The Botanical Society of America welcomes you to the third annual Conant "Botanical Images" Student Travel Award. From the vibrant microscopy images to those depicting entire ecosystems, pictures are always an enticing way to learn and teach. We trust you will enjoy the results and in the process learn a bit more about plants!

» View Past Award Recipients and Submissions

2008 Submissions for the Conant "Botanical Images" Student Travel Award
#1 - J. Christopher Havran, Ohio University | #2, #3 #39, #40, #41 - Kaan Hurkan, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitesi | #4, #5, #6, #7 - Shao Qing, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science | #8 - Sarah Braly, University of North Carolina Wilmington | #9 - Roxi Steele, University of Texas Austin | #10 - James Sowerwine, University of Alaska Anchorage | #11 - Nadia Paola Flores Saldaa, University of Puerto Rico - Ro Piedras Campus | #12 - Kurt Neubig, University of Florida | #13, #14 - Gerardo Arceo Gomez, Instituto de Ecologia, A.C. | #15 - Naomi Fraga, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden | #16, #17, #36 - Tanja Schuster, Wake Forest University | #18, #19, #37, #38 - Pu Huang, Washington University in St Louis | #20, #21, #22 - Melanie Schori, Ohio University | #23 - Pei-Luen Lu, University of Hawaii at Manoa | #24 - Patrick Alexander, New Mexico State University | #25, #26 - Emily Butler, University of Wisconsin-Madison | #27, #28, #29, #30 - Mauricio Diazgranados, Saint Louis University | #31 - Philip Gonsiska, University of Wisconsin-Madison | #32, #33 - Nicole Hughes, Wake Forest University | #34 - Gulshan Chaudhary, Dayalbagh Educational Institute | #35 - Mike Silveira, San Diego State University | #42, #43 - Nathan Jud, Ohio University | #44, #51 - Alana Oldham, Humboldt State University | #45 - Jay Bolin, Old Dominion University | #46 - Thomas Klepach, University of Notre Dame | #47, #48 - Rachel Prunier, University of Connecticut | #49, #50 - Mackenzie Taylor, University of Tennessee | #52 - Taina Price, Washington University in Saint Louis | #53 - MatthewValente, University of Tennessee | #54 - Nicholas Tippery, University of Connecticut | #55, #56 - Ryan Rapp, Iowa State University | #57 - Alejandra Vasco, New York Botanical Garden | #58 - Natalia Ivalu Cacho, University of Wisconsin-Madison | #59 - John Schenk, | #60 - Nicholas Stanich, Ohio University | #61 - Christian Torres-Santana, University of Hawaii at Manoa | #62 - Amanda Treher, Delaware State University | #63 - Juan Leandro García Massini, Southern Methodist University | #64 - Jake Corman, University of Colorado at Boulder | #65 - Shannon Straub, Cornell University | #66, #67, #68 - Susannah Fulton, Miami University

Submission #1
	Title: Viola robusta Hbd. Author: J. Christopher Havran Institution: Ohio University Department: Environmental and Plant Biology, Laboratory of Vascular Plant Systematics and Evolution Family: Violaceae Taxon: Viola robusta Season/time of year: July 26, 2006 (summer) Area: Kamakou Preserve (TNC), Island of Moloka'i State/Province: Hawai'i     Country: USA Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Viola robusta Hbd. (Violaceae): a woody species of Hawaiian violet restricted to the high-elevation cloud forests of Moloka'i.
Scientific Description/Explanation: The Hawaiian violets are monophyletic lineage of angiosperms that have undergone a putative adaptive radiation throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Species in similar habitat types (cloud forest, high-elevation bog, and mesic streambank) exhibit remarkable parallelisms in leaf morphology and growth form. Viola robusta was formerly classified as a subspecies of Viola chamissoniana, a dry cliff violet restricted to O'ahu. Recent molecular systematic investigations of the Hawaiian violet lineage suggests that Viola robusta is not a subspecies of Viola chamissoniana.

Submission #2
	Title: Blue Author: Kaan Hurkan Institution: Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitesi, Fen - Edebiyat Fakultesi, Biyoloji Bolumu, Terzioglu Kampusu Department: Biology Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Hyacinthaceae Taxon: Ornithogalum narbonense Common Name: White star, Ak yildiz Season/time of year: 08/05/2007 Spring Area: Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitu Terzioglu Campus Area State/Province: Merkez    Country: Turkey Additional Information: Longitude: 26.425338, Latitude: 40.111147 Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Natuaral Blue
Scientific Description/Explanation: There is a Polyommatus icarus on Ornithogalum flowers. This image took 7 May 2007 in University campus area. My equipment: Nikon D40 D-SLR camera, 18-55mm Lens. There is no photoshop or other imaging software edit. Only crop.

