The Flora of the Bahamas,Donovan Correll,and the Miami University Connection

The Flora of the Bahama Archipelago was published in 1982 by Donovan and Helen Correll and included illustrations by Priscilla Fawcett as well as others. This treatment included 1,350 species incorporated in 660 genera and 144 families. The Flora replaced the dated 1920 The Bahama Flora published by Britton and Milspaugh. A flora is an ever changing entity and although it is only 30 years since the publication the Corrells’ work much has changed. One unfortunate omission from the Corrells’ flora was an adequate treatment of the work of William T. Gillis (1933–1979) who produced many important papers that were already in the literature at the time (Kass & Eshbaugh, 1993). Subsequent to the publication of the Flora of the Bahama Archipelago individuals affiliated with Miami University published a plethora of scholarly works on the flora of the Bahamas. This contribution attempts to set forth a record of the relationship and impact of Miami University and its affiliated scholars, both students and instructors, who with their work have transformed and updated our knowledge of the flora of the Bahamas. This is a continual process that will be ongoing into the foreseeable future.