HEBERLING LAB

It may be winter in Pittsburgh, but it is summer somewhere! This grass specimen was collected in January 1938 by A.A. Obermeyer in Zimbabwe. The accepted name of the species (according to Plants of the World Online) is Tetrapogon roxburghiana, given a new combination in 2015 (determined to be in a different genus through molecular data) from a former name written on the label in the image above (Chloris roxburghiana).  The species is found in seasonally dry tropical environments of East Africa to India. Interestingly, the holotype (the specimen that defines the species) is not actually a herbarium specimens, but a painting from William Roxburgh (1751-1815), a British botanist who described species in India. The use of drawings and paintings is more common in older holotypes and species descriptions.

Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation, you can expect to see more digitized specimens collected in Africa from CM herbarium.

Learn more about the project, and the network of herbaria involved, HERE.

This specimen of winterberry (Ilex verticillata) was collected by L.R. Albright on October 30, 1935 at “County Home Farm” in Somerset county, Pennsylvania.  Feeling the vibes of fall, I was scrolling through the database for a nice fall specimen, perhaps one with bright red leaves or vibrant berries. Winterberry fits the bill. I download the image…and it’s a stick!  Not quite what I imagined, but interesting nonetheless.

I don’t really know the story of this specimen or collector without doing more digging. This is the only specimen in the Carnegie Museum herbarium from this collector. Why did L.R. Albright collect this piece of wood? Based on the thickness of the wood, it must have been quite a large shrub. Surely a winterberry this size also had spectacular shiny red berries lining the stems.  The berries remain abundant along the stems through winter, providing a nice food source for birds.
 
Some herbaria have incredible wood collections. This type of herbarium even has a fun name – a xylarium. 
 
The Carnegie Museum herbarium does not have a big wood collection, but there are some unusual specimens of wood like this one that is (see past post on sassafras).  CM also has a small reference wood collection consisting of labeled blocks of wood (identified but with no other data such as where each block was collected, unfortunately). Wood specimens are not mounted to herbarium sheets in the normal fashion but instead stored in the “fruit collection,” where all three dimensional and bulky specimens are curated.
 
So not quite the beautiful fall berries I was expecting, but beautifully intriguing nonetheless.
 
See the digital specimen record here: https://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/list.php?db=328&collector=albright

Below: Winterberry at my house, Oct 30 2024.

This specimen of hairy Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum pubescens) was collected on October 23, 1915 in a ravine in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania (just west of Pittsburgh) by Otto Jennings, longtime botany curator and University of Pittsburgh biology professor. 

This specimen isn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but that depends who you ask! Crumpled brown leaves, with a few fruits barely hanging on. The flowers and fruits of this species that dangle in pairs below the plant are not to be missed, though they are easy to overlook. The fruits do not seem to hang on for long, and it is common to see just the empty pedicels, leaving you to only imagine where the flowers once were.  A spring-emerging species, but as this specimen shows, some individuals can linger fairly late into fall.  A 2024 study in American Journal of Botany led by student Abby Yancy and postdoc Dr. Ben Lee at the museum used observations from iNaturalist to show that many species that we might think as short-lived spring “ephemerals” persist later into summer and even fall.
 
Despite its crinkly leaf appearance, this specimen importantly documents the species’ persistence through the fall.  Hairy Solomon’s seal is a spring-blooming herbaceous species, common in the understory in the temperate forests of eastern North America.  It was not until quite a few years, that I realized there are two similar-looking common species in Pennsylvania: “hairy” Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum pubescens) and Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum).  As the name suggests, one key difference is the pubescence (hairs) on the underside of the leaves.  The hairs can be seen with the naked eye (or tongue, as some botanists might do…but lick plants at your own risk!).
 
As I started paying attention, it seems hairy Solomon’s seal is the more common encounter, at least in southwestern Pennsylvania.
 
This time of year we are often drawn to the spectacular bright fall colors of trees or the blooms of fall asters.  But on occasion, you can find a spring-blooming wildflower hanging on into fall. There is a certain joy in such finds.  A last reminder until next spring.
 

This specimen of common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) was collected in January 1923 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania "East of Ambridge" by H.W. Graham.  Herbert W. Graham (1905-2009) was an "Assistant" in Botany at the Carnegie Museum from 1925-1929 while he was a student at the University of Pittsburgh who later became an oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. During his time at the museum, he collected many specimens, often with his brother, Edward H. Graham, who was also an Assistant in Botany, later curator (1931-1937) and later, a well known conservationist with the US Department of Agriculture.  The Graham brothers went on expeditions to the Sonoran desert in the late 1920s, collecting specimens and information that was used to create the desert diorama that remains in the museum's Botany Hall today.

This specimen has a "bits and pieces" feel to it, but shows what the plant looks like in winter, with branches, buds, a leaf, and even including a nice cross section cut out of the stem. The leaf is in great shape, which makes me question whether the leaf was truly was collected in January, when the leaves are usually dry and crumbled from the wrath of winter. 