Submission #3
	Title: Love in Spring Author: Kaan Hurkan Institution: Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitesi, Fen - Edebiyat Fakultesi, Biyoloji Bolumu, Terzioglu Kampusu Department: Biology Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Fabaceae Taxon: Trifolium Common Name: Clover Season/time of year: 08/05/2007 Spring Area: Canakkale Onsekiz Mart Universitu Terzioglu Campus Area State/Province: Merkez    Country: Turkey Additional Information: Longitude: 26.425338, Latitude: 40.111147 Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Polyommatus icarus couple and Clover flower.
Scientific Description/Explanation: There are Polyommatus icarus couple and Clover, common named Trifolium flower.

Submission #4
	Title: Silent Beauty Author: Shao Qing Institution: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science Department: Herbarium(PE) Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Ranuculaceae Taxon: Aquilegia vulgaris L. Common Name: Columbine, Xuejianchou, Loudoucai Season/time of year: 03/05/2006 Area: Beijing Botanic Garden State/Province: Beijing    Country: China Additional Information: The very instresting thing of this flower is the architecture, most Chinese think it seems like a funnels and call its a nick name by shape. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: A baby pink flower bloomed in a silent corner.
Scientific Description/Explanation: The plant is commonly distributed in north China and the blooming season is around early summer, and it's different flower architecture makes it very different with others in the garden.

Submission #5
	Title: Pink in Green Author: Shao Qing Institution: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science Department: Herbarium(PE) Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Theaceae Taxon: Camellia japonic L. Common Name: Common Camllia Season/time of year:18/11/2007 Area: Green house of Beijing Botanic Garden State/Province: Beijing    Country: China Additional Information: It's very interesting that this flower's blooming season is in the end of the year, in north China when it's snowing outside and it's blooming in the greenhouse. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Natural pink in earlier morning.
Scientific Description/Explanation: This nice and beautiful camellia was very popular for most Chinese due to a famous chinese sowordsmen film. Also the camellia is famous and popular for it's nice flower and smell and its different blooming season around the new year.

Submission #6
	Title: Pink Author: Shao Qing Institution: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science Department: Herbarium(PE) Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Nymphaeaceae Taxon: Nymphaea tetragona Common Name: Pygmy Waterlily Season/time of year: 04/11/2007 Area: Green house of Beijing Botanic Garden State/Province: Beijing    Country: China Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Natural Pink.
Scientific Description/Explanation: This glamorous waterlily catched most our interesting during it's blooming in cold winter when it's snowing outside in North China.

Submission #7
	Title: White Crane Author: Shao Qing Institution: Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science Department: Herbarium(PE) Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Araceae Taxon: Spathiphyllum kochii Common Name: Peace lily Season/time of year: 18/11/2007 Area: Beijing Botanic Garden State/Province: Beijing    Country: China Additional Information: The nice smell of the flower. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Peace lily
Scientific Description/Explanation: This beautiful flower was treated as a white crane to most Chinese, and its snow white spathe give people the feeling of elegant and refined.

Submission #8
	Title: Field of sea oats Author: Sarah Katharine Braly Institution: University of North Carolina Wilmington Department: Marine Science Topic/Discipline: Barrier Island ecology Family: Poaceae Taxon: Uniola paniculata L. Common Name: Sea oats Season/time of year: July 2007, Summer Area: Hammocks Beach State Park State/Province: North Carolina    Country: USA Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Dense stand of Sea oats, Uniola paniculata in Hammocks Beach State Park, NC
Scientific Description/Explanation: Sea oats, Uniola paniculata dominate the coasts of the Southeastern United States. They have the unique ability to thrive in harsh frontal dune environments. Shifting sand stimulates growth and hash salt spray rids the dunes of competitors. However they cannot overcome the human presence, dune systems are disappearing with the invasion of development. The stand pictured however remains intact and quite dense in the pristine Hammocks Beach State Park found outside Swansboro North Carolina.

