Mesfin Tadesse

The Ohio State University | OSU · Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

The note provides information about the volumes of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Flora, how to site works in them and where to get them, should this be needed. Each Flora volume and/or part is over 200 pages long with contributions from various authors.

Often, I get requests for works or families mentioned in the Ethiopian Flora volumes or for the entire Flora volume. Some people assume that the volumes are short fascicles or articles that can easily be copied or shared. The Flora volumes are large, most of them with over 200 pages. Requests for the entire volume should be addressed to the insti...

The last revision of Coreopsis was by Sherff in 1936 who recognized 114 species within 11 sections. Since then, there have been additions to the list of species, redisposition of taxa, re–definition of sections, new chromosome counts, inclusion of details on microcharacters of the capitulum and its parts, and establishment of phylogenetic hypothese...

The article on the evolution of man was prepared on the basis of a demand made in 1993 by a News magazine called Zega (=The Citizen) and it was presented in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. The aim of the magazine was to present topics in Science and Society to interested readers.

The paper provides an overview of the generic concepts in Bidens and Coreopsis up to 1996.

The article explains the reasons and the processes that led to the creation of the scientific name of Qebericho (Kebericho), an important medicinal plant in Ethiopia. The text is written in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. It also includes information on the concept, process and selection of "Type Specimens" in botanical writings.

A number of botanical institutes and botanical gardens in the USSR were visited as part of the Ethio-Soviet Biological Expedition and relevant information gathered between May 25 and June 20, 1990. It was done in connection with the planned establishment of a new botanic garden in Addis Ababa, by Addis Ababa University.

Like many other countries, Ethiopia has had its own ways of combating diseases of both human beings and animals and has continued to utilize many of its age-old prescriptions to diseases of the body and mind. Currently, it is estimated that at least 80% of the entire population makes use of the services of this sector. Only about 20% of the populat...

The vegetation in the Rift Valley lakes region of Ethiopia was studied in March, 1989. The classification of the vegetation based on tree an shrub components suggested that there exist four vegetation types in the region. The classification based on the herbaceous component of the vegetation showed the status of disturbance in the region. Both fore...

This paper addresses the role that expatriates (diaspora) can and should play in developing nations worldwide. It reviews the efforts of three countries in harnessing the pool of accumulated knowledge and addressing pressing issues in their areas and also highlights the efforts some African countries have made so far. It was also presented as an im...

In the area [called] Lemu Chomeri in Arsi Region, Ethiopia, farmers administer orally the leaf decotions of two plants, Hypericum revolutum (Forssk.) Vahl and Agauria salicifolia (Comm. ex Lam.) Hook. f., to cattle that are poisoned or suffocated by ingesting Oenanthe palustris (Chiov.) Norman.

The genera Glossocardia Cass. and Neuractis Cass. (Compositae, Coreopsidinae) previously known from Bangladesh & India, and southern China, SE Asia, Indonesia, and Australia, respectively, are here reported to occur also in Africa. Glossocardia bosvallia (L.f.0 DC. is known from Chad and Niger, and Neuractis bidens (Reetz.) Veldk. from the coast of...

The book uncovers the early use of Arabica Coffee in Ethiopia, based on recorded information and literature from Ethiopia (written in Geez and Amharic), scientific articles, personal field observations and questionnaire surveys sent out to farmers living in major coffee growing regions of the country. It discusses folklore stories associated with i...

Electranthera Mesfin, Crawford, & Pruski (Compositae: Coreopsideae), a shrubby, pistillaterayed segregate of typically herbaceous, sterile-rayed Coreopsis, is a new generic name and replaces illegitimate Electra DC. 1836 (non Electra Panz. 1813, Gramineae). Three new combinations at species rank are proposed: Electranthera cuneifolia (Greenm.) Mesf...

After thorough morphological examination, a consideration of chromosome numbers and molecular studies, the genus Selleophytum is resurrected. A description of the only known species in the genus with an illustration is provided A neotype is selected.

The Asteraceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants. It includes a large number of genera and species with rapid rates of radiation and possibly also of evolution. Members of the family have also been studied in connection with the effect of climate change on character evolution in plants. Some of the features of the family that have...

Coreopsis (Asteraceae) sect. Pseudoagarista is the largest section in the genus. It is disjunct between the high mountains of Mexico and high elevations in the Andes. Most species in the section are similar in floral and fruit characters, and are distinguished primarily by leaf characters. Despite the morphological similarity among all species, the...

The phytomelanin layer on the pericarp of cypselae (achenes) of many members of traditional Bidens and Coreopsis, both considered polyphyletic, was studied with the help of scanning electron (SEM) and light (LM) microscopes. It is found to be more prominent in taxa kept within Bidens than in Coreopsis. The black ‘peg-like’ phytomelanin found in tra...

The National Herbarium of Ethiopia within the Addis Ababa University held a workshop in November, 2010, to celebrate the end of the Ethiopian Flora Project and the beginning of a new Botanic Garden. Many participants of the workshop expressed that the Ethiopian Flora Project is not only a model for trans-national and inter-continental collaboration...

