We promote and support eastern botany
by
Since 1936
about us
The Southern Appalachian Botanical Society was founded in 1936 as a club for botanists in West Virginia and the surrounding area. In our 84 years we’ve grown into a regional botanical society with over 400 members across 14 states.
Each year we provide students and professional members of our society with monetary awards for and recognition of outstanding research or contributions to Appalachian botany.
Our peer-reviewed journal Castanea, published since our founding, continues to be one of the most important contributions our society has made to southeastern botany.
Our focus

Publishing
Scientific Literature
Appalachian Botany is a scientific treasure chest that is just beginning to be unpacked.
Since 1936, we've been publishing quality botanical research in the peer-reviewed journal Castanea
Awards
Each year, we provide professional and student scholars with thousands of dollars of support for ongoing research and in recognition of outstanding contributions to botany.

Community
The Southern Appalachian Botanical Society began as a club in 1936. We've grown since then but haven't lost any of the sense of fellowship we have with other southern botanists.
Students
Students are the future of every profession. Our organization noticed waning enrollment in botany programs and have dramatically increased our efforts to engage students and support them both professionally and financially.
$5,000+
Awards Each Year
87 years
of Botanical Community
400+
Active Members
Publications
Castanea was first published in 1936 by The Southern Appalachian Botanical Club and is now in its 85th volume.
It was the first journal to focus on Appalachian and Southeastern botany and is now the premier botanical publication for the region.
The current issue and full archives are available to SABS members and institutional subscribers at CastaneaJournal.com
Members stay connected to their botanical friends and colleagues while keeping up with society business and botany news by reading our quarterly newsletter.
Issues Contain:
- Botanical Brainteasers
- Edible Plants
- Core Research Student Reports
- Botanical Excursions
- Society News and Updates
- Letters from the Editor
- Membership News
- Rare Plants
Occasional Papers in Eastern Botany
An occasional collection of papers published by the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society.
Occasional Papers in Eastern Botany was established in January 2003 and features long manuscripts not appropriate for a regular issue of Castanea, collections of shorter manuscripts that treat topics not usually published in Castanea, and proceedings arising from symposia and conferences.”

Awards & Scholarships
Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew Award
An annual award in memory of Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew’s untiring service to the public, to plant systematics, and to our organization.
Presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in professional and public service that advances our knowledge and appreciation of the world of plants and their scientific, cultural, and aesthetic values, and/or exceptional service to the society.


Richard and Minnie Windler Awards
These awards are designated for the best systematics paper and best ecology paper published during the preceding year within our journal Castanea.
Earl Core Student Research Award
Established by the Society in 1996 to provide financial assistance in support of student research projects in plant taxonomy, systematics, and ecology.
The application deadline is in February and the award amount may be up to $1,200.


John E. Fairey – SABS Biological Field Station Scholarship
The Fairey Scholarship provides financial support for undergraduate or graduate students to attend botany workshops or courses taught at biological field stations, inclusive of all applicable course and direct field station fees such as tuition, room, and board.
Student Conference Support Award
SABS strongly encourages student participation in our annual conference.
Our members have voted to allocate a portion of their membership dues to sponsor students who wish to present a research paper or poster with a botanical focus at the annual Association of Southeastern Biologists & Southern Appalachian Botanical Society research conference.
The award amount is $300 and may be used at the student’s discretion to defray registration, travel, lodging, and food costs associated with attending.


Student Presentation Awards
These two awards are given to the student with the best Oral Presentation and best Poster at the annual ASB/SABS conference.
Entries are assessed by anonymous judges during the conference. Each award includes an honorarium of $300, and the winners will be announced at the ASB banquet on Friday evening of the conference.
Award Recipients
Richard and Minnie Windler Award -
Best Paper in Systematics
Clarifying Taxonomic Boundaries in Nuphar sagittifolia (Nymphaceae): Insights from Morphology and Population Genetic Diversity.
Castanea 87(1): 81

Richard and Minnie Windler Award -
Best Paper in Ecology
Dendrochronological Reconstruction of the Historical Invasion of Balsam Woolly Adlegid (Adelges pieceae) Feeding on Canaan Fir Abies balsamea ssp. pahnerolepis in the Central Appalachian Mountains.
Castanea 87(1): 1

Earl Core Student Reserch Award
Weather-induced Flower Closure in Spring Ephemeral Forest Wildflowers and its effect on Pollen Viability
Earl Core Student Reserch Award
Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Phenological Mismatch between Spring Ephemerals and Overstory Leaf Out
Earl Core Student Reserch Award
Ecological Consequences of Hybridization in Highbush Blueberry across Environments in Virginia
Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew Award
This award is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves in professional and public service that advances our knowledge and appreciation of the world of plants and their scientific, cultural, and aesthetic values, and/or exceptional service to the society.

John E. Fairey – Southern Appalachian Botanical Society Biological Field Station Scholarship
Forest Ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians -
Highlands Biological Station
John E. Fairey – Southern Appalachian Botanical Society Biological Field Station Scholarship
The Introduction to Plant Ecophysiology in the Southern Appalachian Mountains -
Highlands Biological Station
John E. Fairey – Southern Appalachian Botanical Society Biological Field Station Scholarship
Forest Ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians -
Highlands Biological Station
Membership
Sustaining Member
$75
per Year
Membership benefits plus ...
- Support Students with annual awards and scholarships
- Support student publications in Castanea
- Support publishing Castanea, Chinquapin, and Occasional Papers in Eastern Botany
Member
$45
Per Year
All members enjoy
- No Page Fees! for articles accepted for publication in Castanea
- Castanea journal Online access
- Occasional Papers in Eastern Botany online access
- Chinquapin Newsletter
- SABS Voting Rights
Student Member
$10
Per Year
Membership benefits plus ...
- Scholarship and Award Eligibility

Jay Bolin
President

Ashley Morris
President Elect

Mac Alford
Recording Secretary

Jessica Budke
Membership Coordinator

Pamela Puppo
Member-at-Large, Council

Kadrin Anderson
Member-at-Large, Council

Jonathan Horton
Member-at-Large, Council

Katie Horton
Student Representative

Lytton Musselman
Editor, Chinquapin

Chris Randle
Editor-in-Chief, Castanea
Get in Touch
About us
We are a community of botanists who have been supporting southeastern botany since 1935
Mailing Address
Dr. Kunsiri Grubbs,
Biology Department, Winthrop University
202 Dalton Hall
Rock Hill, SC
29733