February 2002![[Bean Bag Logo]](../images/logo.jpg){kind=logo}
A newsletter to promote communication among research scientists concerned with the systematics of the Leguminosae/Fabaceae
Number 49February 2002
From the Editor
Barbara Mackinder
The Bean Bag is designed to promote communication among research scientists concerned with legume systematics. To achieve this goal The Bean Bag is issued annually. As of this volume, The Bean Bag will be issued in February each year. The change of month (from November) will allow for a more appropriate timing of certain regular announcements (e.g. The Rupert Barneby Award) and will avoid postal difficulties commonly associated with the Christmas period. The Bean Bag features six columns:
Data in the Gleanings column are derived from questionnaire sheets which Readers complete and return.
The Recent Legume Literature column contains published research papers of specific interest to Bean Bag Readers and is derived from Readers contributions in conjunction with references from The Kew Record of Taxonomic Literature. Recent is defined as up to 18 months old. Specific interest to Bean Bag Readers is defined as research papers of interest to a worldwide group of legume systematic botanists.
Bean Bag Readers are encouraged to send notices, observations, etc. In particular in this issue, information is solicited concerning any aspect of nodulation (see the contribution from Janet Sprent under News). Also included is an inventory of legume taxa as yet unsampled for molecular phylogenetic studies (see the contribution from Gwilym Lewis and Brian Schrire under News). Furthermore a list of legume genera whose response to rhizobia is unknown is included with the intention of encouraging their exploration (see the contribution from Harold Corby and Joe Kirkbride under Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation).
We encourage readers to accept delivery of The Bean Bag via e-mail to reduce our ever increasing distribution costs thus ensuring the continuation of The Bean Bag. If you are able to accept your copies by e-mail, please send a message to the editor (email: b.mackinder@rbgkew.org.uk). Will new readers please provide their title, first and last names, full postal address and area(s) of interest.
Electronic copies of the current and past Bean Bags and the Directories can be obtained from the World Wide Web server of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom From June, 1995, The Bean Bag is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/herbarium/legumes/beanbag.html
Bean Bag address:
Mrs B. Mackinder, Bean Bag Editor, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
email: b.mackinder@rbgkew.org.uk