THOMAS F. DANIEL
Curator
Department of Botany

A.B. Duke University (1975); Ph.D. University of Michigan (1980). Lecturer, University of Michigan (1981). Curator, Arizona State University Herbarium (1981-85). Assistant Curator, California Academy of Sciences (1986-87); Associate Curator, (1988-1991); Curator (1991- ); Chairman, Department of Botany (1988-1990, 1994-1996). Council (1990-1993), President (2001-2002), American Society of Plant Taxonomists. Treasurer, California Botanical Society (1986-89). Editor of Scientific Publications, California Academy of Sciences (1991-1994). Steering Committee, Species Plantarum Project (1994- ). Research Professor, San Francisco State University (1998- ). Grants Director, Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust (2003- ). Fellow: California Academy of Sciences. Member: International Association for Plant Taxonomy. Research Associate: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

For the past 27 years the major emphasis of my research has been the study of New World Acanthaceae (shrimp plants and their relatives). Although known in temperate regions primarily for showy ornamentals, the Acanthaceae are the 11th largest family of flowering plants (with more than 4,000 species) and a prominent element of many tropical regions. Mexico and Central America comprise a major center of diversity for this family.

My studies center largely on the nearly 400 naturalized species occurring in Mexico. In assessing their systematic relationships, I draw heavily on evidence from comparative morphology, chromosome numbers, and pollination ecology. These pollination and chromosomes studies represent the first studies of this nature for Mexican shrimp plants. The pollination studies include documenting pollinators in the field, collecting floral nectars and analyzing them for sugar composition, and experimental pollination studies of plants grown in a greenhouse. These studies have been useful for discerning morphological dichotomies within genera that are correlated with different pollination syndromes.

The immediate goal of my current research is to provide the initial taxonomic and biologic account of all Mexican Acanthaceae. This account, and ancillary generic treatments (those published so far comprise Aphanosperma, Aphelandra, Bravaisia, Carlowrightia, Holographis, Henrya, Lophostachys, Mendoncia, Mexacanthus, Mirandea, Odontonema, Poikilacanthus, Spathacanthus, Stenandrium, Stenostephanus, and Tetramerium), will ultimately assist efforts to 1) decipher evolutionary relationships in a large and little-studied family of tropical flowering plants, 2) establish a baseline record of information on variation and distribution of Mexican Acanthaceae, and 3) identify rare and threatened species in the rich but rapidly disappearing Mexican flora.

My other research interests involve floristic studies in western North America. Current projects include a revised flora of San Francisco and floristic catalogs of certain mountain ranges in Arizona and the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Tetramerium lineage
Anisotes in Madagascar

