November 10, 2000

"Collecting Stories: A Thanksgiving Cornucopia"
William J. Hess
Taxonomist / Herbarium Curator
The Morton Arboretum
Lisle, Illinois

Dr. Hess has been collecting plants from throughout the continental U.S. and parts of Mexico for the past 40 years. This presentation will focus on taxonomic studies of Acer, Spiraea, Quercus, and others, plus general collecting for herbarium exchange and natural product studies by the National Cancer Institute. These collections for NCI are used in cancer and anti-AIDS testing.

Bio Sketch

Having received his MS and Ph.D degrees fron the University of Washington and the University of Oklahoma respectively, Dr. Hess taught at St. Mary's Seminary Junior College,the University of Oklahoma, Western New Mexico University (Assistant Professor), and at Newark State University (Associate Professor). Since 1973 he has been with The Morton Arboretum, and is currently Curator of the Herbarium / Taxonomist.

Minutes November 10, 2000

A Thanksgiving Cornucopia. Presented by William J. Hess . William Hess, Taxonomist/ Herbarium Curator (Morton Arboretum), & self proclaimed "Posie Picker"...Showing slides of collecting and micros of plant variation (trichomes, pollen,) of rare and possible new species of plants : Acer freemanii, Quercus shumardii, was enlightening; however, mention of Daniel E. Moerman Native American Ethnobotany Portland, Or. Timber Press, 1998 927p.; 29cm ($80.00) made the evening grand.

The results of collecting for the National Cancer Institute: Of the 228 Genera collected 164 were in Moerman's book. Of 239 species collected 157 had medical application. Perhaps, "The only good plant is dead, flat and mounted on cardboard."