The specimen was simply collected in "January 1923" with no note on the day of year.  I feel that coming off a holiday break (what day is it?).  But more seriously, it reminds us that many specimens of the past were collected for different purposes with many of their uses today unanticipated.  For instance, collectors today would certainly record the calendar date of collection, valued just as much as information on the location it was collected, as scientists routinely use specimens to date information to understand the seasonal timing of leafing, flowering, and fruiting with changing environmental conditions over time.

The leaf is a nice touch, too.  It indicates that at least some leaves were still around in the winter of 1923, and it is quite possible they were even still connected to the stem.  Though this species is deciduous (drops its leaves seasonally), common witch hazel has been known to sometimes hang onto some dead leaves on branches through winter.  This phenomenon is known as "marcescence."  Why this happens isn't fully known.  Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4410 

You can find this specimen and 588 others of the species in the Carnegie Museum herbarium here: ​https://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/list.php?db=328&includecult=1&taxa=Hamamelis virginiana&usethes=1&taxontype=2 

Above: Witch hazel exhibiting marcescence, with last year's leaves still attached in early spring (photo taken March 23 2021 at Powdermill Nature Reserve)

Below: Witch hazel's magnificent autumn blooms. Unlike many woody plants in our region that bloom in spring as leaves are emerging, this species blooms in fall, as its leaves are dropping! (photo taken Oct 29 2022 in New Kensington, PA)

This specimen was collected in 1879 by Isaac Martindale, who collected more than 80,000 specimens during his lifetime. The label reads it was collected in "Camden, NJ Ballast."  The specimen was identified as Galingsoga caracasana, which is now considered the same as Galingsoga quadriradiata. The species is native to Mexico, and Central/South America. A common name for the species is "shaggy soldier."  Though my favorite name for the species is "Pittsburgh weed," which it was once called due to its abundance in Pittsburgh.  But that is a different story. 

This specimen was recently used in a fascinating new study published in the American Journal of Botany by botanists by Ryan Schmidt and other botanists at Rutgers University entitled "Hidden cargo: The impact of historical shipping trade on the recent-past and contemporary non-native flora of northeastern United States."  They used herbarium specimens to assemble a dataset of species that were introduced to North America via ship ballast.  In the 1800s, ships travelling across the Atlantic (and elsewhere) filled their hulls with stones, sand, dirt, and other material to use as weight to stabalize the ship.  When then got to their destination port, they dump this extra ballast.  This ballast material often contains plant material, including seeds, thereby making ballast an important vector for the introduction of new plant species from far away.  The study of "ballast flora" has long fascinated botanists, who noticed unusual new plants growing around port cities.  Many of the species may not become established but other species would establish, spread, and become invasive.

There are a lot of fascinating things about this study.  They surveyed specimens in the Mid Atlantic and Northeastern US, many of which were recently digitized through the NSF funded Mid Atlantic Megalopolis Project (including Carnegie Museum!). Based on the labels, they assembled a dataset of species which were introduced or found in "ballast." The study used specimens to track introduction, establishment, and invasion of plants introduced via ballast in New Jersey.

Incredibly, they found that 48% of introductions from ballast became established to some degree! This rate is MUCH higher than what is sometimes suggested (the "tens rule" or 10% of introduced plants become established).  

This study points to herbarium specimens as a unique source of data.  It is very difficult to measure the success of introduced species, as those species that fail to establish are rarely recorded.  

Read more about this cool study here: ​https://botany.one/2023/08/the-hidden-cargo-that-brought-hundreds-of-plant-species-to-the-garden-state/ 

This specimen of white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) was collected by Fred Utech in Loyalhanna Township, Pennsylvania on May 28, 1993.  Fred Utech was Curator of Botany at Carnegie Museum of Natural History from 1976-1999. You can find this specimen here and search for many more trillium at midatlanticherbaria.org.

Trillium grandiflorum (white large-flowered trillium) is perhaps the most common trillium species in western Pennsylvania, along with Trillium erectum (red trillium, though petals can be white, red/purple, or occasionally yellow; the ovary is deep red, unlike white trillium).  Peak blooms of this species can be breathtaking when covering hillsides. Deer also enjoy trillium, and herbarium specimens have been used to understand their impact.

​As the heat of summer is upon us, these spring blooming species begin to fade. Or at least their flowers do.  Some trillum keep their leaves into the deep shade of summer. Though light levels are low due to the shade of overstory trees, early summer is an important time for many spring blooming species to develop their fruits.  A local study from our group found more than 20% of photosynthetic energy gains in Trillium grandiflorum after overstory trees produced leaves.

White trillium leaves do die back in mid-summer, however.  We often think of leaf coloration in the fall, but some trillium curiously have leaves that turn a deep red as they fade in mid-summer.  We are currently working up an undergraduate students led project on this intriguing natural history phenomenon. Only about 10% of plants turn red (but highly variable), and first results suggest there doesn't seem to be a method to the madness that explains why. More soon!  For now, enjoy the "fall" foliage of summer below.

