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Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 13658

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Interests: floristics; plant taxonomy; vegetation science; community ecology; plant biology; biogeography; fire ecology; biodeteriogenic plants on monuments and archaeological sites; plant biodiversity assessment and conservation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Herbaria can be defined as collections of dried plant materials, mounted on sheets of paper, systematically arranged, and set up for scientific purposes. For five centuries now, herbaria preserve samples of vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi, algae, and/or lichens, and they are a fundamental source of associated metadata. Globally, there are about 3,500 active public herbaria which preserve about 400 million exsiccate. As many of these herbarium specimens comprise yet-undescribed species, herbaria can be also considered a major frontier for species discovery. Therefore, they are an extraordinary archive of biodiversity available for traditional and new botanical research. In addition to their essential role in plant taxonomy, herbaria are a research tool of considerable value in the biogeography, plant morphology and anatomy, ecology, conservation biology, ethnobotany, genetics, and palynology.

This Special Issue will focus on new interdisciplinary research and significant advances in botany, and related sciences, obtained through the use and enhancement of the herbarium collections. Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts on the following topics:

(1) Taxonomic revisions of critical groups (including description of new taxa);

(2) Nomenclatural insights (including typifications);

(3) Phylogenetic and evolutionary genomic studies;

(4) Biogeographic and floristic studies (e.g., comparative analysis between historical and current data);

(5) Presentation of herbaria and/or historical collections;

(6) Experiences of digitization and/or sharing of the metadata from herbarium samples;

(7) Phenological and palynological research;

(8) Evidence of global environmental change phenomena deducted from herbarium samples (e.g., pollution and biological invasions);

(9) Innovative uses of herbaria.

Dr. Adriano Stinca
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • algae
  • ancient DNA
  • biological collections
  • bryophytes
  • digitization
  • exsiccata
  • fungi
  • herbaria
  • historical collections
  • lichens
  • metadata
  • museological importance
  • taxonomy
  • type
  • vascular plants

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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14 pages, 1497 KiB  
Article
Extinct or Not? Confirming the “Extinct” Status of Hieracium tolstoii (Asteraceae) with Integrated Taxonomic Investigation
by Federico Fainelli, Giacomo Baldesi, Mattia Pallanza and Simone Orsenigo
Diversity 2024, 16(9), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16090591 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 629
Abstract
Hieracium is one of the largest flowering plant genera that has recently experienced a rapid evolutionary radiation. Due to the massive morphological variation among species, frequent hybridization, and polyploidization events, combined with apomictic reproduction in polyploids, the concept of species in Hieracium is [...] Read more.
Hieracium is one of the largest flowering plant genera that has recently experienced a rapid evolutionary radiation. Due to the massive morphological variation among species, frequent hybridization, and polyploidization events, combined with apomictic reproduction in polyploids, the concept of species in Hieracium is widely debated, and species identification is incredibly challenging. Taxonomic investigation can lead to changes in conservation status or, in some cases, to de-extinctions of species. Taxa with doubtful classification are particularly sensitive to this kind of problem. Hieracium tolstoii was a narrow Italian endemic species that is nowadays considered extinct. Described as a morphological intermediate form between two other species, no further investigations were conducted after its first description. To clarify H. tolstoii’s origin and ensure the validity of its current conservation status, we conducted a taxonomic investigation on herbaria specimens of the early XX century. Specimens were studied using a morphometric analysis that compared H. tolstoii with other closely related taxa. Moreover, we performed phylogenetic investigations using three plastid intergenic spacers to evaluate the relationship between species. Plastid markers revealed the presence of indels and SNPs in H. tolstoii sequences that differ from sequences of the supposed parental species. Morphometry revealed differences among species that led us to confirm the validity of H. tolstoii as an independent apomictic species and, therefore, unfortunately, its extinction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Results of morphometric investigation that show three main groups <span class="html-italic">H. tolstoii</span> (in orange); H1 (in blue) and H2 (in purple). Both plots obtained from PCoA (<b>a</b>) and from CDA (<b>b</b>) <span class="html-italic">H. tolstoii</span> create a distinct group that is isolated from other taxa included in the analysis. (<b>c</b>) Plot obtained by the LDA presenting the most discriminant traits.</p>
Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Phylogenetic tree of combined plastid markers (trnH-psbA, trnLtrnT, trnV-ndhC). MP and Bayesian analyses present similar topology. Bootstrap values on the MP analysis are presented above the branches. Posterior probability values from Bayesian analysis are presented. Six different haplotypes are presented. Both analyses did not resolve with a high statistical support relationship among clade C and clade D, where <span class="html-italic">H. tolstoii</span> is inserted.</p>
Full article ">
17 pages, 9468 KiB  
Article
The Marine Macroalgae Collection from Herbarium João de Carvalho e Vasconcellos (LISI)—140 Years of History
by João Canilho Santos, Paula Paes, Pedro Arsénio, Rui Figueira, José Carlos Costa, Margarida Dionísio Lopes, Helena Cotrim and Dalila Espírito-Santo
Diversity 2024, 16(8), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080478 - 7 Aug 2024
Viewed by 676
Abstract
Herbaria phycological collections have approximately one million 700 thousand specimens preserved in European herbaria, a significantly lower number when compared to vascular plants, due to factors such as greater sampling difficulty and fewer specialists. Several studies report that coastal systems have undergone dramatic [...] Read more.
Herbaria phycological collections have approximately one million 700 thousand specimens preserved in European herbaria, a significantly lower number when compared to vascular plants, due to factors such as greater sampling difficulty and fewer specialists. Several studies report that coastal systems have undergone dramatic ecological changes in the last 150 years, with macroalgae being a particularly affected group. Thus, macroalgal herbaria are essential sources for the study and conservation of this biodiversity, as well as a pillar that responds to several ecological questions. Despite having a large coastline, Portugal’s phycological collections are scarce, poorly developed, and practically inaccessible digitally. In 2021/2022, all the phycological specimens present at LISI were the focus of this exploratory project whose objective was to catalog them, taxonomically review the specimens and place them at the service of the scientific community through the incorporation of digitized vouchers into online databases. Three marine collections were constituted and studied, accounting for a total of 852 vouchers and more than 1800 specimens, being the Portuguese Marine Macroalgae Collection, the oldest digitized phycological collection available in Portugal. This project provides an opportunity for other educational institutions to embrace their long-neglected collections as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Sampled locations in 2020 and 2021. Each location is described in <a href="#diversity-16-00478-t001" class="html-table">Table 1</a>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 2
<p>New phycological collection organigramme of the LISI Herbarium. Each rectangle’s size reflects the approximate dimension of the corresponding collection.</p>
Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Number of specimens collected throughout the years. The biggest increment was during the current project, adding 293 specimens to the Collection.</p>
Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Cumulative increment of the Collection from 1880 to 2021. Of the 737 specimens, 77 have no information regarding collection date.</p>
Full article ">Figure 5
<p><b>Top row, from left to right:</b> (<b>a</b>) The oldest specimen found in this collection was identified as <span class="html-italic">Corallina officinalis</span> Linnaeus, collected by João de Mendonça, at Baía de São Martinho do Porto, in 1880. After new morphological identification based on the literature, it was identified in 2021 as being an <span class="html-italic">Ellisolandia elongata</span> (J.Ellis &amp; Solander) K.R.Hind &amp; G.W.Saunders; (<b>b</b>) <span class="html-italic">Fucus vesiculosus</span> Linnaeus, collected by D. Sophia Rosa da Silva, at Cacilhas beach, in 1881, replaced by a dock during the 1960s as part of urban and industrial development that led to the loss of local algae species due to habitat alteration and environmental changes; (<b>c</b>) <span class="html-italic">Apoglossum ruscifolium</span> (Turner) J.Agardh, collected by Luiz Martins on the rocky shore between Carcavelos beach and Torre beach, in 1949, now a highly anthropomorphized area from where this species has probably disappeared. <b>Bottom row, from left to right:</b> (<b>d</b>) <span class="html-italic">Porphyra purpurea</span> (Roth) C.Agardh, collected by Luiz Martins on the rocky shore between Santo Amaro beach and Torre beach, in 1949, the same area as previously mentioned, where this species is suspected to have likely disappeared; (<b>e</b>) coralline algae attached to the substrate were preserved in plastic boxes—<span class="html-italic">Litophyllym incrustans</span> Philippi, collected by A. P. Paes, J. C. Santos, and P. Arsénio, at Avencas Beach, in 2021; (<b>f</b>) another method chosen to preserve small specimens in an envelope is presented here—specimen of <span class="html-italic">Nitophyllum punctatum</span> (Stackhouse) Greville, collected by Cândido Pinto, in Cascais, Praia das Avencas, in 1983.</p>
Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Percentage of specimens belonging to the divisions Chlorophyta, Heterokontophyta, and Rhodophyta. More than 50% of all Collection specimens belong to Rhodophyta.</p>
Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Specimens’ distribution throughout families. There are a total of 51 families represented in this collection. The most represented families are Ulvaceae, Sargassaceae, Gelidiaceae, and Fucaceae, respectively. The total number of specimens for each family is available in the GBIF database in the data sharing section below.</p>
Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Geographical distribution of specimens from the collection. The districts with the highest and lowest number of collections are Lisbon (369 specimens) and Aveiro (6 specimens), respectively. There are 97 specimens without information about a collection site.</p>
Full article ">Figure 9
<p>Seasonal distribution of sampling from collection. The months with the highest number of harvests are August, September, and July. There are 131 specimens without any indication of collection month.</p>
Full article ">
21 pages, 13159 KiB  
Article
Pollen and Seed Morphology as Taxonomic Markers in Verbascum Taxa Based on Herbarium Specimens of MARIUM
by Fatma Mungan Kılıç
Diversity 2024, 16(8), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080443 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 582
Abstract
Herbaria are vital resources of biodiversity education and conservation. They contain significant dried collections and botanical data of plant species that are useful for taxonomy, systematics, and plant-based applied research applications. Verbascum L. is the largest genus within the Scrophulariaceae family globally. However, [...] Read more.
Herbaria are vital resources of biodiversity education and conservation. They contain significant dried collections and botanical data of plant species that are useful for taxonomy, systematics, and plant-based applied research applications. Verbascum L. is the largest genus within the Scrophulariaceae family globally. However, the high morphological diversity within the genus poses significant challenges for accurate species delimitation. This study investigated the pollen and seed morphology of seven distinct Verbascum groups (comprising 10 taxa, including three endemics) from southeastern Anatolia using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analyses revealed that all examined taxa possessed tricolporate pollen apertures, with pollen shapes varying between prolate spheroidal and oblate spheroidal. Seeds exhibited a light brown to dark brown color, with a prismatic oblong shape and alveolate surface. The seed coat ornamentation consisted of irregular polygonal cells, densely covered with distinct vesicles. Findings demonstrate significant morphological distinctions in both pollen and seed characteristics, suggesting their utility in taxonomic discrimination within Verbascum groups. Notably, the detailed micromorphology revealed by SEM proved to be particularly valuable for classifying these taxa. These results contribute the understanding of the taxonomic diversity within Verbascum and highlight the crucial role of SEM in uncovering microstructural details for accurate species identification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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Figure 1

Figure 1
<p>Appearance of the <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span> taxa used in this study in their wild habitats and their herbaria in MARIUM. In the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—Habitat; 2—Herbaria. (<b>a1</b>,<b>a2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>b1</b>,<b>b2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>c1</b>,<b>c2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>d1</b>,<b>d2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>e1</b>,<b>e2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>f1</b>,<b>f2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>g1</b>,<b>g2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>, (<b>h1</b>,<b>h2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>i1</b>,<b>i2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>; (<b>j1</b>,<b>j2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span> (Specimen from Kew Herbarium—K000975933).</p>
Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of pollen grains in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—equatorial view; 2—exine sculpturing. (<b>a1</b>,<b>a2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>b1</b>,<b>b2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>c1</b>,<b>c2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>d1</b>,<b>d2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>e1</b>,<b>e2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>f1</b>,<b>f2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>g1</b>,<b>g2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>h1</b>,<b>h2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>i1</b>,<b>i2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>j1</b>,<b>j2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue.</span></p>
Full article ">Figure 2 Cont.
