It is with utmost pleasure that I report that the official dedication of the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi was a smashing success. Click Here for a video of the event. Approximately 45 colleagues, friends, and admirers of the late Dr. Mitchel met for a formal luncheon today with presentations by Vera Evenson, Curator of the Herbarium; Dr. Barry Rumack, Colleague who worked with Sam on mushroom poisoning research; Dr. Hope Miller, mycologist; and Rosa Lee Brace, long time friend, patient and colleague of Sam’s.
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The mushroom discovered that may be a new species
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Denver Botanic Gardens staff were among the thirty-six scientists who donated their time in the first Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Bioblitz, surveying all species in a 24-hour period. Ten scientist teams inventoried insects, mammals, fungi, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and of course plants.
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Stephanie Strudley in tamarisk stand
Ready or not, the beetles are coming, and one student is helping us to understand the implications. Stephanie Strudley successfully defended her thesis research on biocontrol beetles in tamarisk stands and has now earned her Masters in Science (MS) from the University of Denver Department of Biological Sciences. The biocontrol beetle, Diorhabda elongata, was introduced from Asia to help control invasive tamarix. Stephanie conducted groundbreaking work to investigate the effect of these organisms on other insects in the ecosystem under the mentorship of Dr. Anna Sher, Director of Research and Conservation at Denver Botanic Gardens and in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Norton, Associate Professor, and his lab group at Colorado State University.
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One of the rare Penstemon species tested
“It might be used for medicines some day” is an often-cited justification for protecting imperiled plant species when scientists are pressed to justify our work to protect species that have no perceived “use.” And yet, it appears that no one has specifically looked at the likelihood that this is true… until now. Dr. Don Hazlet, Adjunct Researcher with Denver Botanic Gardens and ethnobotanist, will be submitting a report to the Colorado Natural Areas Program this week of the results of his studies on the biochemistry of 80 of Colorado’s rarest plants.
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In 2006, I wrote a piece for our members newsletter about how to make environmentally-friendly food choices. It was the most popular piece I have written to date, even though it was published in a winter issue and readers complained that the recommendation to “eat locally” was easier to do in the summer. Thus, I’m re-posting here as we plant our vegetable gardens and farmers market season begins.
“The LLOWW Down on Eating to Save the Planet” (“Inside the Gardens” Member Newsletter, Nov/Dec 2006)
Did you know what we choose to eat (or not eat) has a greater impact on the environment than recycling? It’s possible to make minor changes to live more gently on the planet and perhaps improve your health.
Based on the latest research, I have created a simple guide I call “LLOWW impact” eating:
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Dr. Sam Mitchel studying his favorite fungi
Forty years ago, a family physician named Dr. Sam Mitchel turned a hobby into a real scientific endeavor by establishing a “mushroom collection” at Denver Botanic Gardens. The fungal collection at the Gardens is now the largest actively curated herbarium of Rocky Mountain fungi in the world, with over 24,000 specimens representing over 2,000 taxa. Preserved collections of plants and fungi are called herbaria (herbarium is singular), and are an essential resource for scientists, land managers, botanical illustrators, horticulturalists, explorers, historians, educators, and others needing documentation or records about plants and fungi.
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Michelle Ohrtman doing field research
Join me in congratulating Michelle Ohrtman who has recently successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on the subject of invasive tamarisk trees at the University of Denver (DU). Michelle is now the fourth graduate student officially affiliated with DBG to finish her degree since the two institutions became partners 6 years ago (the other three earned Master’s degrees). Much of this research has focused on restoration of river ecosystems in the West and was funded by the Bureau of Reclamation.
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It is with great pride that we share the news with you that a research paper published by our own Jenny Neale was recently selected to receive the “PSB Best Paper Award 2008″ from the presitgous Plant Species Biology journal. Dr. Neale’s research was on the population genetics of a rare sunflower. The full citation is ‘Conservation of rare species with island-like distributions:’ A case study of Lasthenia conjugens (Asteraceae) using population genetic structure and the distribution of rare markers.’ Plant Species Biology 23: 97-110 (2008)
Considering the thousands of papers from professionals across the globe, this is a real distinction. The awards ceremony will be held in Japan.
We are also excited to announce that Dr. Neale will be leading the charge in the establishment of a new of a new Conservation Genetics program at Denver Botanic Gardens. With the support of an endowment named for Gladys Cheesman Evans
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