Holmes, W.C., J.R. Singhurst, J.N. Mink, and M. White. 2012. Se/enja aurea Nuttall (Brassicaceae) in Texas: A review. Phytoneuron 2012- 62: 1-8. Published 9 July 2012. ISSN 2153 733X SELENIA AUREA NUTTALL (BRASSICACEAE) IN TEXAS: A REVIEW WALTER C, HOLMES Department of Biology Baylor University Waco, Texas 76798-7388 JASON R. SINGHURST Wildlife Diversity Program Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78704 Jason. Singhurst@tpwd. state.tx.us JEFFREY N. MINK Department of Biology Baylor University Waco, Texas 76798-7388 MaAtTT WHITE 882 Hwy 24 Campbell, Texas 75422 ABSTRACT The occurrence of Selenia aurea in Texas is fully documented. The species is thus considered a part of the flora of Texas, at least in a historical sense. Phot 0 ti specimens, circumstances involving the time and place of collection, and commentary on the history of the species in the state are included. KEY WORDS: Brassicaceae, Cruciferae, Selenia, Texas, San Augustine County, San Augustine, Ayish [Irish] Bayou Settlement, Weches Formation, glades and outcrops, Melines C. Leavenworth. Selenia is a genus of five species, four occurring in the southwestern USA and one in northeast Mexico (Al- Shehbaz 2010). Four species are recorded in Texas, two being endemic to the state, another also occurring in New Mexico, and the fourth species, 5. aurea Nuttall, mainly distributed in the Ozark and Ouachita highlands of the southcentral USA, is Jered to be of questionable occurrence in Texas. The later species was cited by Torrey and Gray (1838) and Watson (1895) as occurring in Texas and, more recently by Martin (1940), Correll and Johnston (1970), Rollins (1993), and Al-Shehbaz (2010) as probably occurring in Texas. Turner et al. (2003) excluded the species from the state. The purpose of the study is to determine if S. aurea can be documented in Texas and thus clarify the southwestern distribution of the species. The major references, with commentary, concerning Selenia aurea in Texas include the following. The first mention of the occurrence of Selenia aurea in Texas was by Torrey and Gray (1838), where it is treated as S. aurea var. 8. The following specimen is cited: “Near St. (sic) Augustine, Texas, Dr. Leavenworth.” There are irregularities associated with the citation. Martin (1940), in citing the specimen, writes that “No sheet has been seen that corresponds to these data. There is in the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden (from the Torrey Herbarium) a collection labeled “Selenia aurea. —(?) Prairies, Texas.” The question mark is in place for a word unreadable by Martin. No specific location is Holmes, Singhurst, Mink, and White: Se/enia aurea in Texas 2 given. Additionally, the St. (English or French, saint) should be San (Spanish, San, masculine of saint), as there is a San Augustine but no St. Augustine in Texas. These items will be addressed further in the discussion of the herbarium specimens cited below. In 1895, Sereno Watson (in Gray 1895) cited the above specimen in proposing the name Selenia aurea var. aperta for var. B of Torrey and Gray. He also cited the specimen data as “Near St. Augustine, Texas, Leavenworth,” indicating that the transaction was based solely on literature. Martin (1940) presents an excellent account of the species, which includes a summary of the circumstances of the Leavenworth specimen mentioned above. He concludes with saying that the species is “probably in Texas.” This disposition is likely the result of the inconsistencies of the Leavenworth specimen. By inclusion in their manual, Correll and Johnston (1970) treated Selenia aurea as part of the flora of Texas. The distribution was given as “probably n.e. Tex.” This distribution may be taken in two ways. A northeast Texas distribution would be contiguous with the distribution (which included eastern Oklahoma and in particular, Choctaw County, which borders Texas) mapped by Martin (1940). Or possibly it may only be an expression of uncertainty, since the Texas record may not be supported by a specimen. Thus the species was included in the flora in deference to the citations by Torrey and Gray (1838), Watson (1895), and possibly Martin (1940). Rollins (1993) questioned the exact southwest limits of the species, having not seen specimens from Texas or Louisiana. [Rollins’ mention of Louisiana has nothing to do with the present paper and was dismissed as extraterritorial (not from present day Louisiana, but from the Louisiana Purchase territory).] The species was included as part of the flora of Texas in various checklists of the vascular flora of the state. Included here are the works of Cory and Parks (1937), Gould (1962), Johnston (1990), Hatch et al (1990), and Jones et al. (1997). There are presumably based upon literature reports, hence specimens are not cited. Turner et al. (2003) did not map the species as part of the flora of the state in the Atlas of the Vascular Plants of Texas (Vol. 1), thereby excluding the species as part of the Texas flora. Al-Shehbaz (2010) mentioned that “Although R.C. Rollins (1993) and R.F. Martin (1940) suggested that Selenia aurea probably occurs in southeastern Texas, I have not seen any material from that state.” In summary, the question still remains. Only one specimen of Se/enia aurea has been cited from the state, but the record cannot be verified because there is no specimen that corresponds to the data given (see Torrey and Gray 1838, above). In essence, the location cited by Torrey and Gray does not