This specimen of Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) was collected on October 28, 1920 by Neil MCCallum at West End Park, Pittsburgh.  The plant was collected in cultivation, meaning it was intentionally planted and grown in a garden or similar. This specimen is one of the earliest records of the species in Pittsburgh (It was also collected two years before).

Kudzu is a vine in the bean family, Fabaceae, with beautiful purple flowers. Native to East Asia, it was introduced as an ornamental  the United States from from Japan in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition.  It was promoted in the 1930-40s in the southern US to prevent soil erosion.  However, it is now an invasive species, with big ecological impacts.  It is widely known as "the vine that ate the South."  A quick google search will show you striking pictures of the vine covering large areas of land, covering trees, shrubs, logs, and everything.  It shades out existing vegetation and can drastically alter the ecosystem.

It is not common in Pennsylvania, but perhaps might become so.  It is listed by the state as a "Class A Noxious Weed" - meaning it is assessed as a high invasive risk and ecological/economical concern, but is uncommon and possible to be eradicated.  It can not be sold or planted commercially in PA.

It is currently most invasive in the South, but a study published in 2009 by Dr. Bethany Bradley and others suggests that the species may become more invasive in the north (including Pennsylvania) as climate change continues.

You can find this specimen online here, and search our collection at midatlanticherbaria.org.

Kudzu (Pueria montana) growing along the Kiskiminetas River in Apollo, Pennsylvania in 2018.  It was likely planted, but seems to be doing quite well.

It's spring in Pennsylvania!  And what better sign of spring than trilliums that blanket our forest floors. (Well, in sites that aren't ravaged by deer and other disturbances)

This specimen of great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) was collected by Fred Utech on April 1 1997 in North Huntington Township, PA.  The collector number is 97-001, which I think means it was the first specimen Utech collected that year. [Note that every collector has their own system for the collector number - the number after their name on the label. The collector number is a unique number assigned by the collector, and often corresponding to their field notes.  Most collectors number their specimens sequentially but others have other number systems. Here, Utech seems to use the two digit year followed by sequence of numbers for that year. Collector numbers are important, both for the collector to keep track of collections as they press them and make labels but also for researchers later as a unique number to cite or reference in publications or other research.]

Note that the original label says "Trillium nivale" (snow trillium) but another label was added above, a small slip that says "Trillium grandiflorum, det: B.L. Isaac 2004"  This annotation slip means that Bonnie Isaac, Collection Manager at CM herbarium, noticed this specimen was mislabeled and corrected it.  But note the old label remains...keeping the history of determinations for the specimen is important, as it migth be useful for others and perhaps the annotation slip is wrong or as new information arises, our understanding of what species exist changes too! That's why the physical specimen is so important...species names may change, but the specimen remains for verification of new names as we learn more about biodiversity.  This specimen even says "DNA voucher" on the label...and if we didn't have the specimen, we wouldn't be able to update the DNA data.

Trillium grandiflorum (called white trillium or large flowered trillium) is perhaps the most abundant trilliums in western Pennsyvlania.  And they are beautiful.  Peak flower display around Mother's Day.

Leaves gone, but fruits hang on.
 
This specimen of bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) was collected by Bayard Long on January 11, 1951 in a “rubbish dump” on West Chester Pike, near Broomall, Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia).  Bayard Long (1885-1969) was a Philadelphia-area botanist and an active member of the Philadelphia Botanical Club (founded in 1891 and still exists today).  He was a prolific collector and served as Curator of the Club’s Local Herbarium for 56 years (housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences).
 
Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is in an herbaceous vine in the potato or nightshade family (Solanaceae), not to be confused with the similarly named Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), which is an introduced woody vine in the staff vine or bittersweet family (Celastraceae).
 
Bittersweet is an invasive species, introduced from its native range in Europe and Asia as early as the 1800s. It is common to see climbing along fences in urban areas and elsewhere across North America.
 
In the winter, its fleshy red berries are commonly still attached to the vines, long after the leaves are gone.
 
Find this specimen: https://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/individual/index.php?occid=12324234
 

Nothing but sticks!
 
This specimen of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) doesn’t have any flowers...or leaves!  This specimen of dormant twigs was collected by J.F. Lewis in Union county, Pennsylvania on Christmas Eve, 1934.  This specimen is one of many more like in the Carnegie Museum herbarium collected by Lewis of trees and shrubs in Pennsylvania during winter.  The herbarium at California University of Pennsylvania is named after Lewis (John Franklin Lewis herbarium). It is not immediately clear from the specimens themselves why Lewis collected these, but they likely document a study on winter twigs or to aid the identification of trees in winter.
 
Find this leafless specimen and 240 more collected by J.F. Lewis here: https://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/list.php?db=328&collector=Lewis%3B+J.F.&includecult=1