Floristic studies. I have long been interested in the fern flora of Mexico. We have published on the ferns of Oaxaca, the state richest in species of ferns, and those of western Mexico (Nueva Galicia), which together account for three-fourths of all the Mexican species. The goal is to prepare, with collaborators, a treatment for the entire country. I have also written fern floras of Trinidad and North America north of Mexico.

Monographic studies. I have worked for over 30 years on the primitive genus Anemia. Nearly all its 110 species occur in tropical America. This group is over 150 million years old, and its very distinct spores make it easily recognized in the fossil record. The modern species commonly hybridize and form new species. My current work is primarily on Elaphoglossum, one of the largest and most difficult of fern genera. Its 600 species, nearly all with paddle-shaped fronds, are mostly epiphytes. In contrast to Anemia, there is virtually no hybridization, but instead, many new species are formed through mutation and self-fertilization. Thirty to forty percent of the tropical American species were previously undescribed.

Fern cultivation. We are testing ferns from temperate regions of the world for cold-hardiness. Our garden serves as a reservoir of living material for comparative studies on life histories, structure, chemistry, and chromosomes. Spores and plant divisions are shared with other institutions, and some species are being introduced into horticulture as garden plants.

• MaryY Flagler Cary Curator of Botany, Institute of Systematic Botany.
• Born 1934.
• Ph.D. University of Michigan (1961).
• Lecturer in Botany, University of Michigan (1961).
• Assistant Professor, Iowa State University (1961-1964); Associate Professor (1964-1969).
• Visiting Professor, University of Costa Rica (OTS) (1967).
• Senior Visiting Research Associateship, Smithsonian Institution (1967-1968).
• Adjunct Professor, City University of New York (1969- ).
• Curator of Pteridophytes, The New York Botanical Garden (1969-1979), Senior Curator of Pteridophytes (1979- ).
• Editorial Committee, Brittonia (1966-1969), Editor (1976-1978);
• Editorial Committee, Flora North America (1966-1972);
• Associate Editor, American Fern Journal (1973-1984);
• Editor, Fiddlehead Forum, bulletin of the Amer. Fern Soc. (1974-1984, 1987-1995);
• Pteridology Sect. rep to editorial board of Amer. J. Bot. (1981-1983);
• Editorial Board, Systematic Botany Monographs (1983-1986).
• Memberships in Botanical Society of America, Pteridology Section (Chairman, 1969-1970, 1981-1982, 1994-1995); American Fern Society (Vice President, 1970, 1971; President, 1972-1973; Council, 1970-1984 and 1987-1995; Secretary-Treasurer, New York Chapter 1974- ); American Society of Plant Taxonomists; British Pteriodological Society; South Florida Fern Society (honorary member); International Association of Pteridologists (Council, 1981-1987); Indian Fern Society (honorary member); Sigma Xi; Phi Sigma. Member, Board of Directors, OTS (1984-1991); Scientific advisor, Hardy Fern Foundation (1989- ).
• Rackham Fellow, University of Michigan (1959-1960);
• Cole Fellow, University of Michigan (1961);
• Cooley Prize, AIBS (1965);
• Wherry Award, American Rock Garden Society (1980).

Selected Publications

• Mickel, J.T. 1979. How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies. Wm. C. Brown Co. Publ., Dubuque, Iowa. 229 pp.
• Mickel, J.T. and J.M. Beitel. 1988." Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico." Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46:1-568.
• Mickel. J.T. 1991. "Elaphoglossum and Peltapteris.," In: R.M. Tryon and R.G. Stolze. Ferns of Peru. Fieldiana (Bot.), n.s. 27. Pp. 111-116 and 167-170.
• Mickel. J.T. 1992. "Pteridophytes," pp. 120- 431. In: R. McVaugh (ed.), Flora Novo-Galiciana. vol. 17.
• Mickel. J.T. 1994. Ferns for American Gardens. Macmillan, New York, 370 pp.