Dear all,
Currently, three colleagues (Klaus Oeggl, Anton Weber, Susanne
Sontag) and I are preparing a small work on the seed morphology
of the genus Nigella (sensu Zohary 1983, thus including
Garidella and Komaroffia). Testa structures are investigated via
microtome cuttings and SEM imaging, and the results will be
compared with modern (chemo-)taxonomical data. Other important
parts of the project will be a seed identification key, mainly
for the archaeobotanical user, and a bibliography of all
achaeological Nigella finds in literature.
The reason why I am now asking for your help is the fact that
there are virtually no archaeobotanical finds of Nigella
species in the literature, except for a few ones of N. sativa
(as e.g. in the database by Helmut Kroll, and in the
University of Tübingen DB).
This seems a bit unusual for a genus of very common annuals,
mainly growing in ruderal and segetal plant communities
(and thus fostered by human activity), and some of the
species being of undeniable ethnobotanical relevance.
Consequently there ought to be some additional finds out
there, be they unpublished, or maybe "Nigella sp." seeds of
uncertain identification.
We would greatly appreciate any information on these Nigella
(especially "non-sativa") finds, and, in case of
uncertainties concerning the identification, we would
happily assist with our current morphological data.
Best regards, and thanks for any help
Andreas Heiss
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Andreas G. Heiss, Mag.
University of Innsbruck, Institute of Botany
Sternwartestrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, AUSTRIA
tel +43(512)507-5973, fax +43(1)8048053-9173
www http://homepage.uibk.ac.at/~c717189/
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