The therapeutic, Orthodox Christian liturgical/ceremonial, aromatic and medicinal uses of some selected members of the plant genera, Myrtus and Olea and their products by rural and semi-urban Ethiopians is highlighted. Their uses are compared and contrasted with the uses elsewhere in the world and, in some cases, a review of the biological and chem...

After thorough morphological examination, a consideration of chromosome numbers and molecular studies, the genus Selleophytum is resurrected. A description of the only known species in the genus with an illustration is provided A neotype is selected.

Coreopsis crawfordii is described and illustrated. It is also compared with themorphologically similar species, C. pringlei and C. rudis, also from Mexico, and a key to all the species of Coreopsis known from Mexico is provided.

A systematic study of the Vernonia leopoldi complex was undertaken with the objective of determining the taxonomic status of the species involved within this group. TWo species, i.e. Vernonia leopoldi and V. bipontini have been recognized as distinct based on evidence from morphological studies accompanied by field observations and anatomical studi...

The systematic position of the genus Microlecane (Sch. Bip.) Benth. within the Coreopsidineae (Compositae–Heliantheae) is reviewed. It is found to be congeneric with Bidens L., and the three ‘species’ described for it are transferred to this genus. Microlecane abyssinica (Sch. Bip.) Benth. ex Oliv. & Hiern is Bidens setigera (Sch. Bip.) Sherff and...

Detailed studies of comprehensive herbarium material confirmed that the afroalpine Cerastium adnivale Chiov. is too indistinctly delimited from the earlier described C. octandrum Hochst. ex A. Rich, to be given more than varietal rank. The restricted distribution of var. adnivale on only some of the high mountains harbouring C. octandrum s. lat. as...

A phylogenetic study of tribe Coreopsideae (Asteraceae) was conducted using sequences from two plastid regions matK and the trnL-trnF spacer, and nuclear ITS. Analyses of the plastid and ITS datasets result in similar topologies; thus these data partitions were combined and reanalyzed, resulting in a more highly resolved estimate of phylogeny. The...

The NE tropical African species of Emilia are revised and 14 species are recognised. Of these, five species are newly described and illustrated: E. herbacea, E. adamagibaensis, E. negellensis, E. serpentina and E. arvensis. One taxon is kept as Emilia sp. until more material is available. Brief diagnostic descriptions, synonyms, habitat and distrib...

In a precursor to the treatment of Compositae part 3 for the Flora of Tropical East, Africa, Emilia mbagoi is described and illustrated. It is endemic to an area of grassland in southern Tanzania.

An account of the Asteraceae of Ethiopia.

Two species of Compositae from Ethiopia are described as new, viz. Senecio leptopterus and Vernonia friisii. Comparisons were also made with morphologically similar species found in other parts of Africa. The new combination Sphaeranthus ramosus is made and a detailed description of the species is provided. Arctotis pygmaea and Anthemis semiensis a...

In a precursor to the treatment of Compositae for the Flora of Somalia, Vernonia sabulosa is described and illustrated. It is endemic to an area of bushland in central Somalia. A new name for V. lanata Mesfin is proposed.

Field and herbarium studies on wild flowering plants of Ethiopia furnished 203 species consumed by the community. These account for about 3% of the higher plant species in the country and comprise herbs (37%), shrubs (32%), and trees (31%). Species with edible fruits contributed to 61.6%, leaves 27.7%, stems 14.4%, roots 13.3%, and seeds 10.3%. Abo...

 Bidens cordylocarpa is a high polyploid species restricted in distribution to stream sides in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. The morphologically enigmatic species was originally described as a member of the genus Coreopsis, but later transferred to Bidens, largely because the involucral bracts appear most similar to Bidens. Characters of the cy...

Sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) for 35 taxa of Coreopsis and 15 species of Bidens were used to hypothesize phylogenetic relationships within and between the two genera. Coreopsis is paraphyletic and Bidens is polyphyletic in all most parsimonious trees. The ITS phylogeny indicates that the Bidens...

A revision of the genus Dicoma (Asteraceae: Cichorioideae: Mutisieae) in the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia) is provided. This area is probably a major center of radiation for this genus, and nine of the twelve species present are endemic here. The revision is based on both field observations and micro- and macromorphologi...

The tropical African species of Echinops are revised. Twenty species are recognized and a full taxonomic treatment with a key to the species and descriptions is provided. Two neotypes are selected. A list of representative specimens for each species is provided.

The following new species of Vernonia from Ethiopia and Somalia are described and one of them is illustrated. V. bulo-burtiensis Mesfin, V. dalettiensis Mesfin, V. didessana Mesfin, V. lanata Mesfin, V. gilbertii Mesfin, V. tewoldei Mesfin, V. thulinii Mesfin and V. yabelloana Mesfin. A key to the species of Vernonia in Ethiopia and Somalia is prov...

