Author
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Whittemore, Alan |
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Submitted to: Flora of Missouri
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2001 Publication Date: 7/3/2006 Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2006. Betulaceae. In: Flora of Missouri. 2:607-614. Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of the Flora of Missouri, a manual published by the State of Missouri (Department of Conservation) to provide up-to-date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in Missouri, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Betulaceae that are wild or invasive in Missouri is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Six species in five genera are included, several of which are important components of forests or riparian habitats. Current and past economic importance of the species is briefly summarized, based on data from herbarium specimens and the scientific and trade literature; several of these species are used horticulturally, and one is an invasive exotic. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids, useful in Missouri and surrounding states. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms, and providing a baseline for monitoring the status of the invasive exotic Alnus glutinosa, (European black alder) which has only recently been reported as established in the state. Technical Abstract: This contribution will form a section of the Flora of Missouri, a manual published by the State of Missouri (Department of Conservation) to provide up-to-date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in Missouri, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Betulaceae that are wild or invasive in Missouri is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Six species in five genera are included, several of which are important components of forests or riparian habitats. Current and past economic importance of the species is briefly summarized, based on data from herbarium specimens and the scientific and trade literature; several of these species are used horticulturally, and one is an invasive exotic. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids, useful in Missouri and surrounding states. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms, and providing a baseline for monitoring the status of the invasive exotic Alnus glutinosa, (European black alder) which has only recently been reported as established in the state. |