Submission #9
	Title: Pollinators or Robbers? Author: Roxi Steele Institution: University of Texas Austin Department: Section of Integrative Biology Topic/Discipline: Systematics and Pollination Ecology Family: Cucurbitaceae Taxon: Psiguria ternata Common Name: "Pepino de las montañas" or "Mountain cucumber" Season/time of year: 18/11/2007 Area: near Puente Taruma over Río Piray State/Province: Santa Cruz de la Sierra    Country: Bolivia Longitude: 18 degrees 6´ 55" south Latitude: 63 degrees 27´ 01" west Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Visitors to a Psiguria ternata flower near Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Scientific Description/Explanation: Psiguria is a genus of vines in the Cucurbitaceae (cucumber family) native to the New World tropics of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The plants are monoecious (have separate male and female flowers on the same plant). Both male and female flowers are tubular, with five partially-fused petals – similarities that, along with the similar shapes of the male (stamen) and female (pistil) reproductive structures, aid in "training" the pollinating butterflies to visit both sexes. The butterfly and bee shown in this image are not the typical pollinators of Psiguria flowers, so they may not actually be transferring pollen to the female flowers but rather "robbing" the plant of its pollen and nectar. No worries though. The plants produce a lot more pollen than they actually need to survive; an adaptation that evolved to protect the species from extinction despite the occasional pollen thief.

Submission #10
	Title: Stellaria media (Common chickweed) showing striking stigmatic surface coloration Author: James Sowerwine Institution: University of Alaska Anchorage Department: Biological Sciences Topic/Discipline: Ecology Family: Caryophyllaceae Taxon: Stellaria media Common Name: Common chickweed Season/time of year: January, 2008 Area: Seattle State/Province: Washington    Country: USA Longitude: 47*37'37 Latitude: 122*19'22 Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Stellaria media (common chickweed) photographed in a street gutter near to Volunteer Park, Seattle, WA.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Stellaria media is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family, a highly plastic dicot (with both annual and perennial forms) that has achieved a near cosmetic global distribution. With a diminutive form, the plant 'hides' from general view, appearing at fist glance as an unremarkable ground cover. Yet this plant displays a remarkable morphology in its star like flowers when viewed closely; the purple stigmatic surfaces are particularly attractive. Stellaria media is considered a weed by several authors, thus causing the idle hour thought experiment: Is this species less highly valued than a similar conspecific species because it lacks showy floral displays?

Submission #11
	Title: Butterfly Flower Author: Nadia Paola Flores Saldaa Institution: University of Puerto Rico-Ro Piedras Campus Department: Department of Biology Family: Zingiberaceae Taxon: Hedychium coronarium Season/time of year: January 2008, Summer Area: Bolivian Tropical Forest State/Province: a Paz, Los Yungas    Country: Bolivia Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption:
Scientific Description/Explanation:Hedychium coronarium J. Kenig (Zingiberaceae). This specie its native from Asia and cultivated and naturalized in South Africa, Australia, Central America, South America, Azores, Mascarenes, Micronesia and Hawaii. It's the national flower of Cuba and its common name its "Butterfly". The picture was taken in Los Yungas, a Bolivian tropical forest in January 2008.

Submission #12
	Title: Sobralia bouchei Author: Kurt M Neubig Institution: University of Florida Department: Department of Botany Topic/Discipline: Systematics Family: Orchidaceae Taxon: Sobralia bouchei Ames & C. Schweinf. Season/time of year: Spring 2007 Country: Colombia Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Flower of the orchid species Sobralia bouchei.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Flowers of many species of Sobralia last for but a fraction of a day and the plants represent some of the tallest orchids known to exist (more than 10m). Sobralia bouchei ranges from northern South America to Costa Rica. Although many species of Sobralia are deceitful (producing no reward for pollinators), S. bouchei produces nectar from a starch-filled callus at the base of the lip.

Submission #13
	Title: Stigmatic surface blocked in Chamaecrista chamaecristoides Author: Gerardo Arceo Gomez Institution: Instituto de Ecologia, A.C. Department: Ecologia Funcional Topic/Discipline: Pollination biology Family: Leguminosae Taxon: Chamaecrista chamaecristoides Season/time of year: January 2008 Winter Area: La Mancha Coastal Research Center State/Province: Veracruz    Country: Mexico Longitude: 19° 35' 12'' Latitude: 96° 22' 18'' Additional Credits: Tiburcio Laez Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: SEM picture of Chamaecrista chamaecristoides style
Scientific Description/Explanation: At the tip of the incurved style of Chamaecrista chamaecristoides has an orifice leading to a stigmatic cavity which is blocked by short hairs (trichomes). When the pollinator vibrates the flower (buzz pollination) it opens the hairs and let the pollen into a stigmatic surface, ready to germinate. The picture was taken with a JEOL Scanning Electronic Microscope JSM-5600LV

