Research

The collections of the A. C. Moore Herbarium serve as an important research tool for scientists around the world. Often material may be loaned to partner institutions for review. This sort of exchange program improves the quality of the collection by ensuring that all specimens are correctly identified by botanical specialists. Additionally, requesting institutions benefit by having the use of a more comprehensive data set. Researchers may find it more advantageous to visit the herbarium if a particularly high number of specimens must be consulted. For preliminary research, the online search feature provides a widely accessible, condensed set of specimen information.

Molecular Biology

Researchers at USC's Department of Biological Sciences have investigated the anatomy of stem tumors of transgenic tobacco plants. (See Anandalakshmi R, et al 2000. A calmodulin-related protein that suppresses posttranscriptional gene slicing in plants, Science 290: 142-144.) Two different species of tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. and N. benthamiana Domin, were used in these experiments. In tumors of both species, the quantity of vascular tissue is far less than in normal stem bases, and primary and secondary xylem elements cannot be distinguished. These studies shed light on the effect of polarity on the development of tumors, and the characteristics, both anatomical and developmental, of plant tumors in general. Voucher specimens of all plant materials used in this these experiments are housed in the herbarium.

Plant Systematics

Stachys (the "hedge-nettles") is a genus in the mint family (Lamiaceae) containing nearly 250 species, and thus is one of the larger genera in the family. It is nearly cosmopolitan in natural distribution, and North America is rich in species diversity. Within the United States, two large areas are of particular interest in the taxonomy of hedge-nettles, the Appalachians, and California. Otherwise, every state of the Union has naturally occurring populations of at least two species of Stachys. Most of the hedge-nettles are perennials, commonly featuring rhizomes, and sometimes tubers. Certain species are important as agricultural weeds. Our research has indicated zones of intergradation between otherwise easily separated species. Nomenclatural confusion has been the result (as with many other groups); we are attempting to unravel the morphological limits of these species.

Floristics

Recent research has investigated the rare and threatened species occurring at the Congaree Swamp National Monument in Richland County, about 15 miles from the University. Although the swamp is highly diverse in terms of woody species, it is relatively species poor in herbaceous flora, although it features considerable diversity of species in the genus Carex.

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