in his personal herbarium in London. After Lambert's death in 1842, his
herbarium was auctioned off, with Pursh's specimens placed in at least two lots (Miller 1970; Moulton 1999).
many
The one acquired by the botanist Edward Tuckerman (1817-1886) contained of Lewis's specimens,
home
and found with American
they eventually their in Philadelphia along the other collections stored the
at
An unknown
number
were were mixed with
Philosophical Society that recovered in 1897. of Lewis's plants
Pursh herbarium was by Pamphlin. The Pursh came Hooker
the in a lot that acquired plants later to W.J.
Kew
and became the property of in 1867 when Hooker's herbarium was purchased by Kew. Joseph Ewan
Kew
discovered Lewis specimens (Ewan
the
1979).
at
Most of the ten or eleven collections authoritatively attributed Lewis are duplicates of specimens
to
now
and PH-LC. The
retained in Philadelphia part of Philadelphia collections include type species described
Kew
by Pursh Most Pursh and same and
in his of the duplicates bear a label share the date but
flora. locality,
PH-LC
this not the case with the counterpart of Aira Until recently only one collection
brevijolia (Fig.
is 2).
On
PH-LC
from the Lewis and Clark expedition could be associated with Aira 170. that sheet the
brevijolia,
&
common
label written by Pursh reads: "The most grass through the plains of Columbia near the Kooskoo-
name
skee [Clearwater] R. Jun: 10th 1806." Pursh added: "Poa trivialis L. var." The of Aira brevijolia was not
Thomas Meehan
written by Pursh on the sheet but added by (1826-1901, Moulton 1999, 133 and
fide
fig.
transcription of the annotations) probably in 1897. That specimen was reported to have been collected in
Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 3(2)
767
and Poa secunda
Cayouette Lewis grass
et Clark collection,
al.,
Idaho County, Idaho (Moulton 1999; Reveal 1999) and was identified as belonging to the Poa secunda
et
al.
Ewan
Moulton Soreng
group (Hitchcock Cutright 1969; 1979; 1999; Reveal al 1999; 2003).
1935; et
Clarification of the Lectotypification
seems PH-LC both Idaho and Montana
likely that the collection consists of portions of the collections
It
the second hand specimen (with a bent panicle) most closely resembles the specimens on
(Fig. 2) for left
K
clump has and mature and seems
the sheet, while the large to the right roots (not shattered) spikelets, to
K
made The with mostly brown and
correspond to collections earlier (June 10). panicles, shattered spike-
A
PH-LC
correspond collection fragment of the lectotype present in the
clearly to a later (July 28). is
lets,
US herbarium (US-76299) and was reported in Soreng (2003: A.S. Hitchcock and A. Chase used to
90).
US
obtain fragments of type material of North American grasses and they were deposited in as reference
comm.
specimens (Hitchcock According Soreng 2006), the fragment of the panicle of the
1935). to RJ. (pers.
An
US-76299 bears brown examination of the spikelets of the two supposed groups of specimens
spikelets.
comm.
PH-LC
on At
the sheet did not reveal a difference in color (A.E. Schuyler, pers. 2006). this time,
it
known PH-LC US and
not from which group of panicles of the sheet the panicle fragment originated
at
is
therefore type status in question.
its is
Pursh was described from specimens Frederick Pursh obtained from Meriwether Lewis
Aira
brevifolia
R
who collected them during the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806 (Pursh, Amer. Sept.: 76, sero
M.
1813). Following his description, Pursh indicated: "In the plains of Missouri. Lewis. June, July. in
v.s.
K
common
Unaware specimen
Herb. Lewis. This grass the most in those plains." of the existence of the
is
PH-LC and
of Aira Cutright (1969: 401) selected 170 as a lectotype (as "type") for Aira brevifolia
brevifolia, it
was considered such by Reveal
as (1999:
et 39).
al.