Submission #14
	Title: Looking for some pollen? Author: Gerardo Arceo Gomez Institution: Instituto de Ecologia, A.C. Department: Ecologia Funcional Topic/Discipline: Pollination biology Family: Leguminosae Taxon: Chamaecrista chamaecristoides Season/time of year: August 2007 Summer Area: La Mancha Coastal Research Center State/Province: Veracruz    Country: Mexico Longitude: 19° 35' 12'' Latitude: 96° 22' 18'' Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Chamaecrista chamaecristoides an endemic plant of the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico
Scientific Description/Explanation: Chamaecrista chamaecristoides is an enantiostylous (right and left-styled flowers) and an endemic plant of the sand dunes in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. Is exclusively pollinated by pollen collecting bees. The large yellow flowers provide no nectar reward and pollen is released trough terminal pores in the anthers following vibration by bees (buzz pollination). The picture was taken with a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S40 (4.1 Mega pixels) and has not been edited with Photoshop or any other software.

Submission #15
	Title: Linanthus parryae (sand blossoms) in bloom Author: Naomi Fraga Institution: Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Department: Research Topic/Discipline: Floristics Family: Polemoniaceae Taxon: Linanthus parryae Common Name: sand blossoms, desert snow Season/time of year: March 26, 2005 (Spring) Area: Short Canyon, Kern County State/Province: California    Country: USA Longitude: 35.7110N Additional Information: This photo was taken while I was conducting a floristic study of the Owens Peak Eastern Watershed. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: A sea of sand blossoms (Linanthus parryae) in the California Mojave Desert
Scientific Description/Explanation: Linanthus parryae, commonly known as sand blossoms or desert snow, is a diminutive annual in the Polemoniaceae (phlox family) native to the Mojave Desert of California. This plant species is conspicuous in the landscape in years of ample rain, and has two color morphs, white and blue, with the white form being most common throughout the range of the species (hence the common name desert snow). However, in Short Canyon, (Kern County, California) the blue color morph predominates, as shown in this photo. Here L. parryae is photographed from an ant’s point of view with other desert annuals including Camissonia campestris (Mojave suncup), Lasthenia californica (gold fields), and Linanthus dichotomous (evening snow) and a few individuals of the white color morph of L. parryae.

Submission #16
	Title: Erica shannonea stoma and guard cells Author: Tanja M. Schuster Institution: Wake Forest University Department: Biology Topic/Discipline: Ecophysiology Family: Ericaceae Taxon: Erica shannonea Andrews Season/time of year: September 2004 - spring Area: Akkedisberg, Cape Province State/Province: Caledon District    Country: South Africa Additional Information: This picture was taken on an Amray 1810 SEM at Wake Forest University. Wake Forest University Research Funds, the National Science Foundation (DEB-9407350 and Deb-0234043), and the National Science Foundation International Programs Supplement are thanked for support. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Water use efficiency of 'ericoid' leaves of Erica shannonea from South Africa's Cape.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Erica shannonea Andrews is a rare species of heather in the Ericaceae. The center of diversity for Erica lies in the Cape region of South Africa, where more than 860 species occur. Ericae have a distinctive, 'ericoid' leaf morphology. Their microphylls (tiny leaves) are so tightly rolled together that they have the appearance of a conifer needle. Only a narrow slit remains open along the mid axis of the in-rolled leaf to enable gas exchange for photosynthesis. This 'ericoid' leaf morphology, with specialized photosynthetic tissues (palisade cells in the mesophyll and dome-shaped epidermal cells on the epidermis) and various types of hairs, has an adaptive advantage in the South African Mediterranean climate. Water use efficiency, which is influenced by ambient temperature and relative humidity, is maximized by reducing water loss from evaporation. Evaporation occurs via the stomatal pores (pictured here), which open for gas exchange and carbon gain for photosynthesis. Water loss in this high sunlight and stress environment is reduced by minimizing the amount of leaf surface exposed to the drying surroundings. In addition, the 'ericoid' leaf shape, which is approximately cylindrical and has a more or less uniform internal anatomy, facilitates efficient radial diffusion of CO2 much like a conifer needle. In Erica, stomata are located on the leaf surface facing away from the sun, which has become the "inner chamber" of the in-rolled leaf, and are not found on the adaxial side (leaf surface facing the stem axis).