accompany the specimen. A specimen from Texas cited by Martin (1940) appears to be the same sheet mentioned by Torrey and Gray (1838) but with accurate label data that does not give a specific location. The purpose of this paper is to determine if Se/enia aurea should be considered part of the flora of Texas and thus resolve the question of the southwestern limit of distribution of the species. The research included field searches for the species in two areas of the state. This included San Augustine and Sabine counties of east central Texas, the area collected by M.L. Leavenworth in the 1830s. The second area was northeast Texas (particularly Lamar and Fannin counties), which is continuous with the distribution cited by Martin (1940) and cited as the part of the state where the species is most likely to be expected. The species was not relocated. The second part of the study was to locate and study herbarium specimens of S. aurea from Texas. Four specimens were located and accessed via ultra definition digital Holmes, Snghurst, Mink, and White: Sefenia aurea in Texas 3 photographs (eloan’). Twa of these photographs provided information important to resolving the issue and are included inthis paper. The other ba specimens are fragments lacking original label data. Figure 1, from the Academy of Netural Science at Philadelphia (PH), provided the mast important information The specimen had the mast plant material and a label written in the hand of the collector, Melines C. Leavernrorth, There are several annotations confirming the determination as Selevia awea and a label in the lower tight corner stating that the specimen, originally a part of the herbarium of C.W. Short, was presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences by Short's estate in 1864 Followingis an enlarged digital copy of the label (see Fig 1) hee ewat Verney Fe Baas fp C02 Zt ae ee Ze OU Be Lingtm Lao ai nse Se a ov. The label, in the hand of Leavers orth, reads: “Thisis a verry (sc) singular plant of the class T eradynamia Capsules much inflated Irish Bayou Settlement Texas” Itis not known what is meant by “verry singular plant of the class Tetradynamia, “ It probably refersto the inability ta place the genus in any known “tibe” so it was given a place by itself (from Torrey and Gray 1838), Contrary, it may only refer to the rarity of the species in Texas or thet only one plant was present (but the presence of rmmerous individual roots makes this unlikely). Class Tetradmmamia was ‘used at that ime asthe name of what is the Brassicaceae today. Thisis also the only label amongthe fou specimens that gives a “precise” location of the callection sita, Irish Bayou Settlement Unfortunately, there is no such named place in Texas, This is, however, Leavenworth’s rendering of the place named, Ayish Bayou Setlemert. The word Ayish seems to be the English adaptation of the name of the aboriginal people variously known as the Ais, Ayis, or Eyeish (as in Mission de Nuestra Sefora de los Dolores de los Ais founded in 1716 near what is now San Augustine, [Coins & Caldwell 1995], as to the name and founding date, but not the translation of Ais). Ayish Bayou is named after the Ayish Indians, who lived next to the waterway so named, The stream originates in Shelby C oumty, Texas, and flows south through San Augustine Courty (and the town of San Augustine). It is [originally] a wibutery of the Angelina River, but now empties into Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Finally, the word Texas in seript, with its distinctive bold slash through the x, was used in identifying the writing of Leavenworth, Accollection date is not given, but the approximate date of collection can be determined Texas, prior to 1836, was part of Mexico. Prior to 1834, the area (now San Augustine) was known as Ayish Bayou Settlement, In 1834, the municipality of San Augustine was established by Mexican law, the name Moines, Singhal Mat am Wi: Selena sree inTenas boeing chosen by the Mexican govemment to honor San Augustine of Hippo (MeCrostey 2012). If Leavenworth collected the pant before 1834, Je would have cited the location as Aish Bayou Settlement, but as San Augustine if in 1834 or later. From Cotcber 1831 to 1833, Leavenworth @ smgeon in the United States Army, was stated at Carp Jessup (ater Fort Jessup), Sabine Parish, Louisiana (MEVaugh 1947). & road, [the] E] Camino Real (King’s Highway) comected Natcitcches, Louisiana, to the Presito de Nuestra Sefora del Pilar de ls Aes (coil of Texas fom 1721 to 1763, Goins & Caldwell 1995), Carap Jessup Ayish Bayon Settlement (Gan Augustine, Naccgdectes, San Antoni, then to Mexice, The distance between Camp Jessup ard Ayish Bayou Setlewent Gan ‘Augustine) is approximately 80 lay as measured on today’s highways, Louisiana Highway 6 and Texes Highway 21. ‘These basically follow the path of the origi El Camixo Real. - MeVangh (1947) mentioned that nothing is Inown about Leavenverth’s botanical activities curing this tour of duty at Camp Jessup, but it certainly does not meclude that he could have taveled to Ayish Bayou Settlement ‘When consiered in view of the renacng of the settlement as San Augustine, a collection date of 1831- 1838 is probable ‘Tee secon specimen (Figure 2) of woe is from the Toney Hevbarium of the New Y ork Botanical Gann (NY Specimen ID: 1477274). Itis rot Inown how NY obtained this specimen, but mast likelyit vwas sent fo Tomeyby Short and is a duplicate of the Leaverevarth specimen dscussed above, Following is agital