424 research outputs found
A reappraisal of Neotropical Vanilla. With a note on taxonomic inflation and the importance of alpha taxonomy in biological studies
Despite the long-standing cultural importance and botanical interest in Vanilla, many taxa belonging to the genus remain poorly understood. Vanilla species generally have broad geographical and ecological distributions. Most species are found in multiple countries, while local endemics are rare. Many names proposed in the eighteen and nineteenth centuries remain cryptic and unused despite having priority over more recently proposed names. Relatively few Vanilla species have been well-documented, both locally and across their entire distribution range, while a significant portion of novelties have been proposed on the basis of very few specimens that are compared only with local floras. After careful inspection of the type materials, living plants, botanical illustrations, photographs and hundreds of additional herbarium specimens of Vanilla we tentatively recognize 62 species for the Neotropics. The taxonomy of Vanilla columbiana, V. hartii, V. inodora, V. karen-christianae, V. marowynensis, V. mexicana, V. odorata, V. phaeantha, V. planifolia, and V. pompona is revised. An updated typification, description, photographs, illustrations, list of studied specimens, distribution map, extent of occurrence and discussion is provided for each of the ten species. Taxonomic proposals include 28 new synonyms, 14 lectotypifications, and one neotypification. We stress on the importance of alpha-taxonomy for biological studies, emphasizing on the detrimental effects of taxonomic inflation and incorrect species determination on the inference of speciation rates, the understanding of biogeographical patterns, the correct estimation of ecological niches, seed dispersal studies, phylogenetic and genomic studies, and the assessments of conservation priorities, among others. Finally, the recently proposed genus Miguelia is placed under the synonymy of Vanilla.Universidad de Costa Rica/[814-C0-049]/UCR/Costa RicaFondo Nacional de Desarrollo CientĂfico y TecnolĂłgico/[]/FONDECYT/PerĂșUniversidad CientĂfica del Sur/[]/UCSUR/PerĂșUCR::VicerrectorĂa de InvestigaciĂłn::Unidades de InvestigaciĂłn::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::JardĂn BotĂĄnico Lankester (JBL
Maritime Boundary Disputes as a Constraint to the Commercialization of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in the Caribbean Sea
This thesis is an examination of the effect which the commercialization of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) will have on the delimitation of maritime boundaries in the Caribbean, and the extent to which boundary disputes will reduce the area available for OTEC facility deployment there. The first chapter is a discussion of OTEC and the prospects for commercialization in the next ten to fifteen years. The second chapter is an analysis of the development of the international law of the sea, and how that evolution has stabilized in recent years establishing a jurisdictional regime in which coastal states control the resources within 200 miles of their shores. The third chapter demonstrates how the international community has been unsuccessful at establishing a systematic body of rules for the delimitation of maritime boundaries. This lack of agreement creates the potential for boundary disputes to persist for many years, especially where the boundary results in the apportionment of valuable resources. The implications of these developments for the commercialization of OTEC in the Caribbean in particular are discussed in the fourth and fifth chapters. In the Caribbean, which is endowed throughout with an OTEC resource, no maritime space exists further than 200 miles from some continental or insular territory. As a result, the entire region will be within zones of national jurisdiction. As many as 60 maritime boundaries will have to be delimited, many of which will require the consideration of a unique or special circumstance such as the presence of a remote island or an unusual curvature of the coastline. The issues are complicated in some cases by disputed titles to sovereignty over small, uninhabited or sparsely populated islands
The English mahogany trade 1700-1793
This thesis describes the origins and development of the English mahogany trade
from its origins to the beginning of the French Revolutionary War. It is based
primarily on statistical and commercial information, most of which is drawn from
government and other official sources. The bulk of the text is a chronological
account, charting the growth of the trade from its small beginnings in Jamaica
after 1700 to its late eighteenth century heyday. It considers the effect of
economic conditions, shipping costs, government commercial policy and imperial
colonial strategy, and shows how these had a direct bearing on the scale and
direction of the trade. The various sources of mahogany are discussed, together
with the characteristics and uses of the timber. Popular conceptions about the
various types of mahogany used in 18th century furniture making are discussed
in the light of statistical and other contemporary evidence.
The thesis also considers the effects of the introduction of mahogany on
furniture manufacturing in England. It investigates the cost of mahogany relative
to other furniture woods, and suggests that its chief appeal in the initial years
of importation was its low cost. This suggestion is born out by the early use of
mahogany as a joinery rather than a cabinet wood. The thesis goes on to argue
that the cost of mahogany was often a primary determinant of stylistic and
technical development. As demand for the wood grew, so costs rose and
inflation became at times a notable feature of the mahogany market. The effects
of this inflation are recorded in the archives of contemporary furniture makers
and are apparent in extant 18th century furniture.