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of pollen grains in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—equatorial view; 2—exine sculpturing. (<b>a1</b>,<b>a2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>b1</b>,<b>b2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>c1</b>,<b>c2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>d1</b>,<b>d2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>e1</b>,<b>e2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>f1</b>,<b>f2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>g1</b>,<b>g2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>h1</b>,<b>h2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>i1</b>,<b>i2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>j1</b>,<b>j2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue.</span></p>
Full article ">Figure 2 Cont.
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of pollen grains in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—equatorial view; 2—exine sculpturing. (<b>a1</b>,<b>a2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>b1</b>,<b>b2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>c1</b>,<b>c2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>d1</b>,<b>d2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>e1</b>,<b>e2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>f1</b>,<b>f2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>g1</b>,<b>g2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>h1</b>,<b>h2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>i1</b>,<b>i2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>j1</b>,<b>j2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue.</span></p>
Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Light microscopy micrographs of pollen grains from representative <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span> taxa. (<b>a</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>, (<b>b</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>, (<b>c</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>, (<b>d</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>, (<b>e</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>, (<b>f</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>, (<b>g</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. orientale, (<b>h</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>, (<b>i</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>, (<b>j</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Principal component analysis (PCA) biplot of ten <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span> taxa based on quantitative pollen morphology data. Each point represents a species, and the position of the species on the plot reflects its pollen characteristics. The arrows represent pollen traits and their contribution to the principal components (PCs). Closer proximity between species on the plot suggests greater similarity in their pollen morphology.</p>
Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of seeds in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—general appearance; 2—surface ornamentation. (<b>A1</b>,<b>A2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>B1</b>,<b>B2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>C1</b>,<b>C2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>D1</b>,<b>D2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>E1</b>,<b>E2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>F1</b>,<b>F2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>G1</b>,<b>G2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>H1</b>,<b>H2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>I1</b>,<b>I2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>J1</b>,<b>J2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 5 Cont.
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of seeds in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—general appearance; 2—surface ornamentation. (<b>A1</b>,<b>A2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>B1</b>,<b>B2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>C1</b>,<b>C2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>D1</b>,<b>D2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>E1</b>,<b>E2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>F1</b>,<b>F2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>G1</b>,<b>G2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>H1</b>,<b>H2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>I1</b>,<b>I2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>J1</b>,<b>J2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 5 Cont.
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of seeds in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—general appearance; 2—surface ornamentation. (<b>A1</b>,<b>A2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>B1</b>,<b>B2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>C1</b>,<b>C2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>D1</b>,<b>D2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>E1</b>,<b>E2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>F1</b>,<b>F2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>G1</b>,<b>G2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>H1</b>,<b>H2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>I1</b>,<b>I2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>J1</b>,<b>J2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 5 Cont.