Submission #17
	Title: Queen-of-the-Night Author: Tanja M. Schuster Institution: Wake Forest University Department: Biology Topic/Discipline: Tropical botany Family: Cactaceae Taxon: Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose Common Name: Queen-of-the-Night Season/time of year: July 2007 - summer Area: The Kampong, Coconut Grove, Miami State/Province: Dade County, Florida    Country: USA Longitude: Additional Information: This picture was taken while attending Dr. Walter Judd's UFL Tropical Botany class during a month long stay at the Kampong in Miami, which is part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden scheme. The four ha garden is noted for its collections of tropical plants of edible or other ethnobotanic value. The Wake Forest University Vecellio Award is thanked for support. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose (Cactaceae): A night-blooming, epiphytic cactus.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose (Cactaceae) is a climbing cactus, which can grow as an epiphyte on trees by attaching adventitious roots to its support. Cactaceae are supported as monophyletic by morphological and molecular characters, though relationships within the family are difficult to resolve. Members of Selenicereus are native to tropical America. Selene (a lunar deity in Greek mythology) as part of the generic name conveys the ethereal white quality of the enormous flowers (grandiflorus), which are more than 20 cm long. The common name 'Queen-of-the-Night' also refers to this, since dozens of flowers radiate like tiaras in the moon light when the flowers open for one night. The reddish coloration of the bracts stems from betalains, which are nitrogenous pigments also found in beets and Swiss chard. Betalains are taxonomically significant, since they only occur in Caryophyllales (most but not all families) and to the exclusion of anthocyanins, which also confer red, purple or blue coloration. Curiously, several hundreds of tiny beetles frequented the flowers pictured here, though their hefty size and fragrance hint at nocturnal bats or moths as Selenicereus' pollinators.

Submission #18
	Title: Rose in a Mediterranean Garden Author: Pu Huang Institution: Washington University in St Louis Department: Biology Department, EEPB program Topic/Discipline: petaliform stamen Family: Rosaceae Taxon: Rosa Common Name: Rose Season/time of year: 2/4/2008, Winter - Early Spring Area: Temperature House of Missouri Botanical Garden State/Province: Missouri    Country: USA Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Rosa sp. (Rosaceae), a large white flower of this thorny shrub blooming quitely in a classical Mediterranean garden
Scientific Description/Explanation: Having been cultivated world-wide by human for hundreds of years, many species in genus Rosa have developed multiple rounds of various colored perianthes, despite their ancestor has only one round of 5 petals. Look carefully into this big white flower - you will find out those inside petals are, actually, petaliform stamens.

Submission #19
	Title: Messenger of the Gods Author: Pu Huang Institution: Washington University in St Louis Department: Biology Department, EEPB program Topic/Discipline: Pollenation Adaptation Family: Iridaceae Taxon: Common Name: Iris Season/time of year: 3/22/2008, Early Spring Area: Temperature House of Missouri Botanical Garden State/Province: Missouri    Country: USA Additional Information: Genus Iris takes its name from greek world "Iris", which means "rainbow", refering to their highly variable flower colors. In greek mythology, Iris is the messenger of the gods, she links the the gods and humanity. Rainbow is her bridge, leading people to heaven. Additional Credits: Dr Peter Stevens, who let me know about the plant. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Iris japonica, blooming in its bright color in the Temporate House of Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, MO
Scientific Description/Explanation: Species in genus Iris are famous for their amazing adaptation to insect pollination. The style of an iris flower divides towards the apex into three petaloid branches, sometimes with fibrous ends, such as Iris japonica in this picture. Each branches arranges opposite to its correspond outer perianth, together they form an excellent platform for a flying insect. The stigmatic outer perianth showed in the picture is a sign, guiding insects to land on this platform to get their food. While the insect is landing, it will firstly make contact with the pollen-receiving stigma surface, where it will deposit the pollens it bears. Because the inner perianthes has blocked those sideways, only after passing the stigma, the insect can get into the deep space of the flower, where the nectar lies. When it comes out, the anther hidden underneath the style is waiting for it. The insect will bear the pollens of this flower. The lower surface of the stigma is non-receptive, which means the flower will not get self-pollinated. In conclusion, this special form of Iris flowers maximizes the benefits of one single interview of an insect that is able provide - It makes itself pollinated, distributes its own pollen, and avoids self-pollination.

