Biology Professor Finds Fame in Name

What’s in a name? In the case of

Solanum baretiae

, it’s the legacy of a nearly forgotten 18th century botanist.

The recently discovered plant species is a wild relative of the potato. It was found by Eric Tepe, adjunct assistant professor of biological sciences in the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences. He named it after Jeanne Baret, a pioneering yet mostly unheralded French botanist.

Baret was the assistant and presumed lover of respected botanist Philibert Commerson. The pair joined French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville on his 1766 expedition around the world, though Baret was forced to do so disguised as a man. At the time, botany was a male-dominated field and women were prohibited from sailing on French navy ships, making it important for Baret to keep her true identity hidden. Throughout the expedition she closely assisted an ailing Commerson in collecting thousands of specimens and also became the first female to circumnavigate the globe. However most of their work and the names of dozens of new plant species were attributed to Commerson.

Tepe’s work with colleague Lynn Bohs (University of Utah) and Baret biographer Glynis Ridley (University of Louisville), “A new species of

Solanum

named for Jeanne Baret, an overlooked contributor to the history of botany,” was published Jan. 3 in the PhytoKeys research journal. It examines the taxonomy of wild relatives of potatoes, which – like Baret – have been ignored for centuries, Tepe said. These particular plants are non-tuberous, meaning they don’t produce an edible spud, and because of this have been of less interest to some taxonomists.

 “It’s kind of virgin territory,” Tepe said. “It’s an exciting place to work because there are things like new species.

Solanum baretiae

is the fourth one that I found in this group of potato relatives so far.”

Tepe’s discovery began in the University of Cincinnati herbarium. He has access to more than 65,000 pressed and dried plant specimens there. His previous work with black peppers led him to investigate the genus

Solanum

, which includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. In 2010 he discovered what he thought were several distinct groups of specimens identified as

Solanum chimborazense

. He noticed one set of specimens had unique characteristics, such as larger flowers and more variable leaf shapes. He realized he had a new species never before recognized.

“I tell people about what I do and about finding new species and the usual response is something like, ‘Wow, is it like Indiana Jones?’” he said. “Actually, most discoveries like these happen (in the herbarium). I was here by myself looking through this microscope.”

He went to Peru to collect some specimens in the field and had them analyzed through DNA sequencing. His suspicions were confirmed – he’d found a new species. With his discovery came the right to name it. Tepe had heard Ridley give an interview on NPR where she noted science’s historic snub of Baret. During the interview Ridley mentioned that Commerson had wanted to name a species after Baret. He’d found one that had variable leaf shapes that he felt reflected Baret’s adaptable personality. Unfortunately, the plant had already been discovered and named.

Ridley’s interview struck a chord with Tepe. The similarities between his new discovery and the one Commerson had intended to name for Baret – and Commerson’s reason behind it – were too hard to ignore. Tepe had found his species’ name and a way to pay tribute to a great explorer.

“Explorers have always been my heroes,” Tepe said. “Every explorer endures hardships. … Every explorer endures discomfort, but few have endured as much as she did.”

Ken Petren, department head of biological sciences, lauded Tepe’s decision for the positive attention it brought the department and how it highlighted an important woman in science.

“It was a great move for Eric to recognize this person, who clearly was well ahead of her time and one of the earlier female scientist/explorers,” Petren said. “It also calls attention to the role of women in history, frankly, and how that has always been a little bit overshadowed.”

What would Baret say about the honor?

“I think she would be honored beyond belief,” Tepe said. “And maybe in the back of her mind, she’d think, ‘You know, it’s true. I did do all this work. So, damn it, I do deserve it.’”

Tepe’s work with

Solanum baretiae

has brought him international acclaim. He’s been interviewed by Scientific American, BBC World and newspapers worldwide including the French paper Le Monde and Spanish paper El Mundo. He’s brought notoriety to the herbarium, too. Petren hopes work to digitize some of the collection and finding the right blend of researchers will also help raise the herbarium’s profile.

“That’s a resource that we’d like to develop more,” Petren said. “They have a few groups of items that are unique and very valuable for botanists around the world.”

Tepe is currently working on part of a National Science Foundation-funded project examining the evolutionary and ecological relationship among relatives of black pepper, caterpillars and wasps. Tepe’s role in the project is studying the phylogeny of the black peppers. In the meantime, if he comes across any new species in UC’s herbarium, he’ll give close consideration to the naming process. His experience with

Solanum baretiae

has shown him what can be in a name.

“With the other new species I’ve got here, it’s going to make me think about the name more carefully,” he said. “It certainly isn’t something to take lightly.”