K
PH-LC same
The and the specimens represent the taxon, Poa secunda]. Presl, so Pursh's description
(protologue) applies both specimens. seems evident that Pursh saw the two specimens and transcribed
to
It
why PH-LC
Lewis' annotations of the labels; this June and July appear in the protologue. The specimen
is
K
remained in Philadelphia while the sheet was brought by Pursh to London in 1811 where he prepared his
K
him when
(Moulton So Pursh had the specimen before he described Aira but not
flora 1999). brevifolia
K
PH-LC 170. Pursh personally wrote Aira brevifolia on the label (Fig. 1A), and the specimen has fewer and
PH-LC
PH-LC on
shorter leaves than the specimens. Pursh did not inscribe 'Aira the
brevifolia"
(brevifolia)
new made
was
he
specimen but rather "Poa L. var." Clearly, his decision to recognize a species after
trivialis
While two from Idaho and Montana taxonomically represent the
Philadelphia in 1809. the collections
left
K
PH-LC would made
same remains even specimen have
taxon, 170 the lectotype of Aira the a
brevifolia if
more
suitable choice.
made
PH-LC
mixture two one Idaho June
Nonetheless, as noted here, the sheet a of collections, in in
is
PH-LC
of 1806 and a second obtained in Montana in July of 1806. Although the designation of the as the
name
lectotype cannot be altered, necessary to restrict application of the to one of the two discordant
it is
PH-LC
we specimen and
elements Accordingly, hereby restrict the lectotype to just a portion of the designate
.
Missouri probably
here (hoc the lectotype the following element: Lewis "Doubtfull River plains,"
as
loc.) s.n.,
mouth Crow Chouteau Montana, 28 PH-LC-170, second hand
near the of Coulee, County, Jul 1806, the
left
A
specimen with
a bent panicle. duplicate of the lectotype at K.
is
CONCLUSION
Numerous grasses were seen by Lewis and Clark in the open areas of the prairie habitats and some were
&
actually collected by Lewis because of their obvious or potential economic importance (Earle Reveal 2003).
common
why
not clear Lewis would have collected such a and widespread grass as Sandberg's blue-
It is
was were and he needed voucher
grass (Poa secunda), but probably because the seeds readily available, a
it
By 1806
specimen to go with the seeds. There might be at least another reason for this collection. late July
knew Montana Rocky Mountains
Lewis that of his 1805 plant collections cached in before crossing the
all
may
more
(save one, a Ribes) were and obtaining a grass have been an attempt to acquire a diverse col-
lost,
.
768 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 3(2)
down wounded
was on
lection. Lewis continued to collect, albeit rarely, going river until he accidentally
August (Moulton
11 1993).
K
As previously recorded, some of the specimens of the Lewis and Clark expedition are duplicates of
PH-LC (Ewan Moulton Moulton
the ones 1979; 1999; Reveal et 1999). Interestingly, according to (1999),
al.
A
K
there are seven specimens found that have no counterpart PH-LC. search other potential Lewis
at for
at
and Clark authentic specimens has been intensive these herbaria and elsewhere, and most of the pos-
at
have been documented, discussed, and resolved (Moulton 1999; Reveal 1999).
sibilities et
al.
On K Ewan
the other hand, despite careful search by Moulton, and others investigating the Lewis
a at
and Clark collections examined by Pursh, a grass collection of Poa secunda sensu lato was there and
still
unrevealed. possible that other Lewis and Clark collections brought by Pursh to London in 1811 are
Is
it
K
undetected within the seven million specimens of the herbarium, one of the largest of kind in the
still its
K may may
Even browsing North American monumental
world? the represent lead
folders a task, to
at
if it
K
unknown
With
tracing or Lewis and Clark specimens. the eventual data basing of the herbarium,
lost
such a search would be facilitated, but the largest herbaria are likely to be the last ones to have such docu-
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We
Kew
Owens
wish thank Marsden, Cope, and (K) the loan of the specimen, C. Kiel and L.A.
to T. for
S.
