(no subject)

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Tue, 26 Jan 93 09:31:08 MST

>Priority of binomials is not a "defeat" (taxonomy is not a war) but a
>simple consequence of a couple of quite primitive rules (so any
>botanist is able to understand them 8-)...) viz. the ICBN. I am not
>describing new plants in order to see my name printed on publicly
>distributed paper (i.e. in is not too sure that "there will be
>others..." or do you have "others" ?). Botany is a passion not a
>competition! (For some, however it is only a science)

Jan

I understand what you are saying. Purely scientific motives ostensibly
are to further knowledge and understanding, without care to personal
credit. But alas (or really hurrah!), we are humans with frailties and
strengths of that species. And one frailty is the desire to receive
credit for work done, recognition for one's effort. In science that
comes as publication recognition. For example, on multi-author papers,
the mere order of the names on the paper can be a delicate matter. And
while botany is not my vocation, I do know of cases in that field were
tempers haved flared because of perceived violations of binomial
priority. You should have a gold star for your magnanimous attitude.

A friend of mine pointed out (and I paraphrase) "The competition in science
is so high precisely because the stakes are so low"

Some causes for minor thrill in the greenhouse...
Many of my refrigerated plants are starting to wake up so I put them
in the greenhouse, like _D._filiformis_filiformis_ and my favorite _Drosera_
hybrid, _D._hybrida_.....
More _Sarracenia_ seed germinate....
_D._cistiflora_ `red' reawakens from dormancy...it wasn't dead!
_D._anglica_ `Strathcona', a clone I have been growing from seed I recieved
a few years back looks like it will be a very very large plant...

Lastly, does anyone out there grow D. slackii? Both my clones suddenly
lost all their dew in a matter of a week. I suspect they are mildly dormant.
Anyone with experience on this plant? I doubt a pest because they are in
different pots...

B