Research Training Program

Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History

PROJECT SUMMARY
1995

Kara A. O'Connor
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Robert Faden, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist:
Department of Botany
"My participation in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History's Research Training Program has expanded my knowledge in all areas of the natural sciences through the organization of lectures and workshops with Smithsonian scientists and has challenged my abilities to pursue botanical research. My experiences here have built a foundation for a career in the biological sciences and have raised my goals to reach a higher level of expectations. I will leave this program with a stronger appreciation for evolutionary biological research as well as a strong sense of achievement of what I have learned and accomplished in the past ten weeks."

ABSTRACT
The reclassification of the species Aneilema zebrinum, a talon incorrectly named as the genus Ballya zebrina based on misinterpreted floral characters, was supported by anatomical features considered to be unique to Ballya. However, these conclusions were based on a small sample of Aneilema species which did not include members of Aneilema section Lamprodithyros, a group of species including Aneilema zebrinum. The anatomical characters ofAneilema zebrinum were compared to a broader sample including eight species in Aneilema section Lamprodithyros to determine if a distinction could be inferred based on anatomy. Through the study of leaf cross sections and features of the epidermis, including various types of microhairs, it was shown that the anatomical features of Aneilema zebrinum correspond to those found in several species of section Lamprodithyros. These findings support the hypothesis of the project advisor, Dr. Robert Faden, that the genus Ballya is not distinct from Aneilema and therefore the name Aneilema zebrinum is the correct nomenclatural classification. These results will be submitted for publication in the fall.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number BIR-9300225.

Letter of Gratitude