Scott's Botanical Links--July 1999

July 28, 1999 - Botanical Society of America Online Image Collection

Through the efforts of a (small) subcommittee of the Education Committee and BSA Teaching Section, the entire 799 photos that form the BSA teaching slide collection have been converted into digital images at this site. Each image is found in three formats: a thumbnail JPG, medium format image (~640 x 480 pixels) and high resolution format image (~1600 x 1200 pixels) with download size given in parens. Currently there are 14 topics, including: ecology, plant structure & organography, lichens, economic plants, pollen, physiology and carnivorous plants. The site is run by a search engine database, designed and maintained by Scott Russell; slides scanned by Tom Jurik and Dave Webb. I usually don't rate my own work, but this should be a great (and hopefully expanding) resource. This is a preview -- the site officially opens August 1. -SR

July 26, 1999 - Botanical Glossaries

This list of glossaries provides links to some of the best of the glossaries around the world, covering the flora of Australia, New South Wales, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, lichens, fungi, and bryophytes. Not many are listed, but these cover a wide diversity of terms. Site maintained by the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research and Australian National Herbarium, Canberra, Australia. (***) -SR

July 23, 1999 - Great Lakes Diatoms

The Great Lakes Diatoms site is intended primarily as a resource for professional biologists and ecologists, but is useful for anyone with an interest in these freshwater algae. The site has two major approaches: identification by morphological grouping and a genus list of about 100 representatives. Photomicrographs abound on the site, though unfortunately so do dead links. Site produced through NSF support to the Center for Great Lakes and Aquatic Sciences, University of Michigan. (***1/2) -SR

July 22, 1999 - Stokes Tropicals

Stoke's Tropicals is a prominent web site featuring a collection of tropical plants emphasizing Bananas, Bougainvilleas, Bromeliads, Calatheas, Canna, Euphorbia, Gingers, Heliconias, Hibiscus, Plumerias, Products, Information, a Plant Forum and Care & Culture. There is no doubt that this is a commercial site, but the many plants shown and information on species & varieties make this an educational resource. Impulse buyers beware! The plants look very tempting. Site by Stokes Tropicals. (***1/2) -SR

July 21, 1999 - North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

The NCRPIS conserves and encourages the use of valuable germplasms representing ~1,600 plant species with more than 45,000 accessions. As modern breeding techniques tend to impoverish the genetic diversity of crops, this germplasm collection maintains wild and weedy crop relatives, traditional cultivars & landraces, and elite lines & populations. This site describes the process of introducing such plants into breeding populations, with pages on the National Plant Germplasm System, Plant Genetic Resource Management, Germplasm Acquisition, Maintenance, Regeneration, Distribution, Where to Request Seed, Germplasm Characterization, Enhancement/Utilization, Evaluation, Internship Programs, Research at the Station, Crops, Bees, Pests, and Ornamental Trial Sites. Site by NCRPIS. (****) -SR

July 20, 1999 - Apollo 11: 30th Anniversary

This is NASA's history site, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of man landing on the moon. Although the major reason for the mission was political, the moon landing provided the basis for some remarkable scientific insights for all of the natural sciences. A new model of the origin of the earth-moon system was developed that indicated that both the moon and earth had a role in making life possible on earth. Views of the earth from the moon further suggested a fragility that few had conceived. Site by NASA. (****) -SR

July 19, 1999 - Hypermedia Glossary Of Genetic Terms

This collection of 589 terms (as of today) is particularly well suited to botanists because the author is a plant breeder, horticulturist and information specialist. Entries can be accessed either alphabetically, or through a search engine. One warning: wildcards (*) are needed in the name to find anything other than an exact match! The disclaimers are a bit overdone, but the definitions are succinct and embedded terms in the definitions are further hyperlinked. Site constructed and maintained by Birgid Schlindwein, Weihenstephan Information and Documentation Centre (IDW), Technische Universität München - Weihenstephan. (****) -SR

July 16, 1999 - Palynology at the University of Arizona

Palynology is the study of a diverse collection of microscopic "non-animals" including pollen, embryophyte spores, algae (various algal cysts and spores), fungal spores, dinoflagellates, microforaminifera, chitinozoans, acritarchs and amoeba! Links include definitions & terms, references, scholarships and local history, organizations, researchers, institutes, consultants, and sites in the rest of the palynological world. Also featured are a palynology site-of-the-month and a pollen grain-of-the-month. An attractive and well-organized site. Since some of the links appear on new browser pages, you should check for them if you think you have found a non-functioning link. Site constructed and maintained by Owen Davis. (****) -SR

July 15, 1999 - Ask Our Experts at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory

A wealth of plant maladies have been covered at this site, which accepts emailed requests for diagnosis of plant diseases and posts answers at the site. Although the site has a disclaimer that the answers are only valid in Indiana, this is a cautious overstatement! Much of the advice will be applicable outside the state, and knowledge of plant diseases can make discussions with a local county agent faster and more informative. Site by Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory. (****) -SR