Publications

Daniel, T.F. 1979 (1978). A new Mirandea (Acanthaceae) from Nuevo León , Mexico . Syst. Bot. 3: 428-433.
Henrickson, J. and T.F. Daniel. 1979. Three new species of Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae) from the Chihuahuan Desert Region. Madroño 26: 26-36.
Wagner, W.H. T.F. Daniel, and M.K. Hansen. 1980. Studies of hybridizing Verbascum population in Michigan. Michigan Bot. 19: 37-45.
Daniel, T.F. 1980. Carlowrightia mcvaughii: a polymorphic species from southwestern Mexico. Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 14: 57-60.
Daniel, T.F. 1980. The genus Justicia (Acanthaceae) in the Chihuahuan Desert . Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 14: 61-67.
Daniel, T.F. 1980. Range extensions of Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae) and a key to the species of the United States. Southwest. Nat. 25:425-426.
Wagner, W.H. T.F. Daniel, J.M. Beitel, and S.R. Crispin. 1980. Studies on Populus heterophylla in southern Michigan. Michigan Bot. 19:269-275.
Daniel, T.F. 1981. Lectotypification of Torrey's species of Schaueria (Acanthaceae). Taxon 30:48-51.
Daniel, T.F. 1981. Mexacanthus, a new genus of Acanthaceae from western Mexico . Syst. Bot. 6:288-293.
Daniel, T.F. 1982. Anisacanthus andersonii (Acanthaceae), a new species from northwestern Mexico . Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 109:148-151.
Daniel, T.F. and J. Henrickson. 1982. On the recognition of Anisacanthus junceus (Acanthaceae). Brittonia 34:177-180.
Daniel, T.F. and T. Johns. 1982. A laboratory on chemotaxonomy: the systematic distribution of betalains. Amer. Biol. Teacher 44:308-310.
Daniel, T.F. 1982. The genus Mirandea (Acanthaceae). Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 15:171-175.
Daniel, T.F. 1983. Systematics of Holographis (Acanthaceae). J. Arnold Arbor. 64:129-160.
Daniel, T.F. 1983. Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae). Fl. Neotrop. 34:1-116.
Daniel, T.F. 1984 (1983). The Acanthaceae of the southwestern United States . Desert Pl. 5:162-179.
Daniel, T.F. 1984. Proposal to conserve 8014 Carlowrightia against Cardiacanthus (Acanthaceae). Taxon 33:122-123.
Daniel, T.F., B.D. Parfitt, and M.A. Baker. 1984. Chromosome numbers and their systematic implications in some North American Acanthaceae. Syst. Bot. 9:346-355.
Daniel, T.F. 1984. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. Madroño 31:86-92.
Daniel, T.F. 1985 (1984). A revision of Stenandrium (Acanthaceae) in Mexico and adjacent regions. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 71:1028-1043.
Daniel, T.F. 1985. Artificial interspecific hybridization of three species of Anisacanthus (Acanthaceae). J. Arizona-Nevada Acad. Sci. 19:85-88.
Daniel, T.F. 1986. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. II. Southwest. Nat. 31:169-175.
Daniel, T.F. 1986. Systematics of Tetramerium (Acanthaceae) Syst. Bot. Monogr. 12:1-134.
Daniel, T.F. 1986. Acanthaceae. Pp. 27-30. In D.E. Breedlove, Listados Floristicos de México. IV. Flora de Chiapas. Instituto de Biología, UNAM. México, D.F.
Daniel, T.F. 1988. Aphanosperma, a new genus of Acanthaceae from Mexico with unusual diaspores. Amer. J. Bot. 75:543-548.
Daniel, T.F. 1988. A systematic study of Bravaisia DC . (Acanthaceae). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 45:111-131.
Daniel, T.F. 1988. Taxonomic, nomenclatural, and reproductive notes on Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae). Brittonia 40:245-255.
Bourell, M. and T.F. Daniel. 1988. Noteworthy collections: California. Carlowrightiaarizonica. Madroño 35:279-280.
Daniel, T.F. 1988. Three new species of Holographis (Acanthaceae) from Mexico . Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 46:73-81.
Daniel, T.F. 1989. The correct name, author, and type of the common Henrya (Acanthaceae) and neotypification of Justicia scorpioides L. Taxon 38:265-270.
Daniel, T.F. 1989. Taxonomic notes on two cultivated species of Justicia (Acanthaceae). Baileya 23:47-50.
Daniel, T.F. and T.I. Chuang 1989. Chromosome numbers of some cultivated Acanthaceae. Baileya 23:86-93.
Daniel, T.F., T.I. Chuang, and M.A. Baker. 1990. Chromosome numbers of American Acanthaceae. Syst. Bot. 15:13-25./
Daniel, T.F. 1990. Systematics of Henrya (Acanthaceae). Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 17:99-131.
Daniel, T.F. 1990. New, reconsidered, and little known Mexican Ruellia (Acanthaceae). Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 17:139-162.
Daniel, T.F. 1990. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. III. Justicia. Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 17:133-137.
Daniel, T.F. 1990. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. IV. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 46:279-287.
Daniel, T.F. and D.C. Wasshausen. 1990. Three new species of Justicia (Acanthaceae) from Panama. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 46:289-297.
