Dr. Haynes' research interests are in the systematics of aquatic vascular plants, the monocot subclass Alismatidae in particular, a subclass of near cosmopolitan distribution, that consists of 14 families. Haynes has prepared revisionary treatments of several taxa, including Potamogeton, Najas, Alismataceae and Limnocharitaceae. Techniques employed include comparative morphology (utilizing both the light microscope and the transmission electron microscope), comparative flavonoid chemistry, and cytology. Results from these various approaches are utilized in cladistic analysis for testing hypotheses of the phylogeny within the Alismatidae. In addition to revisionary treatments of the Alismatidae, Haynes has prepared treatments of one or all of the families of this subclass for Flora Neotropica, seven tropical American flora projects, Flora North America, and the Flora of Scandinavia. Haynes' other research interests include establishment of botanical databases. He along with a former colleague initiated the SouthEastern Floral Information System (SERFIS) in 1988. SERFIS, as originally envisioned, is a database that, when mature, will contain label data of all herbarium specimens housed in the 100 plus herbaria of the Southeastern United States. It presently utilizes the DOS environment and is available on the Internet through our UNIX system. SERFIS is partially mature, with data from around nine herbaria in the database. Presently, labels are being imaged using a digital camera, and these images are sent off shore via the Internet where they are keyed into a database format. The keyed data are returned to Tuscaloosa via the Internet and eventually will be made available on the Internet. In addition SERFIS is imaging every specimen, and these specimens will be available on the Internet for viewing with any Windows based system. SERFIS will be extremely useful to researchers, both pure and applied, in environmental biology. Botanists working on certain groups of plants will have one place they can search for data about plant taxa of their particular interests. In many cases, the image will be adequate for determination, and, in some instances, measurements can be taken directly from the image. Such electronic availability of the label data and images will eliminate the need to borrow specimens indiscriminately, as is presently done. Finally, environmental researchers will have one place to search for specimens in their habitat or locality of interest.
Selected publications
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Alismataceae (Arrow-head Family). pp. 406—407. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Hydrocharitaceae (Frog-bit Family). pp. 444—446. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Juncaginaceae (Arrow-grass Family). pp. 452—453. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Limnocharitaceae (Water-poppy Family). pp. 456—457. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Potamogetonaceae (Pondweed Family). pp. 476—477. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Ruppiaceae (Ditch-grass Family). pp. 479—480. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Haynes, R. R. 2004. Zannichelliaceae (Horned Pondweed Family). pp. 493—494. In Smith, N., S. A. Mori, A. Henderson, D. W. Stevenson, & S. V. Heald. Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton University Press, Princeton
Haynes, R. R. and L. B. Holm-Nielsen. 2003. Najadaceae. 7: 100—101. In J. A. Steyermark, et al., Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana. Missouri Bot. Garden. St. Louis.
Haynes, R. R. and L. B. Holm-Nielsen. 2003. Potamogetonaceae. Flora Neotropica 85: 1—52.
Haynes, R. R. 2003. Adaptations of Aquatic Plants. SE Biology 50: 241—245.