Oklahoma Native Plant Record
Volume 7, Number 1, December 2007

3

Foreword and Forward

While I always look “forward” to preparing each volume for you, I haven’t always gotten
the “Foreword” right. In fact, the wrong word is used in the table of contents of the first four
volumes. It is misspelled in both the table of contents and in the section headings of the last two
volumes. Ruth Boyd, who has proof-read the journal with me every year since its inception in
2001 is most likely doing summersaults in her grave because I missed the error in the title for
this section for 6 years in a row. I will do better. But had it not been for Ruth’s keen eye and
sharp editing pencil our journal would not have become the respected source of botanical
research that it has. We remain indebted to her for correcting my many other errors.

In this foreword to Volume Seven, the Oklahoma Native Plant Record mourns the
passing of Ruth Boyd and of Larry Magrath, two of the Society’s long-time members.
Larry Magrath was one of our major contributers of scientific papers. Had it not been for Larry’s
willingness to submit significant articles and encourage others to do so, we would have had a
very thin journal for the first three years. Both Larry and Ruth experienced poor health for
several years, but continued to work with the Record, giving me time to learn how to manage
without being overwhelmed by editorial responsibilities.

With the passing of Ruth and Larry, we will all have to step up and accept more
responsibility for passing on the legacy of botanical research in Oklahoma and our new staff of
proof-readers will do their best to get it right. Yes, it takes more than one to replace Ruth.
The Record will always need new authors, reviewers, proof-readers and editors. If we don’t step
up and do it, no one else will. It’s time for each of us, perfect or not, to move forward, doing the
most and the best that we can.

To build a larger legacy for Oklahoma botany, one that is built on the best practices of
research, we need to be open to allowing others to see our work and give us advice. With that
comes responsibility. We must respect ownership of ideas. That’s why Oklahoma Native Plant
Journal does not seek to own the work of our authors. We publish the articles while authors
retain ownership and decide who else can use it. We believe in open sources and encourage open
research. We look forward to receiving articles submitted to us in the future.

In this volume Bruce Hoagland presents more articles based on data from the Oklahoma
Natural Heritage Inventory. One gives us an updated perspective on Charles S. Wallis’ work
Vascular Plants of the Oklahoma Ozarks, which represents our historical article this year. Wallis was
born in 1911 and compiled this flora for his PhD thesis at Oklahoma State University in 1959.
Hoagland’s other contribution this year was done with Amy Buthod, as an inventory of vascular
plants at the new Oklahoma Centennial Botanical Garden in Osage County.

As part of our goal to encourage new authors, we enthusiastically present Caleb Stott’s
The Need for Savanna Restoration in the Cross Timbers. It is a review of relevant literature regarding
one of Oklahoma’s most endangered ecosystems. It is co-authored with Mike Palmer and Kelly
Kindischer. In another article, Mike Palmer has also given us a great new research tool. It is a
checklist for Oklahoma floras. He has gathered all the known published floras of Oklahoma and
catalogued them in tabular form, referencing geographic, topographic, and taxonomic data to a
bibliography of 85 references for Oklahoma flora.

With this volume, The Oklahoma Native Plant Record continues to bring you interesting
and valuable scientific works which will enhance the purpose of the Society, to promote the
study, protection, propagation, appreciation, and use of native plants of Oklahoma. Thank you
for your support.

Sheila Strawn, Editor