<p>Scanning electron micrographs of seeds in the genus <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span>. 1—general appearance; 2—surface ornamentation. (<b>A1</b>,<b>A2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. agrimoniifolium</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">agrimoniifolium</span>; (<b>B1</b>,<b>B2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. andrusii</span>; (<b>C1</b>,<b>C2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. geminiflorum</span>; (<b>D1</b>,<b>D2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. kotschyi</span>; (<b>E1</b>,<b>E2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. laetum</span>; (<b>F1</b>,<b>F2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. lasianthum</span>; (<b>G1</b>,<b>G2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. orientale</span> subsp. <span class="html-italic">orientale</span>; (<b>H1</b>,<b>H2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. diversifolium</span>; (<b>I1</b>,<b>I2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. stepporum</span>; (<b>J1</b>,<b>J2</b>) <span class="html-italic">V. tenue</span>.</p>
Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Colpus length, P/E ratio, and exine thickness of investigated taxa of <span class="html-italic">Verbascum.</span></p>
Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Seed size (mm) variation in studied <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span> taxa.</p>
Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Seed length-to-width ratios in <span class="html-italic">Verbascum</span> species.</p>
Full article ">
12 pages, 6785 KiB  
Article
Bryophytes Collection of the University of Brasilia Herbarium, Brazil
by Mel C. Camelo, Allan L. A. Faria, Daniela Cemin, Paulo E. A. S. Câmara and Micheline Carvalho-Silva
Diversity 2024, 16(6), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16060342 - 13 Jun 2024
Viewed by 795
Abstract
The UB Herbarium, located in the Department of Botany at the University of Brasilia (Brasilia, Brazil), was established in 1963. It is the third-largest herbarium in Brazil, housing approximately 277,000 samples. This study presents a quantitative description of the bryophytes collection at the [...] Read more.
The UB Herbarium, located in the Department of Botany at the University of Brasilia (Brasilia, Brazil), was established in 1963. It is the third-largest herbarium in Brazil, housing approximately 277,000 samples. This study presents a quantitative description of the bryophytes collection at the UB Herbarium, which is the second-largest bryophytes collection in Brazil. It contains 31,099 samples, including specimens from all continents and 79 countries, with a focus on specimens from Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, the United States, Chile, Indonesia, South Africa, Ireland, Argentina, and Sweden, as well as various islands and archipelagos. The collection has grown significantly since its creation in 1963, when it initially held 869 specimens; it now contains 31,099 specimens, which is a 59.3% increase. The herbarium holds 95 types of bryophytes. These results were gathered from consultations in the UB Herbarium online database and compiled into an Excel spreadsheet. These findings highlight the importance of our collection, making it a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in exploring and studying a diverse array of specimens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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<p>Bryophyte collection of the UB Herbarium. (<b>A</b>) Botany Department at the University of Brasília. (<b>B</b>) Plate indicating the bryophyte collection. (<b>C</b>) Cabinets. (<b>D</b>) Cabinets with small drawers adapted for bryophyte species and details of Calymperaceae cabinets. (<b>E</b>) Sematophyllaceae cabinets. (<b>F</b>) Details of Sematophyllaceae cabinets showing one letter. (<b>G</b>) Letter of Sematophyllaceae indicated with a green dot (collected in Brazil). (<b>H</b>) One specimen of Sematophyllaceae.</p>
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<p>Records of bryophytes in countries collected and deposited at UB Herbarium.</p>
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<p>Bryophyte records from phytogeographical domains of Brazil deposited at the UB Herbarium.</p>
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<p>Heatmap (Kernel density) of bryophyte records from the phytogeographical domains in Brazil.</p>
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<p>Growth of the UB dataset (number of specimen entries) per year.</p>
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<p>Chronological distribution of bryophytes specimens in UB herbarium: Number of specimens × year of collection. Captions: Year 1: 1963 (date of creation), Year 2: 2014, Year 3: 2024.</p>
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29 pages, 7045 KiB  
Article
The Trèmols Herbarium: A European Herbarium from the End of the 19th Century
by Laura Gavioli, Neus Nualart, Jordi López-Pujol and Neus Ibáñez
Diversity 2024, 16(2), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020105 - 6 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1666
Abstract
The herbarium Trèmols, preserved in the Botanical Institute of Barcelona (IBB), was created during the second half of the 19th century by the Catalan chemist and botanist Frederic Trèmols Borrell (Cadaqués 1831–1900). He was a member of important scientific institutions, including the Real [...] Read more.
