I'm currently searching for the email addresses of Ficus experts so we could check with them the status of many un-accesses species.

Holding onto the files of monographs, revisions and floras, I have a sense of loss and wonder.

Loss because some of these experts have passed away. Some go without saying, because the manuscripts are ancient, others require a few google clicks. Yet, I stare at disbelief when I see the obvious. I'm starting to think a cross symbol next to a name signals a passing away. Is it so?

K.M. Matthew †

Late of the Rapinat Herbarium, St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, India, obit. 16th March 2004. Prepared for publication and edited by H.J. Noltie, Royal Botanic Garden, EH3 5LR Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I think the older generation of systematists/ecologists are not so active online as traces of them on the internet are hard to find.