Daniel, T.F. 1991. A revision of Aphelandra (Acanthaceae) in Mexico . Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 47:235-274.
Daniel, T.F. 1991. A synopsis of Poikilacanthus (Acanthaceae) in Mexico . Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 118:451-458.
Daniel, T.F. 1992. Acanthaceae: Mendoncioideae of Mexico. Acta Botanica Mexicana 17:53-60.
Daniel, T.F. and D.E. Breedlove. 1992. A new species of Uroskinnera (Scrophulariaceae) from southern Mexico. Madroño 39:131-136.
Daniel, T.F. and M.L. Butterwick. 1992. Flora of the South Mountains of central Arizona. Desert Pl. 10:99-119.
Daniel, T.F., C. Best, J. Guggolz, and B. Guggolz. 1992. Noteworthy collections. California: Gaudiniafragilis. Madroño 39:309-310.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. Mexican Acanthaceae: diversity and distribution. Pp. 541-558 in T. P. Ramamoorthy et al., Biological Diversity of Mexico: Origins and Distribution. Oxford Univ. Press. New York.
Acosta C., S. and T.F. Daniel. 1993. A new species of Justicia (Acanthaceae) from Southern Mexico. Kew Bulletin 48:119-123.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. V. Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 19:271-291.
Daniel, T.F. and T.I. Chuang. 1993. Chromosome numbers of New World Acanthaceae. Syst. Bot. 18:283-289.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. Taxonomic and Geographic notes on Central American Acanthaceae. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48:119-130.
Daniel, T.F. and E.J. Lott. 1993. Staurogyne agrestis (Acanthaceae), a genus and species new to Mexico. Sida 15:367-372.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. A synopsis of Lophystachys (Acanthaceae) in Mexico and Central America . Selbyana 14:64-70.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. Resedaceae. Pp. 930-931. In J. Hickman (ed.), The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley.
Daniel, T.F. 1993. Garryaceae. Pp. 664-666. In J. Hickman (ed.), The Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley.
Daniel, T.F. and D.C. Wasshausen. 1994 (1993). A new Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae) from South America . Nord. J. Bot. 13:653-656.
Daniel, T.F., F. Almeda, and D.E. Breedlove. 1994. John Thomas Howell, 1903-1994. Madroño 41:234-235.
Daniel, T.F., F. Almeda, and D.E. Breedlove. 1994. John Thomas Howell (1903-1994). ASPT Newsletter 8:9-10.
Wasshausen , D.C. and T.F. Daniel. 1995. Justicia nevlingii (Acanthaceae), a new species from Mexico. Novon 5:114-117.
Daniel, T.F. 1995. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. VI. Chiapas. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 48:253-282.
Daniel, T.F. 1995. Revision of Odontonema (Acanthaceae) in Mexico . Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 20:147-171.
Daniel, T.F. 1995. Acanthaceae. Pp. 1-158 in D. Breedlove (ed.), Flora of Chiapas , pt. 4. California Academy of Sciences.
Daniel, T.F. 1995. Justicia masiaca (Acanthaceae), a new species from northwestern Mexico . Brittonia 47:408-413.
Steinmann, V.W. and T.F. Daniel. 1995. Euphorbia gentryi, a new species of Euphorbia subgenus Agaloma from northwestern Mexico. Madroño 42:450-454.
Daniel, T.F. and L.A. McDade. 1995. Additions to the Acanthaceae of Panama. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 82:542-548.
Daniel, T.F. 1996. Sciaphyllum amoenum is a Peruvian Streblacanthus. Novon 6:147-149.
Daniel, T.F. 1996. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae. VII. Polibotanica 2:1-9.
Daniel, T.F. 1997. The Acanthaceae of California and the peninsula of Baja California . Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 49:309-403.
Daniel, T.F. 1997. Catalog of the Acanthaceae of Belize with taxonomic and phytogeographic notes. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 21:161-174.
aniel, T.F. 1998. Pollen morphology of Mexican Acanthaceae: diversity and systematic significance. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50:217-256.
Daniel, T.F. 1998. New and reconsidered Mexcian Acanthaceae. VIII. Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley . Boletín Inst. Bot. Univ. Guadalajara 5:117-126.
Daniel, T.F. 1998. Acanthaceae de México: diverisdad y distribución. Chapter 19 (pp. 527-544) in T.P. Ramamoorthy et al. (eds.), Diversidad biológica de México: orígenes y distribución. Instituto de Biología, Univ. Nac. Autón. México.
Daniel, T.F. and T.I. Chuang. 1998. Chromosome Numbers of Cultivated Acanthaceae and Systematic Implications. Pp. 309-330 in P. Mathew and M. Sivadasan (eds.), Diversity and Taxonomy of Tropical Flowering Plants.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Revision of Stenostephanus (Acanthaceae) in Mexico . Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 22:47-93.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Revision of Spathacanthus (Acanthaceae). Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 22:33-46.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Acanthaceae. Fasc. 23, pp. 1-102 in P.D. Dávila A. et al. (eds.), Flora del Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán . Univ. Nac. Autón. México.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Taxonomic notes on Mexican Ruellia (Acanthaceae). Brittonia 51:124-127.
