Hannah C. Medford’s scientific contributions

As part of ongoing efforts to understand, document, and conserve the flora of southeastern North America, we propose two new species, the recognition of a usually synonymized variety, the acceptance of two species of Waltheria as being present in peninsular Florida, taxonomic acceptance of a sometimes deprecated species transferred with a new name into a different genus, and we clarify the distribution and ecology of a species. In Carex (Cyperaceae), we re-analyze infrataxa in Carex intumescens and recommend the recognition of two varieties, a taxonomic schema first proposed in 1893, but usually not followed in the 128 years since. In Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), a careful assessment of south Florida material of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum subsect. Hypericifoliae reveals the need for taxonomic changes to best classify endemic representatives of this group, resulting in the naming of a new species, and a new name at species rank in Euphorbia for a taxon first named in Chamaesyce and sometimes subsequently treated at only varietal rank in Euphorbia. Chamaecrista deeringiana (Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae) has been repeatedly misinterpreted to include two different and disjunct population systems with differing morphologies and habitats, which are here interpreted as separate species, one newly named and the other Chamaecrista deeringiana returned to its original and narrower interpretation as a south Florida endemic. Waltheria (Malvaceae) has sometimes been interpreted as being represented in Florida by a single taxon, Waltheria indica, but we disentangle the concepts of the widespread W. indica and the West Indian W. bahamensis and clarify that both are present in the southeastern United States. We reconsider the occurrence and habitat of Toxicoscordion nuttallii (Melanthiaceae) in three states in which it has been reported as a rare species, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana, and remove it from the Mississippi flora as a garbled and false report. In Louisiana, its occurrence in calcareous prairie complexes limits its potential occurrence in the state to a specialized and rare habitat, but careful exploration of habitat remnants may result in the discovery of additional populations. Taxonomic studies and re-assessments of this kind are critical in laying the best scientific foundation for regulatory, policy, and land conservation decisions. This paper names or makes the case for the renewed acceptance of six species with range-wide conservation concern: one Critically Imperiled (G1 – Euphorbia ogdenii), one Imperiled (G2 – E. hammeri), and four Vulnerable (G3 – E. garberi, E. porteriana, Chamaecrista deeringiana, C. horizontalis).

As part of ongoing efforts to understand, document, and conserve the flora of southeastern North America, we propose a number of taxo-nomic changes, nomenclatural changes, interpretations of nativity, and distributional accounts. Regarding the Asaroideae (Aristolochiaceae), we support continued recognition of Hexastylis (and other segregates of a very broad Asarum s.l.) at generic rank and make the necessary combinations to continue the use of Hexastylis in southeastern North America floras. In Conoclinium (Asteraceae), we present morphological and distributional evidence corroborating the recent suggestion (based on molecular evidence) that Chapman's 1878 C. dichotomum is distinct, warrants recognition, and is present as a second Conoclinium in the southeastern North American flora. An analysis of historical accounts of Gaillardia pulchella (Asteraceae) strongly suggests that its modern occurrence east of Texas is adventive, rather than native. Two rare southeastern United States skullcaps, Scutellaria mellichampii and S. ocmulgee (Lamiaceae), have been persistently confused with one another and other species; we present a reassessment of the taxonomic distinction between them, best ways to distinguish them and similar species, and their known distributions. A reassessment of the taxonomy, distribution, and ecology of Linum carteri (Linaceae), a rare southern Florida endemic, confirms that two species should be recognized by modern species concepts; we make the necessary new combination to effect the recognition of two narrowly endemic species. In Andropogon (Poaceae), we propose that A. virginicus var. decipiens warrants recognition as distinct at species rank from other entities in the Andropogon virginicus complex. We also present more comprehensive information on the distributions of four species of "bushy bluestems" (Andropogon glomeratus s.l.), their ecology, and their practical recognition. In the Violaceae, modern reassessment of the taxonomy of many species (especially in the genus Viola) by H.E. Ballard, Jr. and collaborators have been vexed by uncertain application of many "old" names; we here provide a first installment of typifications and nomenclatural interpretations needed to move forward with a modern treatment of the genus in our region. In Xyris (Xyridaceae), we re-establish the generally ignored X. elliottii var. stenotera based on careful and extensive study of its morphology and ecology in comparison to X. elliottii var. elliottii, This article has been licensed as Open Access by the author(s) and publisher. This version supersedes any other version with conflicting usage rights. 