The herbarium Trèmols, preserved in the Botanical Institute of Barcelona (IBB), was created during the second half of the 19th century by the Catalan chemist and botanist Frederic Trèmols Borrell (Cadaqués 1831–1900). He was a member of important scientific institutions, including the Real Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona, the Societat Botànica Barcelonesa, the Société Botanique de France, and the Société Helvétique pour l’Échange des Plantes. The value of this herbarium lies in the large volume of specimens that it preserves (12,953) and the high percentage (61.9%) of material of foreign origin that it contains. The Trèmols herbarium was completely digitised in 2019 as part of a wider study that is aimed to classify, digitise, document, review, and, finally, make the IBB historical herbaria available to the scientific community. Herein, we provide a general overview of the almost 13,000 specimens of this collection, which can give valuable insight into the flora that existed more than 100 years ago. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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<p>Sheet from the Trèmols herbarium with two specimens: BC-Trèmols 865794 and BC-Trèmols 865795. The initial “T.” on the central strip of paper with which the central specimen is mounted, attributes it to Nicola Terracciano <a href="https://www.ibb.csic.es/herbari/JPEG/BC865795.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.ibb.csic.es/herbari/JPEG/BC865795.jpg</a> (accessed on 26 January 2024).</p>
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<p>Collectors with more than 100 specimens included in the Trèmols herbarium (excluding Trèmols himself).</p>
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<p>Label types in the Trèmols herbarium, with more than 100 specimens.</p>
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<p>Examples of the most common label types of the Trèmols herbarium: the original type used by Trèmols ((<b>A</b>), BC-Trèmols 865483), the type used by Marcos ((<b>B</b>), BC-Trèmols 875148), the type used by the <span class="html-italic">Société Helvétique pour l’Échange des Plantes</span> ((<b>C</b>), BC-Trèmols 918934), the type used by the <span class="html-italic">Societat Botànica Barcelonesa</span> ((<b>D</b>), BC-Trèmols 920406), the personal label of van Heurck ((<b>E</b>), BC-Trèmols 951585), and the personal label of Congdon ((<b>F</b>), BC-Trèmols 876500).</p>
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<p>Years of collection of the dated specimens in the Trèmols herbarium (since 1856, when the herbarium began to grow effectively), attributable to Trèmols (shown by the red part of the bars) and obtained through the exchange (shown by the blue part of the bars). Only one specimen collected in 1874 is not included as it was not possible to attribute it to either Trèmols or the exchanges.</p>
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<p>Months of collection of the Trèmols herbarium specimens (comprising 6413 specimens). Specimens collected by Trèmols are shown in red, and specimens from exchange activities are shown in blue (three specimens not attributed to either of the two categories are not included).</p>
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<p>Countries of origin of the Trèmols herbarium specimens; their number is indicated by colour gradations.</p>
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<p>Localities of the specimens from the Trèmols herbarium that come from the Iberian peninsula (<b>A</b>,<b>B</b>) and from Catalonia, in the northeastern part of Spain (<b>C</b>,<b>D</b>). Specimens collected by Trèmols are shown by red dots and those obtained by exchange are shown by blue dots. In the Catalonian map (<b>C</b>,<b>D</b>), the black square indicates the Cadaqués village and the black star represents Barcelona city.</p>
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10 pages, 4226 KiB  
Communication
Herbarium Apenninicum (APP): An Archive of Vascular Plants from Central Italy
by Fabio Conti, Giacomo Cangelmi, Jamila Da Valle and Fabrizio Bartolucci
Diversity 2024, 16(2), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020099 - 2 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1318
Abstract
The Herbarium Apenninicum (international code: APP), hosted in the Floristic Research Center of the Apennines (Abruzzo, central Italy), is approximately composed of about 80,000 specimens of vascular plants; 66,352 of them are mounted with data labels and entered in a database. The specimens [...] Read more.