Daniel, T.F. 1999. Taxonomic and distributional notes on Neotropical Justicia (Acanthaceae). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 51:483-492.
Daniel, T.F. 2000. Additional chromosome numbers of American Acanthaceae. Syst. Bot. 25:15-25.
Daniel, T.F. 2000. Nuevos registsros estatales de Acanthaceae en México. Boletín Inst. Bot. Univ. Guadalajara 7:51-59.
Daniel, T.F., K. Balkwill, and M.J. Balkwill. 2000. Chromosome numbers of South African Acanthaceae. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 52:143-158.
Daniel, T.F. 2000. Chromosome numbers of some Acanthaceae from Papua New Guinea. Austrobaileya 5:651-659.
McDade, L.A. , T.F. Daniel, S.E. Masta, and K.M. Riley. 2000. Phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Justicieae (Acanthaceae): evidence from molecular sequences, morphology, and cytology. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 87:435-458.
Daniel, T.F. 2000. Intraspecific seed heteromorphism in Acanthaceae. Acanthus 7:6-8. [http://www.wits.ac.za- /museums-/herbarium/acanthus7.htm]
Daniel, T.F. 2001. Streblacanthus monospermus (Acanthaceae), a genus and species new to the flora of Mexico . Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 23:139-144.
Daniel, T.F. 2001. Catalog of Acanthaceae in El Salvador . Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 23:115-137.
Puente-Martinez, R. and T.F. Daniel. 2001. Vascular Plants of Arizona: Garryaceae. J. Ariz.-Nev. Acad. Sci. 33:31-34.
Daniel, T.F. 2002. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae IX. Justicia. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 53:37-49.
Daniel, T.F. 2002. American Society of Plant Taxonomists-Student Research Grants. Syst. Bot. 27:641-642.
Daniel, T.F. 2002. Garryaceae. P. 330. In B. Baldwin et al. (eds.), The Jepson Desert Manual. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Daniel, T.F. 2002. Resedaceae. P. 452. In B. Baldwin et al. (eds.), The Jepson Desert Manual. University of California Press, Berkeley.
Daniel, T.F. 2003. New and reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae X. Flora del Bajío region. Novon 13:37-48.
Daniel, T.F. 2003. A new combination in Mirandea (Acanthaceae). Acta Botanica Mexicana 62:9-13.
Daniel, T.F. 2003. Flowers east of Sierra (review of: Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierra and Adjoining Mojave Desert and Great Basin by L.R. Blackwell). California Wild 56(2):52.
Daniel, T.F. 2003. A reconsideration of Megalostoma (Acanthaceae), a new species, and recognition of a new section of Justicia. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 54:371-380.
Daniel, T.F. and S. Acosta. C. 2003. Familia Acanthaceae, in Flora del Bajío y de regiones adyacentes, Fascículo 117:1-173. Instituto de Ecología, Pátzcuaro.
Daniel, T.F. 2004. A synopsis of Justicia section Mesoamericanae (Acanthaceae). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 55:174-183.
Daniel, T.F. 2004. Acanthaceae of Sonora: taxonomy and phytogeography. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 55:690-805.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. Catalog of Honduran Acanthaceae with taxonomic and phytogeographic notes. Contr. Univ. Michigan Herbarium 24:51-108.
Daniel, T.F., E. Makings, and M. Chamberland. 2005. Additions to the Acanthaceae of Arizona. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 56:88-90.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. Further range extensions of Mexican Acanthaceae. Polibotánica 18:1-12.
Holmqvist, J.P., M. Manktelow, and T.F. Daniel. 2005. Wing pollination by bees in Mexacanthus (Acanthaceae)? Acta Bot. Mex. 71:11-17.
Carnevali F., G., J.L. Tapia, I.M. Ramírez M., R. Duno de Stefano, S. Hernández, T.F. Daniel, F. Coe, J. Javier J.O., N. Diego, L. Can I., and F. May P. 2005. Notes on the flora of the Yucatán Peninsula III: new records and miscellaneous notes for the peninsular flora II. Harvard Papers in Botany 9:257-296.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. A note on Amaranthus viridis in the California Flora. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 56:392-394.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. Garryaceae. Pp. 15-19 in T.F. Daniel (ed.), Flora of Chiapas, part 6. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.
Daniel, T.F. 2005. Krameriaceae. Pp. 20-23 in T.F. Daniel (ed.), Flora of Chiapas, part 6. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco.
Daniel, T.F., G. Carnevali F., and J. Tapia M. 2005. New and Reconsidered Mexican Acanthaceae XI: Justicia in the Yucatan Peninsula. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 56:607—617.

McDade, L.A., T.F. Daniel, C.A. Kiel, and K. Vollesen 2005. Phylogenetic relationships among Acantheae (Acanthaceae): major lineages present contrasting patterns of molecular evolution and morphological differentiation. Systematic Botany 30:834—862.

Kiel, C.A., L.A. McDade, T.F. Daniel, and D. Champluvier. 2006. Phylogenetic delimitation of Isoglossinae (Acanthaceae: Justicieae) and relationships among constituent genera. Taxon 55:683--694.

Daniel, T.F. 2006. Synchronous flowering and monocarpy suggest plietesial life history for neotropical Stenostephanus chiapensis (Acanthaceae). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57:1011—1018.
Daniel, T.F. 2006. Chromosome numbers of miscellaneous Malagasy Acanthaceae. Brittonia 58:291—300.
Daniel, T.F. and M. Fontaine. 2007(“2006”). Rediscovering San Francisco’s Native Flora. Fremontia 34:3—10.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. New Justicia (Acanthaceae) from southern Mexico and Guatemala. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 25:179—189.

Daniel, T.F., and V. Steinmann. 2007. Two new species of Justicia (Acanthaceae) from the Río Balsas Basin of Michoacán, Mexico. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 25:199—205.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. Artificial interspecific hybridization of two Mexican Ruellia (Acanthaceae). Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 25:191—197.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. 14.25 Sphenopholis Scribn. Pp. 620—624 in M.E. Barkworth et al., Flora of North America, vol. 24. Oxford University Press, New York.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. 14.50 Gaudinia P. Beauv. Pp. 732—733 in M.E. Barkworth et al., Flora of North America, vol. 24. Oxford University Press, New York.

Daniel, T.F., B.A.V. Mbola, F. Almeda, and P. Phillipson. 2007. Anisotes (Acanthaceae) in Madagascar. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences58:121—131.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. Sphenopholis. Pp. 145—146, 408—409, 524 in M.E. Barkworth et al., Manual of Grasses for North America. Utah State University Press.

Daniel, T.F. 2007. Gaudinia. P. 170, 421, 528 in M.E. Barkworth et al., Manual of Grasses for North America. Utah State University Press.

Ezcurra, C. and T.F. Daniel. 2008. Ruellia simplex, an older and overlooked name for Ruellia tweediana and Ruellia coerulea (Acanthaceae). Darwiniana 45:201—203.
Deng, Y. and T.F. Daniel. 2008. Validation of the name Pararuellia alata H.P. Tsui (Acanthaceae). Novon 18:33—34.

Daniel, T.F., L.A. McDade, M. Mankeltow, and C.A. Kiel. 2008. The “Tetramerium Lineage” (Acanthaceae: Acanthoideae: Justicieae): Delimitation and infra-lineage relationships based on cp and nrITS sequence data. Systematic Botany 33:416—436.

Mora O., A., T.F. Daniel and M. Martínez. 2008. Hygrophila polysperma (Acanthaceae) una maleza acuática nueva para la flora Mexicana. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 79:265—269.

Daniel, T.F. 2008. A new Ruellia (Acanthaceae) from Guerrero, Mexico. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 59:109-112.

Daniel, T.F. 2008. One hundred and fifty years of botany at the California Academy of Sciences (1853—2003). Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 59:215—305.

McDade, L.A., T.F. Daniel, and C.A. Kiel. 2008. Toward a comprehensive understanding of phylogenetic relationships among lineages of Acanthaceae s.l. (Lamiales). American Journal of Botany 95:1—17.

Daniel, T.F. 2008 (“2007”). Notes on the distributions of some Mexican Acanthaceae. Ibugana 15:13—22.

Daniel, T.F. and S.G. Weller. 2009. William R. Anderson—Recipient of the 2008 Asa Gray Award. Systematic Botany 34:1—3.
Daniel, T.F. 2009. Synopsis of Dicliptera (Acanthaceae) in the Nueva Galicia region of western Mexico with a new species, D. novogaliciana. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 60:1—18.
Daniel, T.F. and E.J. Lott. 2009. Justicia cuixmalensis, a new species of Acanthaceae from west-central Mexico. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 60:19—22.

Wenk, R.C. and T.F. Daniel. 2009. Molecular phylogeny of Nelsonioideae (Acanthaceae) and phylogeography of Elytraria. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 60:53—68.

Research Departments

Contact Information

(415) 379-5350
tdaniel@calacademy.org