200 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 14(2) including a transplant study. English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) has been honored by having a genus and fifteen species of plants named for him, but most of these honorific names have been cons tructed in manners contrary to the Shenzhen Code; as these are "errors to be corrected," we therefore propose to correct and standardize these honorifics by restoring his name "catesby-" as the root of the names. Similarly, in seven names (variably formed) employed by W.W Ashe to honor his cousin and (later) wife Margaret Haywood Henry (Wilcox) (Ashe), we also standardize and correct the root of the names to be accurately based on her name, "margaret-," in conformance with the Shenzhen Code. resumen Como parte de los esfuerzos en marcha para entender, documentar, y conservar la flora del sudeste de Norte América, proponemos un número de cambios taxonómicos, nomenclaturales, interpretaciones de ser autóctonas, y datos de distribución. En relación con Asaroideae (Aristolochiaceae), continuamos reconociendo en el rango genérico Hexastylis (y otros segregados del muy amplio Asarum s.l.) y hacemos las combinaciones necesarias para continuar con el uso de Hexastylis en la flora del sudeste de Norte América. En Conoclinium (Asteraceae), presentamos pruebas morfológicas y de distribución que corroboran la reciente sugestión (basada en pruebas moleculares) que C. dichoto-mum de Chapman 1878 es distinta, merece reconocimiento, y está presente como una segunda Conoclinium en la flora del sudeste de Norte América. Un análisis de las citas históricas de Gaillardia pulchella (Asteraceae) sugiere fuertemente que su moderna ocurrencia en el este de Texas es adventicia, en vez de nativa. Dos especies raras del sudeste de Estados Unidos, Scutellaria mellichampii y S. ocmulgee (Lamiaceae), han sido permanentemente confundidas con otra y otras especies; presentamos una reevaluación de la distinción taxonómica entre ellas, el mejor modo de distinguirlas entre ellas y con especies similares, y sus distribuciones conocidas. Una reevaluación de la taxonomía, distri-bución, y ecología de Linum carteri (Linaceae), un endemismo raro del sur de Florida, confirma que deben reconocerse dos especies según los modernos conceptos de especie; hacemos las nuevas combinaciones necesarias para efectuar el reconocimiento de dos especies endémi-cas restringidas. En Andropogon (Poaceae), proponemos que A. virginicus var. decipiens precisa reconocimiento en el rango de especie como distinta de otras entidades en el complejo Andropogon virginicus. También presentamos información más completa de las distribuciones de cuatro especies de "bushy bluestems" (Andropogon glomeratus s.l.), su ecología, y su reconocimiento práctico. En la revaluación moderna de la taxonomía de Violaceae, muchas especies (especialmente en el género Viola) por H.E. Ballard, Jr. y colaboradores han sido controvertidas por la aplicación incierta de muchos nombres "viejos"; aquí aportamos una primera entrega de tipificaciones y las interpretaciones nomen-claturales necesarias para avanzar con un tratamiento moderno del género en nuestra región. En Xyris (Xyridaceae), reestablecemos la generalmente ignorada X. elliottii var. stenotera basados en un estudio cuidadoso y extensivo de su morfología y ecología en comparación con X. elliottii var. elliottii, incluyendo un estudio de trasplantes. El naturalista inglés Mark Catesby (1683-1749) ha sido distinguido por tener un género y quince especies de plantas nombradas por él, pero la mayor parte de estos nombres honoríficos han sido construidos de un modo contario al Código de Shenzhen; como estos son "errores a ser corregidos," proponemos por ello corregir y estandardizarlos restau-rando su nombre 'catesby-' como raíz de los nombres. Similarmente, en siete nombres (formados variablemente) empleados por W.W Ashe para honrar a su prima y (posterior) esposa Margaret Haywood Henry (Wilcox) (Ashe), también estandarizamos y corregimos la raíz de nombres para que estén basados con precisión en su nombre, 'margaret-,' de acuerdo con el Código de Shenzhen.