The Herbarium Apenninicum (international code: APP), hosted in the Floristic Research Center of the Apennines (Abruzzo, central Italy), is approximately composed of about 80,000 specimens of vascular plants; 66,352 of them are mounted with data labels and entered in a database. The specimens from the Abruzzo administrative region (central Italy) correspond to more than half of the collection (57.8% of the specimens), while immediately afterwards, other neighboring provinces of central Italy follow. Outside of Italy, the most represented areas are Morocco and southern European countries. Most of the specimens were collected between 2001 and 2020; nevertheless, the herbarium also contains two historical collections from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. The herbarium houses 146 types. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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<p>(<b>A</b>) Monastery of San Colombo (Barisciano, L’Aquila; photo by R. Marchesan); (<b>B</b>) room of APP (photo by F. Conti); (<b>C</b>) holotype (APP n. 66181) of <span class="html-italic">Pedicularis rostratospicata</span> Crantz subsp. <span class="html-italic">marsica</span> F.Conti &amp; Bartolucci.</p>
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<p>Taxonomic coverage of the most represented families in APP. Families with less than 2% are grouped in “others”.</p>
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<p>Taxonomic coverage of the most represented genera in APP (number of specimens higher than 500).</p>
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<p>Italian geographic coverage of the specimens preserved in APP. The number of specimens is calculated for the Italian administrative provinces.</p>
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<p>Geographic coverage of the specimens preserved in APP.</p>
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<p>Bar plot showing the number of specimens preserved in APP by year of collection; samples collected before 1985 are grouped in the first bar.</p>
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15 pages, 8299 KiB  
Article
When Are Cacti Found with Flowers and Fruits? Estimation of the Reproductive Phenology of the Genus Xiquexique Based on Herbarium Data
by Alexsandro Bezerra-Silva, Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima, Vanessa Gabrielle Nóbrega Gomes, Adelly Cardoso de Araujo Fagundes, Maria Thereza Dantas Gomes, Márjori Thays da Silva, Isabel Cristina Machado and Ligia Silveira Funch
Diversity 2024, 16(2), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16020079 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1458
Abstract
Plant phenology reflects the reproductive responses of plants to seasonal cycles and climate change. Herbarium collections can be valuable tools for filling in gaps in phenological studies. We investigated the seasonality of the reproductive phenology of Xiquexique species using circular statistics, estimated their [...] Read more.
Plant phenology reflects the reproductive responses of plants to seasonal cycles and climate change. Herbarium collections can be valuable tools for filling in gaps in phenological studies. We investigated the seasonality of the reproductive phenology of Xiquexique species using circular statistics, estimated their flowering and fruiting periods by interpolation via inverse distance weighting based on herbarium specimens (n = 290), and analyzed the relationships among phenophases, temperature, and precipitation using generalized linear models. Xiquexique species flowered and fruited throughout the year, with X. gounellei exhibiting peak flowering in February and peak fruiting in March, while X. tuberculatus exhibited those peaks in August–October and August, respectively, with decreased intensity during the austral winter. The maps produced through interpolation showed higher probabilities of flowering and fruiting between February and August at sites with mean annual rainfall rates between 500 and 800 mm. Temperature and precipitation were positively correlated with flowering. Xiquexique tuberculatus is important for providing continuous resources to pollinators and seed dispersers in the Caatinga. Herbarium collections and interpolation methods for filling in gaps concerning the reproductive ecology of Cactaceae can aid in better understanding altered phenological patterns resulting from environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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<p>Location of the Caatinga (shaded) region in northeastern Brazil, indicating the precipitation isohyets in the region.</p>
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<p>(<b>A</b>) <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique gounellei</span> in flower (photo: S. Albuquerque-Lima); (<b>B</b>) individual of <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> in fruiting (photo: Hirandir); (<b>C</b>) exsiccate of <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> (including flower), Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro Herbarium; (<b>D</b>) exsiccate of <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> (including fruit), Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Herbarium.</p>