Submission #20
	Title: Double Helix Author: Melanie Schori Institution: Ohio University Department: Environmental & Plant Biology Topic/Discipline: Systematics Family: Orchidaceae Taxon: Dendrochilum sp. nov. Common Name: Rice Orchid Season/time of year: April 18, 2007 (summer in the Philippines) Area: Mt. Hamiguitan State/Province: Davao Oriental Province, Mindanao    Country: Philippines Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: The long inflorescences of this spectacular undescribed Dendrochilum tend to twist into a helix.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Occasionally, a botanist is fortunate enough to visit a truly bizarre landscape with incredible diversity and endemism, including many undescribed species. Mt. Hamiguitan in the Philippines is one such place. The upper slopes of the mountain are formed of ultramafic rock, which has a high content of heavy metals and is toxic to most plants. The mountain is also buffeted by high winds coming directly off the Pacific Ocean. The factors have combined to produce a stunted heath-like forest on the mountain's tableland. Most of the plants are scarcely knee-high, except in sheltered stream valleys. One exception is this new species of Dendrochilum, whose waist-high inflorescences arch over the heath canopy. Dendrochilum has its center of diversity in the Philippines, with at least 96 species, 94% of which are endemic. This may be the largest and showiest species in the genus. Most species are considered epiphytes (growing on trees) or lithophytes (growing on rocks). Terrestrial species have not been recorded before, yet this species occurs only as a terrestrial. The ultramafic soil may be the cause, as I have observed two other species of Dendrochilum growing as terrestrials on the same soil type. This species awaits description because no one has a permit yet to collect a type specimen. Fortunately, Mt. Hamiguitan is a protected area, so visitors should be able to enjoy the floral display of this "rice orchid" for many years to come.

Submission #21
	Title: Blue Jade Author: Melanie Schori Institution: Ohio University Department: Environmental & Plant Biology Topic/Discipline: Systematics Family: Fabaceae Taxon: Strongylodon cf pulcher Season/time of year: February 25, 2008 (late spring in Philippines) Area: Guirang, Basey State/Province: Western Samar Province    Country: Philippines Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: The elegant white, blue, and violet flowers of Strongylodon cf pulcher await pollination.
Scientific Description/Explanation: The genus Strongylodon (Fabaceae) has its center of diversity in the mountains of Luzon in the Philippines. The most famous and widely cultivated member is S. macrobotrys, whose luminous jade green flowers make it highly coveted by collectors. However, S. macrobotrys is by no means the only beautiful member of the genus. This species is probably S. pulcher, whose specific epithet, appropriately, means "beautiful." Despite its beauty, this species is not in cultivation, nor does it appear to have been photographed before. Flowering plants are difficult to photograph because flowering usually occurs high in the tree canopy, and the only evidence of the event is fallen flowers on the ground. Perhaps for this same reason, the Philippine species have been poorly documented in herbarium collections. Shing Fan revised Strongylodon in 1991 but had almost no recent collections or fresh material to work with, so photographs, descriptions of living plants, and accurate distribution maps are still lacking for most species. Strongylodon macrobotrys is not considered to be threatened by habitat destruction because it is widely cultivated, but the other species should be regarded as threatened or vulnerable, especially as seed set may be very low. Although the flowers are carefully tended by ants, they are pollinated by sunbirds or flowerpeckers, which are becoming increasingly rare as more forest is destroyed.

Submission #22
	Title: Fading Giant Author: Melanie Schori Institution: Ohio University Department: Environmental & Plant Biology Topic/Discipline: Systematics Family: Rafflesiaceae Taxon: Rafflesia schadenbergiana Season/time of year: April 22, 2007 (summer in the Philippines) Area: Mt. Kitanglad State/Province: Bukidnon Province    Country: Philippines Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: A senescent female flower of Rafflesia schadenbergiana
Scientific Description/Explanation: Rafflesia schadenbergiana was described from the island of Mindanao in the Philippines by Goeppert in 1885. The flower, reportedly the third-largest in the world, was discovered on Mt. Apo in 1882. For more than 100 years, this species was presumed to be extinct, though occasionally rumors of giant buds seen on the mountains of Mindanao would circulate. In 1994, a Belgian biologist found buds, but he did not publish his findings until December 2006 and was not able to collect material or photograph an open flower to verify his identification. A few species of Rafflesia have been described from buds, but it is difficult to compare and identify species unless they are in full flower. Rafflesia is parasitic and relies on its host (vines of Tetrastigma, Vitaceae) for all its nutritional needs, and it is not possible to locate populations unless buds or flowers are present. This photograph is the first of Rafflesia schadenbergiana. The flower was probably close to a week old and had almost completely darkened from its original red and white coloration. The GPS unit, shown for scale, measures 6.9 cm wide by 15.7 cm long. Although some species of Rafflesia can produce flowers on aerial portions of Tetrastigma vines, R. schadenbergiana most likely only bears flowers from subterranean portions. A team of researchers from the Philippine National Museum visited this population a month later, took photographs of freshly opened flowers, and collected a specimen which may become the neotype of the species. Rafflesia in the Philippines has recently received a lot of attention. In addition to the rediscovery of R. schadenberigana, five new species have been described in the past few years, and at least two more are awaiting publication. After more than 100 years, a Rafflesia has been seen in Samar, at the type locality of R. manillana. Why are so many species being found? One possibility is that widespread forest destruction has actually improved habitat for Tetrastigma, which prefers somewhat open areas. However, habitat degradation has also led to populations of Rafflesia becoming critically imperiled. The Rafflesia schadenbergiana population in the photograph will most likely be extinct within a few years, as it was located only meters from a newly created corn field. In the year since the photo was taken, the area has been converted to a tourist resort.

Submission #23
	Title: Just stand there! A posture of Pleomele Halapepe. Author: Pei-Luen Lu Institution: University of Hawaii at Manoa Department: Department of Botany Topic/Discipline: Botany Family: Ruscaceae Taxon: Pleomele halapepe St. John Common Name: Hala pepe or Le'ie Season/time of year: February 17, 2008 Area: About 1500 feet, Manoa Cliff Trail, Oahu. State/Province: Hawaii    Country: USA Longitude: +21° 19' 33.90"    Latitude: -157° 48' 47.00" Additional Credits: Clifford W. Morden, Mashuri Waite, Huang-Chi Kuo Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Pleomele halapepe St. John, a shrub-type endemic species restricted to Oahu, Hawaii.
Scientific Description/Explanation: The Hawaiian Archipelago includes various endemic species that are the result of speciation subsequent to isolation from source populations. There are six Pleomele species native to Hawaii Islands. Pleomele halapepe St. John are located in Oahu. Habitats can be from plains to cliffs, and from sunny exposed areas to shadow locations. The Hawaiian used those Pleomele species in Hawaii for one of five standard Hula altars to honor Laka, the deity of hula. In Hawaiian herbal medicine, hala pepe was used to cure fever by making into freshly liquid. Notably, hala pepe is also famous for its particular appearance and green throughout the year.

Submission #24
	Title: Fruits of lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes) Author: Patrick Alexander Institution: New Mexico State University Department: Biology Topic/Discipline: Systematics Family: Brassicaceae Taxon: Thysanocarpus curvipes Common Name: lacepod Season/time of year: Spring, 10 Mar 2008 Area: Table Top Wilderness, Sonoran Desert National Monument, on the southwest side of Table Top Mountain. State/Province: Arizona    Country: USA Longitude: 112 8' 38.2"   Latitude: 32 44' 4.9" Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: One-seeded fringed fruits of lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes), a winter annual of the semiarid western United States.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Lacepod, Thysanocarpus curvipes, is a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) found in semiarid, rocky habitats from extreme southeastern British Columbia south to Baja California and western New Mexico. T. curvipes is an annual that flowers and sets seed quickly to exploit short periods of moisture in the winter. The genus Thysanocarpus is unusual among the mustards in having one-seeded, fringed fruits that remain closed at maturity. Thysanocarpus curvipes has a great deal of geographic variation in its fruits, particularly in the size and ornamentation of the fringe. This has been a major character used in taxonomy of T. curvipes and other Thysanocarpus. For instance, plants of T. curvipes with particularly large fringes have been recognized as variety elegans, or even as a separate species. Analyses based on DNA sequence data, however, suggest that there is little or no genetic distinction associated with variation in the fringe of fruits in T. curvipes. Unlike Thysanocarpus, most other mustards have unfringed fruits with many seeds in two chambers. Most mustard fruits open--sometimes explosively--at maturity. However, although the fruits of Thysanocarpus are unusual among members of the mustard family, similar fruits have evolved independently several times, for example in the genera Athysanus and Clypeola in addition to Thysanocarpus.

