Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Paul Peterson

Research Botanist and Curator of Botany (Poaceae)
Department / Division
Education
  • B.A., Humboldt State University
  • M.S., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Ph.D., Washington State University
Research Interests

Peterson's interests are in species and generic relationships, and biogeographical patterns in the grasses (Poaceae). His specialty is biosystematic studies of the grasses using a multitude of techniques ranging from in depth morphological, anatomical, cytological, micromorphological, molecular, cladistic, and population based genetic studies using soluble enzymes. He has completed revisionary studies in large grass genera, such as: Eragrostis, Muhlenbergia, and Sporobolus, all important forage grasses. He is currently serving as editor of our department's periodical, Contributions from the United States National Herbarium

Publications
Journal Article
Book Chapter
  • Finot, Victor L., Giussani, Lililana M., and Soreng, Robert J. 2022. "Poa L." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 821–916. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Finot, Victor L., Soreng, Robert J., Giussani, Lililana M., and Romina, Muñoz. 2022. "Nicoraepoa." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 721–732. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Distichlis Raf." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 404–410. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Eleusine Gaertn." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 422–426. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Enneapogon Desv. ex P. Beauv." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 435–438. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Microchloa R. Br." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 662–668. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Muhlenbergia Schreb." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 669–678. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Munroa Torr." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 677–683. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Sporobolus R. Br., nom. cons." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 1008–1014. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Trichoneura Anderrson." In Poaceae (I-Z). Finot, Victor L., editor. 1022–1025. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Bouteloua Lag." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 161–164. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Clave para los Generos de Chloridoideae." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 8–9. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Chloris SW." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 238–243. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo-Canas, Diego. 2022. "Cynodon rich., nom. cons." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 276–280. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Snow, Neil and Peterson, Paul M. 2022. "Diplachne P. Beauv." In Poaceae (A-H). Finot, Victor L., editor. 401–405. Concepcion: Universidad de Concepcion. In Flora de Chile, 6 (1).
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Harvey, Michael J. 2014. "Agrostis Bent Grass." In Jepson Flora Project: Jepson eFlora. Baldwin, B. G., Keil, D. J., Markos, S., Mishler, B. D., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors.
  • Herrera, Yolanda and Peterson, Paul M. 2013. "Poaceae." In Plantas acuáticas mexicanas: una contribucion a la flora de México. Lot, A., Medina Lemos, R., and Chiang, F., editors. 255–305. México, D.F.: Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2013. "Poaceae (Gramineae)." In eLS: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0003689.pub2.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Clave de los Generos de Chloridoideae." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 76–78. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentia: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Tribu Zoysieae." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 204. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Clave de las Tribus de Chloridoideae." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 76. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Tribu Chlorideae Martinov." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 79. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Tribu Eragrostideae Stapf." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 175. Cordoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Muhlenbergia." In The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California
    . 2nd ed. Baldwin, Bruce G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors. 1464–1473. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Clave de las Tribus de Pooideae." In Flora Argentina. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 24. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Canas, D. Giraldo. 2012. "Eragrostis Wolf." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 178–203. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Giraldo Canas, D. 2012. "Muhlenbergia Schreb." In Monocotyledoneae, Poaceae: Aristidoideae a Pharoideae. Zuloaga, Fernando O., Rúgolo de Agrasar, Zulma E., and Anton, Ana M., editors. 140–154. Córdoba: Graficamente Ediciones. 3 in Flora Argentina: Flora Vascular de la República Argentina.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Harvey, M. J. 2012. "Agrostis." In The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California. 2nd ed. Baldwin, Bruce G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors. 1413–1417. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Saarela, J. M. 2012. "Calamagrostis." In The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California
    . 2nd ed. Baldwin, Bruce G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors. 1431–1439. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Soreng, Robert J., and Smith, S. F. 2012. "Poaceae." In Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro and Strong, Mark T., editors. 714–766. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. In Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98. (https://doi.org/10.5479/si.0081024X.98.1)
  • Saarela, J. M. and Peterson, Paul M. 2012. "Bromus." In The Jepson manual: vascular plants of California
    . 2nd ed. Baldwin, Bruce G., Goldman, D. H., Keil, D. J., Patterson, R., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors. 1426–1435. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Columbus, J. T., Peterson, Paul M., Refulio Rodriguez, N. F., Cerros Tlatilpa, R., and Kinney, M. S. 2010. "Phylogenetics of Muhlenbergiinae (Poaceae: Chloridoideae, Cynodonteae) based on ITS and trnL-F DNA sequences." In Diversity, phylogeny, and evolution in the Monocotyledons. Seberg, O., Petersen, G., Barfod, A. S., and Davis, J. I., editors. 477–495. Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University Press.
  • Romaschenko, Konstantin, Peterson, Paul M., Soreng, Robert J., Garcia-Jacas, N., and Susanna, A. 2010. "Phylogenetics of Stipeae (Poaceae: Pooideae) based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences." In Diversity, phylogeny, and evolution in the Monocotyledons. Seberg, O., Petersen, G., Barfod, A. S., and Davis, J. I., editors. 511–537. Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University Press.
  • Saarela, Jeffrey M., Liu, Qing, Peterson, Paul M., Soreng, Robert J., and Paszko, Beata. 2010. "Phylogenetics of the grass 'Aveneae-type plastid DNA clade' (Poaceae: Pooideae, Poeae) based on plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data." In Diversity, phylogeny, and evolution in the Monocotyledons. Seberg, O., Petersen, G., Barfod, A. S., and Davis, J. I., editors. 557–587. Aarhus, Denmark: Aarhus University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2009. "10.17 Muhlenbergia Schreb." In Grasses of the Intermountain Region. Anderton, L. K. and Barkworth, Mary E., editors. 196–210, 427−442, 507−509. Logan, Utah: Intermountain Herbarium.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2009. "10.12 Eragrostis Wolf." In Grasses of the Intermountain Region. Anderton, L. K. and Barkworth, Mary E., editors. 184–189, 416−420, 506. Logan, Utah: Intermountain Herbarium.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Annable, C. R. 2009. "10.08 Blepharoneuron Nash." In Grasses of the Intermountain Region. Anderton, L. K. and Barkworth, Mary E., editors. 181, 413, 506. Logan, Utah: Intermountain Herbarium.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Hatch, S. L., and Weakley, A. S. 2009. "10.14 Sporobolus R. Br." In Grasses of the Intermountain Region. Anderton, L. K. and Barkworth, Mary E., editors. 190–195, 421−425, 507. Logan, Utah: Intermountain Herbarium.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2007. "16.23 Eragrostis Wolf." In Manual of grasses for North America. Barkworth, Mary E., Anderton, L. K., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 201–440, 532. Logan: Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2007. "16.33 Muhlenbergia Schreb." In Manual of grasses for North America. Barkworth, Mary E., Anderton, L. K., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 219–451, 536. Logan: Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Annable, C. R. 2007. "16.16 Blepharoneuron Nash." In Manual of grasses for North America. Barkworth, Mary E., Anderton, L. K., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 197, 434, 532. Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Hatch, S. L., and Weakley, A. S. 2007. "16.30 Sporobolus R. Br." In Manual of grasses for North America. Barkworth, Mary E., Anderton, L. K., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 212–444, 535. Intermountain Herbarium and Utah State University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Soreng, Robert J. 2007. "Systematics of California grasses (Poaceae)." In California grasslands: ecology and management. Stromberg, M. R., Corbin, J. D., and D'Antonio, C. M., editors. 7–20. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Chen, S. L. and Peterson, Paul M. 2006. "Eragrostis." In Flora of China: Poaceae, Volume 22. Wu, Z. Y., Raven, Peter H., and Hong, De-Yuan, editors. 471–479. Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
  • Chen, S. L., Wu, Z. L., Lu, S. L., Sun, B. X., Phillips, S. M., and Peterson, Paul M. 2006. "Tribe Eragrostideae." In Flora of China: Poaceae, Volume 22. Wu, Z. Y., Raven, Peter H., and Hong, De-Yuan, editors. 457–487.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2006. "Grasses." In Encyclopedia of Appalachia. Abramson, R. and Haskell, J., editors. 68.
