Research Training Program

Scott LaGreca
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Pedro Acevedo, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Botany

"My NMNH internship was a valuable bridge between my undergraduate and graduate educations."

The Oleaceae of St. John Island

This project examined a small (ten specimen or less) family of vascular plants to treat for the book on the flora of St. John's Island. First, an overview of the literature on the flora was conducted, including works on the history of St. John, the phytobiogeography of the West Indies, the natural history of St. John, and the flora of St. John. Next, herbarium specimens from St. John were examined and familiarity was gained with families represented in the flora. The Oleaceae were selected as the focus of this research. This family was chosen for a number of reasons: it has only four species on the island, it is a well-defined family, jasmine is very well-known, and one of the species is endemic to the region.

This research on the Oleaceae involved a combination of library work, herbarium work, and lab work. In the library descriptions on the Oleaceae were compiled from past and recent Caribbean floras, original descriptions of the Oleaceae plants under investigation were located, and it was determined which names would be given priority. Appropriate herbarium and alcohol specimens were removed for use in the lab work. The lab work included an original description and it took the majority of the research time.

Computer work was the last stage of this project. Using Wordperfect 5.0, an entry for the family Oleaceae was written, revised, and rewritten. It will be included in Dr. Acevedo's book when it is published. The entry consists of descriptions of the family, genera, and species, journal references for the family, appropriate synonyms for the species treated, distribution notes for all the taxa treated, and dichotomous identification keys for all the taxa treated. In addition, an annotated list of all of the St. John material used was included.

This research was supported by a grant from the James Smithson Society.