copy of the label (se Fig. 2 cee Aen Nc Aen SO) Mea Sy > ‘The lel does wot give a specific location collector, or date. The handvnition Texas, with the boldly slashed x clearly reveals the hanchting of Leavenworth, thus the collector. The fist Ine of the label gives the plantraee, The second ling, not meerstancable by Martin (1940) and is vfererced in his paper as “(?) Pais” i translated hereto “gravel.” Ths the complete phase is “Graval (sic) Prairies,” which does not refer to a place rame, but tothe gravelly nature of the surfaces of rock lds fouterops of the Weches Formation in this part of Texes, the habitat of the species. The rock glades, consisting of slauconite, sandstone, andor ironstone, were (and are) devoid of trees and appeared as “raries” in the ‘vingin fest of the time, The surfaces are shewn with gravel. [Indications are that Leavernerth has some peculintities of selling as in “very” above arc now “graval”] On the thidlling, prior to Texas, is vetten “Siligue Blacker ike” Aygmently, this is the specinen cited by Toney and Gray (1838) as “Near St. (6c) Augustine, ‘Texas, Dr. Leavenvworh,”asit appears to be the only specimen that they hadacceas to. Obviously, since the specimen ches not give a specific location the lorafo citedin Toney and Gray (1838) was cbtsined from another souce. In doing so, Toneyanel Gray (1838) ened in citing the rame as St. Augustine rather than San Angustire. The addition ofthe word “near” prostbly reflects uncertainly as to if Ayish Bayou Settlement was incorporated into San Angustire in 1834. The filme to trarcrie the label data accuately witlout givg indication of such inthe manuscript acor fale to enter this on the Fevbarium sheet mayye the oot cause of the uncertainty conceming the occunence of the species in Texas. cnveesy nsPh Figue.1. Yloda area(M@C. eawvord sn), Photofrom Hatariun PH, Botmy Depertaar, Acadamy of [Natl Sciences, Bladepin,Iufomnatio provided wih the prise of Te Acadaniy of turd Scimces. Himes, Singhurst, Mok and White: Sefeia gues inTere 6 Figue 2. Sbria aurea (MC Leavenworth s.n Comtesy ofthe C.V. Star Virtual Herbarium of The New York Botanical Garden Holmes, Singhurst, Mink, and White: Se/enia aurea in Texas 7 There are two additional specimens at the New York Botanical Garden (NY Specimen ID 1477275 and 1477276). These sheets, both containing fragments of a fruiting branch, have “C.W. Short M. D.” labels identifying the specimens as being from Texas. This may be in the hand of C.W. Short, but is definitely not in the hand of Leavenworth. This seems to support that these fragments were part of the original Leavenworth collection and were distributed as follows. New York Specimen ID: 1477275 was originally given to Princeton University and incorporated into NY in 1945 while NY Specimen No. 1477276 was given to Wesleyan University and deposited in NY in 1981. In summarizing the findings obtained through study of the digital photographs, we consider the following to be important. 1. Four specimens were located, two having original data important to the study, while the other two had no original information. 2. In our opinion, all specimens are duplicates of the same collection (unicate) made between 1831 and 1833. The specimens were sent to C.W. Short, who distributed fragments to other herbaria. 3. The collection was made at or near Ayish Bayou Settlement (now San Augustine, San Augustine County), Texas. The collection was split as noted. 4. The specific habitat was a rock outcrop/glade of the Weches Formation. The one specimen from the Academy of Natural Sciences (PH), which has been historically documented in this paper, verifies the historical occurrence of Selenia aurea in Texas. The Torrey specimen (NY Specimen ID: 1477274) provides corroborative information. Thus, the southwestern limits of the species include central deep east Texas. Finally, comments on the possibility of rediscovery of the species in Texas are appropriate. In short, this is highly unlikely, largely because of habitat loss, the rock outcrops/glades of this part of Texas having been mined for rock used on local roads. Those remaining intact are in less than pristine condition, largely due to invasion by non-native woody plants such as Rosa bracteata (Rosaceae), Ligustrum sinense (Oleaceae), and Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) or are privately held, thus have limited or no access. However, the hope remains that the species may still be found in the state, probably in northeast Texas. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the Herbarium, Academy of Natural Sciences (PH) and the New York Botanical Garden (NY) for the eloans that made this study possible. We are also indebted to C. Donovan Bailey and Lillis Urban of New Mexico State University (NMC) for their advice and assistance. LITERATURE CITED Al-Shehbaz, L.A. 2010. Selenia. Pp. 506-509, in Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Flora of North America, Vol. 7. Magnoliophyta: Sali to Brassi Oxford Univ. Press, New York. Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas, Texas Research Foundation, Renner. Cory, V.L. and H.B. Parks. 1937. Catalog of the Flora of Texas. Texas Agriculture Experiment Station Bulletin 550, College Station. Goins, C.R. and J.M. Caldwell. 1995. Historical Atlas of Louisiana. Univ. of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Gould, F.W. 1962. Texas Plants — A Checklist and Ecological Summary. MP-585. 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