  • Wu, Z. L. and Peterson, Paul M. 2006. "Muhlenbergia." In Flora of China: Poaceae, Volume 22. Wu, Z. Y., Raven, Peter H., and Hong, De-Yuan, editors. 486–487. Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2005. "Chapter 5.4 Grasses: family Poaceae." In Plant conservation: A natural history approach. Krupnick, Gary A. and Kress, W. John, editors. 104–108.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and McCracken, C. L. 2005. "Chapter 9 Genetic consequences of reduced diversity: Heterozygosity loss, inbreeding depression, and effective population size." In Plant conservation: A natural history approach. Krupnick, Gary A. and Kress, W. John, editors. 194–205.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Shetler, Stanwyn G., Abu-Asab, M. S., and Orli, Sylvia S. 2005. "Global climate change: The spring temperate flora." In Plant conservation: A natural history approach. Krupnick, Gary A. and Kress, W. John, editors. 185–193.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2003. "Muhlenbergia." In Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae: (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Flora of North America North of Mexico, volume 25. Barkworth, Mary E., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 145–201. Oxford University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2003. "Eragrostis." In Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Flora of North America North of Mexico, volume 25. Barkworth, Mary E., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 65–105. Oxford University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. and Annable, C. R. 2003. "Blepharoneuron." In Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Flora of North America North of Mexico, volume 25. Barkworth, Mary E., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 47–48, 50. Oxford University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Hatch, S. L., and Weakley, A. S. 2003. "Sporobolus." In Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Flora of North America North of Mexico, volume 25. Barkworth, Mary E., Capels, K. M., Long, S., and Piep, M. B., editors. 115–139. Oxford University Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2002. "Muhlenbergia." In The Jepson Desert Manual: Vascular Plants of Southeastern California. Baldwin, Bruce G., Boyd, S., Ertter, B. J., Patterson, R. W., Rosatti, T. J., and Wilken, D. H., editors. 586–588, 591. Berkely, CA: University of California Press.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2001. "Eragrostis." In Illustrated Flora of British Columbia, Volume 7 Monocotyledons (Orchidaceae through Zosteraceae). Douglas, G. W., Meidinger, D., and Pojar, J., editors. 144–149. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2001. "Muhlenbergia." In Illustrated Flora of British Columbia, Volume 7 Monocotyledons (Orchidaceae through Zosteraceae). Douglas, G. W., Meidinger, D., and Pojar, J., editors. 202–211. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2000. "Systematics of the Muhlenbergiinae (Chloridoideae: Eragrostideae)." In Grasses: Systematics and Evolution. Jacobs, W. L. and Everett, J., editors. 195–212.
  • Planchuelo, A. M. and Peterson, Paul M. 2000. "The species of Bromus (Poaceae: Bromeae) in South America." In Grasses: Systematics and Evolution. Jacobs, S. W. L. and Everett, J., editors. 89–101.
  • Teece, M. A., Tuross, Noreen C., Kress, W. John, Peterson, Paul M., Russell, G., and Fogel, Marilyn L. 2000. "Preservation of proteins in museum herbarium samples." In Perspectives in Amino Acid and Protein Geochemistry. Goodfriend, G. A., Collins, Martin J., Fogel, Marilyn L., Macko, S. A., and Wehmiller, J., editors. 83–87.
  • Webster, R. D. and Peterson, Paul M. 1996. "Poaceae." In The Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Island. Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro, editor. 509–540.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 1994. "Eragrostis and Muhlenbergia." In The Vascular Plants of British Columbia, Part 4 - Monocotyledons. Douglas, G. W., Straley, G. B., and Meidinger, D., editors. 114–115, 124. Ministry of Forests.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 1993. "Muhlenbergia." In The Jepson manual: higher plants of California. Hickman, J. C., editor. 1272–1275, 1279. University of California Press.
Book
Web Page / Electronic Publication
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2014. Muhlenbergia Muhly. In: B.G. Baldwin, D.J. Keil, S. Markos, B.D. Mishler, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (eds.). Jepson Flora Project: Jepson eFlora.
  • Peterson, Paul M., Saarela, J. M., and Greene, C. W. 2014. Calamagrostis Reed Grass. In: B.G. Baldwin, D.J. Keil, S. Markos, B.D. Mishler, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (eds.). Jepson Flora Project: Jepson eFlora.
  • Saarela, J. M. and Peterson, Paul M. 2014. Bromus Brome, Chess. In: B.G. Baldwin, D.J. Keil, S. Markos, B.D. Mishler, R. Patterson, T.J. Rosatti, and D.H. Wilken (eds.). Jepson Flora Project: Jepson eFlora.
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2012. Poaceae (Gramineae).
  • Peterson, Paul M. 2003. Poaceae (Gramineae).
  • Soreng, Robert J., Peterson, Paul M., and Annable, C. R. 1995. Catalogue of the C. B. Trinius Gramineae Herbarium.