Submission #25
	Title: Polystichum speciosissimum Author: Emily Y. Butler Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Department: Botany Topic/Discipline: Pteridology Family: Dryopteridaceae Taxon: Polystichum speciosissimum Season/time of year: January 17, 2008, dry season Area: Cerro de la Muerte, Villa Mills State/Province: San Jose    Country: Costa Rica Longitude: 83° 45' 26" W   Latitude: 9° 33' 98" N Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: A pinna of Polystichum speciosissimum.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Polystichum is a genus of ferns found worldwide, though most of its species are in the Neotropics. The specific epithet of this species, P. speciosissimum, literally means "the most beautiful," making this fern "the most beautiful Polystichum." Like all members of this genus it usually grows at higher elevations, and this individual was found in the paramo atop Cerro de la Muerte in Villa Mills, San Jose, Costa Rica. This photograph is of the abaxial, or lower, surface of a pinna (leaf division), which is bright green on top and covered with sori (spore-bearing structures) and golden hairs and scales below.

Submission #26
	Title: Campyloneurum sori Author: Emily Y. Butler Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison Department: Botany Topic/Discipline: Pteridology Family: Polypodiaceae Taxon: Campyloneurum sp. Season/time of year: January 17, 2008, dry season Area: Cerro de la Muerte, Villa Mills State/Province: San Jose    Country: Costa Rica Longitude: 83° 45' 26" W   Latitude: 9° 33' 98" N Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Sporangia in the sori of Campyloneurum, a fern.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Ferns are spore-bearing vascular plants. The structures which bear their spores are called sporangia, and they are often found on the undersides of fern fronds. Sporangia are usually found clustered together in large groups called sori (singular: a sorus), which, in some species, resemble the rounded tops of Sno-Kones. This photograph shows several sori on the underside of a frond of Campyloneurum, a Neotropical genus of ferns. Within the large rounded clumps, the small spherical orange structures are the sporangia, which each contain dozens of spores. Wrapping around each sporangium is a thick red line of cells, called the annulus. When the spores have matured and are ready to be dispersed, the cells of the annulus dry up and shrink like a spring being compressed, slowly pulling the sporangium open. Eventually the cells of the annulus reach a tipping point in the drying process, and the spring releases. As the annulus snaps forward, the spores are shot up and out of the sporangium, and dispersal has begun.

Submission #27
	Title: Individuals of Espeletia cleefii Cuatrec. well adapted to the high elevation stressful conditions Author: Mauricio Diazgranados Institution: Saint Louis University Department: Department of Biology Topic/Discipline: Taxonomy, Ecology, Systematics Family: Asteraceae Taxon: Espeletia cleefii Cuatrec. Common Name: Frailejón Season/time of year: January 10, 2008 / Dry season Area: Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park State/Province: Arauca    Country: Colombia Longitude: -72.297861   Latitude: 6.348472 Additional Information: Technical details: Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, lens 18.0 - 50.0 mm, focal length 18.0 mm. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: A population of Espeletia cleefii defying the harsh conditions of the superpáramos of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy.
Scientific Description/Explanation: Espeletia cleefii is endemic to the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. These plants grow in humid meadows in proper páramos, but sometimes, as in this case, can grow on sandy and rocky dry spots in superpáramos. This species is threatened by climate change. Geographic coordinates: N 06°20'54.5" W 72°17'52.3", elevation: 4,297 m (14,098 ft).

Submission #28
	Title: Singular plants of the top of the neotropical Andes Author: Mauricio Diazgranados Institution: Saint Louis University Department: Department of Biology Topic/Discipline: Taxonomy, Ecology, Systematics Family: Fabaceae Taxon: Lupinus alopecuroides Desr. Common Name: lupino real, chocho, frijolillo Season/time of year: January 6, 2008 / Dry season Area: Sierra Nevada del Cocuy National Park State/Province: Arauca    Country: Colombia Longitude: -72.289639   Latitude: 6.510611 Additional Information: Technical details: Camera Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, lens 18.0 - 50.0 mm, focal length 18.0 mm. Click Here for a Larger Version Back to Image Index
Caption: Lupinus alopecuroides Desr. (palmate leaves, slate blue flowers) growing with Senecio niveoaureus Cuatrec. (white leaves, golden flowers).
Scientific Description/Explanation: L. alopecuroides, commonly known as "lu