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<p>(<b>A</b>) <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique tuberculatus</span> in flower (photo: Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima); (<b>B</b>) flower bud and fruit of <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> (photo: Isadora Schulze de Albuquerque); (<b>C</b>) exsiccate of <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> (including flower)<span class="html-italic">,</span> Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Herbarium; (<b>D</b>) exsiccate of <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> (including fruit), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco Herbarium.</p>
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<p>Flowchart of the filtering steps in the selection of phenological data concerning <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> and <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> on the SpeciesLink platform. * All species belonging to the genus were filtered, but only <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> and <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> were selected for comprehensive filtering in this study.</p>
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<p>The reproductive phenology of the genus <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique</span> based on herbarium data. The flowering and fruiting of <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique</span> (<b>A</b>,<b>B</b>), <span class="html-italic">X. gounellei</span> (<b>C</b>,<b>D</b>), and <span class="html-italic">X. tuberculatus</span> (<b>E</b>,<b>F</b>).</p>
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<p>Probable flowering (<b>A</b>) and fruiting (<b>B</b>) months of the genus <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique</span> according to IDW interpolation. The colors indicate the best months for excursions. White dots represent herbarium specimens.</p>
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<p>Probable flowering (<b>A</b>) and fruiting (<b>B</b>) months of <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique gounellei</span>, and the probable flowering (<b>C</b>) and fruiting (<b>D</b>) months of <span class="html-italic">Xiquexique tuberculatus</span>, according to IDW interpolation. The colors indicate the best months for field excursions. White dots represent herbarium specimens.</p>
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24 pages, 12589 KiB  
Article
The Greater Midlands—A Mid-Elevation Centre of Floristic Endemism in Summer-Rainfall Eastern South Africa
by Clinton Carbutt
Diversity 2023, 15(11), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15111137 - 9 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2148
Abstract
The Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province in South Africa was hitherto a putative centre of floristic endemism (CFE) based on conjecture. The aim of this study was to empirically explore this concept by delineating unambiguous boundaries for this CFE and documenting the [...] Read more.
The Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province in South Africa was hitherto a putative centre of floristic endemism (CFE) based on conjecture. The aim of this study was to empirically explore this concept by delineating unambiguous boundaries for this CFE and documenting the endemic spermatophytes within a conservation framework. The Greater Midlands Centre of Floristic Endemism (GMCFE), a more expanded study area than the parochial Midlands region of KZN, is formally described as southern Africa’s 20th CFE. It is a mid-elevation region occupying the greater Midlands of KZN, with extensions of contiguous grasslands extending northwards into southern Mpumalanga and southwards into north-eastern Eastern Cape. This “foothills” CFE covers ca. 77,000 km2 of predominantly mesic C4 grassland, ranging in elevation from ca. 700–2200 m a.s.l. It is congruent with the “sub-escarpment ecoregion,” essentially a composite of the Sub-escarpment Grassland and Savanna Bioregions and the sub-escarpment grasslands of southern Mpumalanga and northern KZN. The GMCFE hosts at least 220 endemic spermatophytes, of which almost a fifth belong to the family Apocynaceae. Families Asteraceae, Asphodelaceae, Fabaceae, and Iridaceae also contribute significantly. Genera Ceropegia, Aloe, Dierama, Kniphofia, Helichrysum, and Streptocarpus contribute the most endemics. More than half are forbs, and almost three-quarters are confined to the Grassland Biome. Endemic radiations are attributed to geodiversity and geological complexity (especially the strong lithological influence of dolerite); physiographic heterogeneity (particularly elevation gradients and variable terrain units); strategic proximity to hyper-diverse temperate and subtropical “border floras”; and localized pollinator-driven adaptive radiations. Of alarming concern is the high number of threatened plant taxa, with ca. 60% of the endemic flora Red Listed in threat categories (CE, E, and VU) or considered “rare”. Extremely low levels of formal protection and poor ecological connectivity, coupled with high levels of land transformation and intensive utilization, render the GMCFE one of the most imperilled CFE in South Africa. Urgent conservation action is required to safeguard this unique and highly threatened “rangeland flora” and stem the biodiversity crisis gripping the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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<p>Annotated Google Earth<sup>®</sup> image delineating the Greater Midlands Centre of Floristic Endemism (GMCFE) in eastern South Africa. This CFE is essentially a “sub-escarpment ecoregion” mapped using methods outlined in Carbutt [<a href="#B15-diversity-15-01137" class="html-bibr">15</a>]. Abbreviations: KZN, KwaZulu-Natal; LMEE, Limpopo–Mpumalanga–Eswatini Escarpment; NG, