Since the previous issue, distribution of The Bean Bag is now undertaken by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Editing and compiling will continue to take place at USDA, Beltsville. Articles to be included in The Bean Bag should continue to be sent to the editors at Beltsville. Included with the previous issue was a "pink form" asking recipients to indicate if they would be able to receive The Bean Bag electronically. We encourage those who are able to receive The Bean Bag electronically to do so as it will help us to reduce distribution costs. Many readers have responded positively to this request. We will however continue to provide printed copies of The Bean Bag for those who are unable to receive it electronically. As well as providing The Bean Bag via e-mail, we are now able to offer the current issue of The Bean Bag and the Directory through the World Wide Web at:
http://WWW.rbgkew.org.uk:80/herbarium/legumes/legumes/beanbag.html
We plan to provide a friendly and interactive service. Your comments and suggestions as to how we might improve the service are welcome. Please send your ideas by e-mail to: Beanbag-request@rbgkew.org.uk.
This work will introduce a wide range of botanists to the floristic composition of the region, that is, its peculiarities and geographic distribution of species. The work is written in parallel English and Russian and will consist of three volumes. The first part of volume 1 discusses the physico-geographic characteristics and vegetation of the Baltic countries (see Contents). Part 2 treats 550 species of pteridophytes (13 families), gymnosperms (Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxaceae), and 34 families of angiosperms from Salicales to Sarraceniales. The text of this flora is short as it lacks traditional diagnostic characters except for critical, hard-to-distinguish taxa, in which case there are either keys or else the more essential distinguishing characters. The flora comprises all indigenous vascular plants plus casuals, naturalized taxa, and escapes from cultivation that are becoming established. The team of authors used principles from Flora Europaea (1964-80, 1993) for this Baltic flora. Common names are given in Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Russian. After the nomenclature for each taxon is a short biological and morphological characterization (life form, size, phenology). Letters and numbers designate habitats and geobotanical districts.
Laasimer, L., V. Kuusk, L. Tabaka, and A. Lekavicius, eds. 1993. Flora of the Baltic Countries: Compendium of Vascular Plants, vol. 1, 362 pages, illustrated, in English and Russian. Institute of Zoology and Botany of Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tartu, in association with Institute of Biology of Latvian Academy of Sciences, and Institute of Botany of Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. ISBN 9985-50-044-X (HB), US$ 47.00. Order from: Eesti Loodusfoto AS, Riia 185A, Tartu EE2400, Estonia, phone: 372-7-477405, e- mail: elf@park.tartu.ee. Prepayment required by cheque payable to Eesti Loodusfoto AS, or swift transfer, in U.S. funds, and payable through Republic National Bank of New York, N.Y., swift:BLICUS33. Residents of the following countries can pay in their own currencies: Belgium BEF 1489; Denmark D.Kr. 285; Finland FIM 224; France FF 251; Germany DM 73; Great Britain GBP 30; Holland Hfl. 82; Norway NOK 318; Sweden SEK 354; and, Switzerland S.Fr. 61.
The subject of biodiversity conservation has been engaging our attention during the past few years, and there have been many attempts at in situ conservation. Some species-rich areas were declared as Biosphere Reserves and National Parks, to give protection to their natural flora and fauna. However, in many places this was not a success since the local population whose economic security and livelihood depended on these and who, in fact, were conserving the local biodiversity through thick and thin over a period of many centuries were ignored. With its utility available for all of mankind, biological diversity is now globally recognized as a national sovereign property of each country.
The most destructive activity of man, in many instances in the name of development, that has been going on in the last decade of this century that will take many millions of years to correct, is the extinction of genetic and species diversity. While the ecological and environmental implications might not be fully appreciated by many, the economic potential of biodiversity conservation, now enhanced because of the widening scope of the biotechnology industry, is worth stressing, to highlight the need for more effective measures for biodiversity conservation. Extracted from the conference circular.
The main themes of the conference will be:
Enrique Forero
The New York Botanical Garden is pleased to announce that Ing. Nelson Zamora of the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio), Costa Rica, is the recipient of the 1994 Rupert Barneby Award. Ing. Zamora will be working on several groups of mimosoid and caesalpinioid legumes for Costa Rica.
The New York Botanical Garden invites applications for the 1995 Rupert Barneby Award. The award of $1,000.00 is to assist researchers planning to come to The New York Botanical Garden to study the rich collection of Leguminosae. Anyone interested in applying for the award should submit their curriculum vitae, a letter describing the project for which the award is sought, and how the collection at NYBG will benefit their research. Travel to NYBG should be planned between January 1, 1996 and January 31, 1997. The letter should be addressed to Dr. Enrique Forero, Director, Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 USA, and received no later than December 1, 1995. Announcement of the recipient will be made by December 15th. Anyone interested in making a contribution to The Rupert Barneby Fund in Legume Systematics, which supports this award, may send their check, payable to The New York Botanical Garden, to Dr. Forero.
The Drifting Seed
Dr. Charles R. "Bob" Gunn, former Senior-Editor of The Bean Bag, has distributed the first issue of a new newsletter, The Drifting Seed, devoted to seeds and fruits dispersed by the world's tropical currents. Commonly known as sea-beans, these ocean travelers are found on shores around the world. The Fabaceae are one of the commonest and most durable families among the sea-beans. The newsletter will provide information about these disseminules, their parent plants and where they grow, how they travel, and the people who collect and study them. It will be a semiannual newsletter, and the first issue (Volume 1, Number 1) was dated May 1, 1995 and mailed during May 1995. Volume 1, Number 2 will be dated October 1, 1995 and mailed during October 1995. The newsletter will follow those dates in the ensuing years. For further information or to receive The Drifting Seed, contact Dr. Charles R. (Bob) Gunn, 120 White Squirrel Lane, Brevard, North Carolina 28712, USA, telephone: 704-883-9719.