July 14, 1999 - World Species List - Animals Plants Microbes

Established in April 1994, this is an authoritative list of the world's organisms. Unfortunately, the plant species are the weakest part of this site. There are nonetheless world links to many sites where plants are listed. Constructed and maintained by Envirolink. (***) -SR

July 13, 1999 - UC's Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center

This site has a wealth of information about the full range of fruits and nuts that can be grown in California (lots!). The major focus of the site is research, crop information, cooperative extension information and publications. Methods of controlling pests and the scientific approach to growing better plants are emphasized here. Some material is for sale, but much of it is online here. Developed in cooperation with the University of California, Davis, Riverside and Berkeley. (****) -SR

July 12, 1999 - The Last Straw: Plants and Water Stress

The Last Straw at first looks like a site for children, but it is really a fairly sophisticated site in terms of web technology (Shockwave and Java) and the message. Although the first part of the site is a simple tutorial, a virtual laboratory (present in a popup window) provides complicated but easily interpreted data from a few simple experiments. The interface is not obvious but the results provoke thought. With its various moving parts and simple problem-solving, this is a good recommendation for a plant physiology/ecology teaching site. Site hosted by Cornell University, based on current research being done by scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research. (****) -SR

July 9, 1999 - WDVL: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Web Technology

The Web Developer's Virtual Library (WDVL) presents an excellent introductory site for the working vocabulary of current Internet technology. The major headings of this extensive tutorial include authoring, design, graphics, software, Internet, WDVL resources, and WDVL. The site hosts mailing lists, interest groups and extensive tutorials from this site. If you are interested in learning about web resources or describing them to others, this site deserves a bookmark. Site by WDVL. (****) -SR

July 8, 1999 - Catalog of North American Gymnosperms

The New York Botanical Garden has completed cataloging its approximately 10,000 specimens of gymnosperms from North America north of Mexico, including members of Araucariaceae, Cephalotaceae, Cupressaceae (over 40% of the records), Pinaceae (over 55% of the records), Podocarpaceae, Taxaceae and Taxodiaceae (~4%). Complete herbarium sheet data is encoded. The absence of Cycadopytes and Gnetophytes puzzles me. Site by New York Botanical Garden. (***1/2) -SR

July 7, 1999 - Catalog of North American Bryophytes

The New York Botanical Garden is in the process of cataloging its approximately 200,000 non-type specimens of mosses, liverworts and hornworts from North America north of Mexico. This helps to support the production of a comprehensive bryophyte flora of North America as part of the Flora of North America project. Currently, the catalog includes herbarium label information from all collections from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Site by the New York Botanical Garden. (****) -SR

July 6, 1999 - Ginkgo biloba - Personal page

This set of pages introduces the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba, a tree widely believed to be the oldest surviving seed plant. In fact, some of its fossils predate the dinosaurs. This site integrates information (some anecdotal) about the name, history, propagation, reproduction and uses of Ginkgo by man. This is an entertaining site, accompanied by MIDI music, with links to many of the better Ginkgo sites. The plant has legendary medicinal properties, so much so that caution is advised in its use (for example, vitamin E content is high enough that it can cause gums to bleed). Site by Cor Kwant in The Netherlands. (***1/2) -SR

July 5, 1999 - SETI@home: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at Home

A major limitation in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence using radio telescopes is the daunting task of analyzing the data. Now, you can help! The SETI@home screensaver uses idle computer clock cycles to perform Fast Fourier Transforms on SETI data. Data collected during the next two years (through 2001) will be subjected to intensive computer analysis on computers around the world. All that is needed is a Pentium or Mac computer and a connection to the Internet (needed to download data periodically [daily to weekly, depending on speed of your computer]). Site by the SETI@home project (in 15 languages!). (****) -SR

July 2, 1999 - Anthurium Primer

This is the definitive Anthurium site! Currently 54 species are displayed on the site, most with photographs (up to three per species). Given for each species is the authority, publication of the species, etymology, distribution, sectional placement, description (original, in Latin) and notes. On the site, there are also articles, a bibliography, links, a general Anthurium page and an introductory page (asking for botanical contributions). This is a model site for what a single taxon site should be. Site by Neil Carroll. (****) -SR

July 1, 1999 - Mangrove Replenishment Initiative

MRI is involved in the reforestation of Florida shorelines to their native mangrove systems. Over the years, there has been a loss of wetland habitats with ~75% of wetlands destroyed by shoreline development or impounded for mosquito control. This particularly affects the areas from Cape Canaveral to Biscayne Bay. Once destroyed, mangrove forests are difficult to re-establish. Methods, materials and advice are described on this site, with accompanying text and photos. Site by Robert W. Riley, Jr., MRI. (***1/2) -SR

Past, past links (by date):

2006: January

2005: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2003: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2002: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2001: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

2000: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1999: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

1998: January*, February*, March*, April*, May*, June*, July, August, September, October, November, December   (*Leigh's links)

1997: January, February, March, April, May, June, September*, October*, November*, December*    (*Leigh's links)

1996: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Or search by: Subject Index

http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/bot-linx/jul99.shtml