J.
R
McDade PH-LC
(PH) scanning and permission reproduce specimen, Soreng
respectively the the the
for to
J.
US PH-
(US) his examination of the fragment, A.E. Schuyler (PH) examination of the spikelets of the
for for
K
LC
Mitrow (DAO) scanning specimen, and McCarthy and Johnson
specimens, G. for the of the E. for
J.
K
The specimen was reproduced with kind permission and Board
preparation of the of the Director
figures.
We
Baum,
of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. thank Bernard R. Venice Bayrd, Stephen Darbyshire,
J.
and an anonymous comments on
Ernest Small, reviewer for their constructive earlier drafts.
REFERENCES
and
1969. Lewis pioneering University of Urbana.
Cutright, Clark: naturalists. Press,
P.R. Illinois
and The and
Earle, A.S. and J.L Reveal 2003. Lewis Clark's green world. expedition plants. Farcountry Press,
its
Helena, MT.
Americae
Ewan, 979. Introduction to the facsimile reprint of Frederick Pursh's Flora Septentrionalis 814).
J.A.
(1
1
Americae 7-1
FT. Pursh, Flora Septentrionalis (facsimile reprint, Cramer, Vaduz). Pp.
In: 7.
J.
1
The economic
Hitchcock, A.S. 1920. genera of grasses in the United States, with special reference to the species.
772.
U.S.D.A.,
Bull.
Manual
Hitchcock, A.S. 935. of the grasses of the United States. U.S.D.A., Misc. Pubi. 200.
1
The and most famous you
McCourt, R.M. and Spamer. 2003. botanical legacy of Lewis Clark: the collection
E.E.
never heard 49:126-131
PL
of. Sci. Bull.
On
and
McCourt, R.M. and Spamer. 2004a. the paper the Lewis Clark herbarium. Bartonia 62:1-24.
E.E. trail in
McCourt, R.M. and Spamer. 2004b. Jefferson's botanists: Lewis and Clark discover the plants of the West. Acad-
E.E.
emy
of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.
We
&
specimen found London.
Merritt, Cayouette, Reveal, and G.E. Moulton. 2006. Lewis Clark plant in
J.L., J. J.L.
On
Proceeded and
(Lewis Heritage Foundation)
ClarkTrail 32(1
2.
):1
1970. The herbarium of Aylmer Bourke Lambert: notes on acquisition, dispersal, and present
Miller, H.S.
its
whereabouts. Taxon 19:492-497.
The and June 10-September
Moulton, 1993. journals of the Lewis Clark expedition. 1806.
G.E. (ed). 26, Vol. 8.
Nebraska
University of Press, Lincoln.
Moulton, 1999. The journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The herbarium of the Lewis and Clark
G.E.
(ed.).
Nebraska
expedition. Vol. 12. University of Press, Lincoln.
Pursh, FT. 81 Flora americae septentrionalis. 2 vols. White, Cochrane, and Co., London.
3.
1
Cayouette et Lewis and Clark grass Poa secunda
collection, 769
al.,
Reveal, J.L, G.E. Moulton, and A.E. Schuyler 1999. The Lewis and Clark collection of vascular plants: names, types,
and comments.
Proc Acad.
Philadelphia 149:1-64.
Natl. Hist.
Soreng, RJ. 2003. Aira L. In: Soreng, RJ., P.M. Peterson, G. Davidse, EJ. Judziewicz, F.O. ZuloagaJ.S. Filgueiras, and
New
0. Morrone. Catalogue of World grasses (Poaceae): Subfamily Pooideae. Edited by Soreng.
RJ. Contr.
IV.
Herb. 48:89-96.
U.S. Natl.
Spamer, and R.M. McCourt. 2004. The second two hundred years are the endearing, enduring
E.E. better: plants
of Lewis and Bartonia 62:95-102.
Clark.