The most important single finding of the thesis is the paramont role of
government in determining the scale and direction of the mahogany trade. In
this respect mahogany reflects the historical development of British West Indian
commercial policy. Mahogany was not merely an art-historical phenomenon, but
a symbol of Britain's rise to commercial dominance in the 18th century
The English mahogany trade 1700-1793
This thesis describes the origins and development of the English mahogany trade
from its origins to the beginning of the French Revolutionary War. It is based
primarily on statistical and commercial information, most of which is drawn from
government and other official sources. The bulk of the text is a chronological
account, charting the growth of the trade from its small beginnings in Jamaica
after 1700 to its late eighteenth century heyday. It considers the effect of
economic conditions, shipping costs, government commercial policy and imperial
colonial strategy, and shows how these had a direct bearing on the scale and
direction of the trade. The various sources of mahogany are discussed, together
with the characteristics and uses of the timber. Popular conceptions about the
various types of mahogany used in 18th century furniture making are discussed
in the light of statistical and other contemporary evidence.
The thesis also considers the effects of the introduction of mahogany on
furniture manufacturing in England. It investigates the cost of mahogany relative
to other furniture woods, and suggests that its chief appeal in the initial years
of importation was its low cost. This suggestion is born out by the early use of
mahogany as a joinery rather than a cabinet wood. The thesis goes on to argue
that the cost of mahogany was often a primary determinant of stylistic and
technical development. As demand for the wood grew, so costs rose and
inflation became at times a notable feature of the mahogany market. The effects
of this inflation are recorded in the archives of contemporary furniture makers
and are apparent in extant 18th century furniture.
The most important single finding of the thesis is the paramont role of
government in determining the scale and direction of the mahogany trade. In
this respect mahogany reflects the historical development of British West Indian
commercial policy. Mahogany was not merely an art-historical phenomenon, but
a symbol of Britain's rise to commercial dominance in the 18th century
Plant species first recognised as naturalised for New South Wales in 2002 and 2003, with additional comments on species recognised as naturalised in 2000â2001
Information is provided on the taxonomy and distribution of 71 taxa of naturalised or naturalising plants newly recorded for the state of New South Wales during the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003. Of these taxa, 32 are new records for Australia (prefaced with a â ). These species are: Abutilon pictum, Acanthus mollis, â Aesculus indica (naturalising), Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis, Ajuga reptans, â Anigozanthos flavidus, Aquilegia vulgaris, Arbutus unedo, â Athertonia diversifolia (naturalising), â Bergenia x schmidtii (naturalising), Bromus catharticus subsp. stamineus, Bryophyllum daigremontianum, Bryophyllum fedtschenkoi, Calyptocarpus vialis, â Ceiba speciosa (naturalising), Cereus uruguayanus, â Cestrum x cultum, â Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Cistus salviifolius, â Clematis montana, â Coprosma x cunninghamii, Coprosma robusta, Cornus capitata, Cotoneaster simonsii, Cotoneaster x watereri group, Crinum moorei, Cupressus lusitanica, â Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata forma monstrosa, â Cylindropuntia prolifera, Cylindropuntia tunicata, Desmanthus virgatus, Drosanthemum candens, â Elaeagnus umbellata (naturalising), â Eragrostis trichophora, â Eupatorium lindleyanum, â Gibasis pellucida, Glechoma hederacea, â Hesperis matronalis, Hieracium aurantiacum subsp. carpathicola, â Inga edulis (naturalising), â Juniperus conferta (naturalising), â Justicia caudata, Lamium galeobdolon, Lathyrus tingitanus, â Lysimachia fortunei, â Maackia amurensis, â Monstera deliciosa, â Murdannia keisak, Odontonema tubaeforme, Oxalis vallicola, Phoenix canariensis, â Physostegia virginiana, Pinus patula, Pittosporum eugenioides, â Pittosporum ralphii, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Plectranthus ecklonii, â Potentilla vesca, â Prunus campanulata, â Rhododendron ponticum, Rosa luciae, Rubus rugosus, Ruellia squarrosa, â Senna multijuga, Stapelia gigantea, Stephanophysum longifolium, Strobilanthes anisophylla, â Tabebuia chrysotricha, â Tabebuia impetiginosa, â Tradescantia pallida and Ulmus x hollandica. Additional notes and name changes are recorded for plants first recognised as naturalised for New South Wales over the period 2000â2001. The identification of several naturalised taxa occurring in New South Wales has been corrected. Plants formerly identified as Pinus nigra var. corsicana are now considered to be Pinus halepensis; Cylindropuntia arbuscula is Cylindropuntia kleiniae, Cylindropuntia tunicata is Cylindropuntia rosea, Abrus precatorius subp. precatorius is now Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus and Cotoneaster ?horizontalis is Cotoneaster microphyllus. Further field studies have revealed that Cylindropuntia leptocaulis, Cylindropuntia spinosior, Hypericum kouytchense and Chamaesyce ophthalmica are more widespread than previously thought
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