The ecology of “wild” or spontaneous Coffea arabica L. found in the Harenna forest, Bale, Ethiopia, is studied. In total, 61 species of trees and shrubs, 48 species of herbs and 19 species of climbers and stragglers were found in association with arabica coffee in the 45 sampled plots. Species richness was noted at altitudes between 1550 m and 1650...

Generic concepts in Bidens and Coreopsis are briefly discussed. A few of the remarks on the historical difficulties in differentiating the two genera are highlighted. Important results from studies concerning these genera especially for species found in Africa, North America and Hawaii are briefly summarized. Previous and current attempts at resolv...

The exomorphology of pollen grains of all North American species of Coreopsis have been thoroughly studied under the SEM for the first time with a view to contributing data to the ongoing studies on generic delimitation between Bidens and Coreopsis. The grains are echinate, tricolporate, isopolar, radially symmetrical, and spheroidal. The size of t...

The capitular and floral morphology and anatomy ofBidens L. andCoreopsis L. were studied. All the North American species ofCoreopsis were studied. Selected species ofBidens from North and South America andCoreopsis from South America were included. The results were compared with previous observations on African species ofBidens (incl.Coreopsis). Em...

Two new species of Conyza, C. flabellata from southern Ethiopia, and C. agnewi from Kenya and Uganda are described and illustrated.

Iphiona pinnatifida and Pentanema ligneum are described as new species from Somalia; both species are illustrated. I. pinnatifida is compared with I. phillipsiae (S. Moore) A. Anderb., the only other species known from Somalia and also with I. anthemidifolia (Bak.) A. Anderb., a species endemic to the coast of Yemen (Hadramut: Mukalla and Ras Farta...

Pluchea succulenta Mesfin, a new species from Somalia, is described and illustrated. A key to the species of Pluchea known from Somalia is also provided.

Family members of #60. Canellaceae to #85 Euphorbiaceae, plus Amendments to Volume 3, Family #117 and #124 are described and illustrated.

A revision of the genus Bidens L. in Africa is made. Sixty-three species are recognized. All African taxa hitherto assigned to Coreopsis L. are transferred to Bidens L. One new species is described, i.e. B. sierra-leonensis Mesfin. Two neotypes and seven lectotypes are selected.

Solanecio harennensis Mesfin and Solanecio tuberosus Sch. Bip. ex A. Rich. var. pubescens Mesfin are described from the highlands of Ethiopia. A key to the species of Solanecio found in Ethiopia is also provided.

Centaurea jeffreyana Mesfin is described from the highlands of northern Ethiopia.

Chiliocephalum tegetum Mesfin is described from the highlands of Ethiopia. Characters that distinguish it from the hitherto only known species in the genus are discussed, together with those that differentiate the genus from related genera in Gnaphaliinae. Full synonymy for C. schimperi Benth. is provided.

The distribution of sesquiterpene lactones, polyacetylenic thiophenes and their derivatives in the roots of nine Echinops species suggests three distinct groups.

Tadesse, M.: Dr. Herbert F. Mooney, founder of the National Herbarium of Ethiopia (ETH). ‐ Taxon 40: 267–272. 1991. ‐ ISSN 0040‐0262. The life and achievements of Dr. Herbert F. Mooney are outlined, principally in regard to his involvement with the foundation of the National Herbarium of Ethiopia. Unpublished correspondence of Dr. Mooney with vario...

The study of the evergreen forests of N.E. tropical Africa has from an early start been advancing rather slowly. For some forest areas, e.g. the montane forests of Bale, Ethiopia, the first inventories are only just under way now. A short survey of the exploration of the evergreen forests of N.E. tropical Africa is given. The areas of forest protec...

The genera Glossocardia Cass. and Neuractis Cass. (Compositae, Coreopsidinae) previously known from Bangladesh & India, and southern China, SE Asia, Indonesia and Australia, respectively, are here reported to occur also in Africa. Glossocardia bosvallia (L.f.) DC. is known from Chad and Niger, and Neuractis bidens (Retz.) Veldk. from the coast of T...

An ecological study of the vegetation of the Harenna forest in Bale, Ethiopia, was carried out between April and October 1986. Data on the vegetation and environmental factors were collected. Five vegetation zones were recognized and described. These were compared for the mean values of the environmental data using the Statistic t-test. The highest...

Thesis (doctoral)--Uppsala University, Sweden, 1984. Includes bibliographical references (p. [130]-135) and index.

Bidens burundiensis M. Tadesse, a new species of Bidens L. belonging to the tribe Heliantheae O. Hoffm., subtribe Coreopsidinae Less is described from the highlands of Burundi.

Plant and soil samples were collected from twenty randomly laid out, 10 x 10 m, quadrats from Wedessa, Ambo, Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from the top 20 cm layer and analyzed for organic matter, pH, Calcium (Ca ++), potassium (K +), and Sodium (Na +) ions. The Calcium ion concentration ranged from 533 ppm to 7,383 ppm, the potassium ion f...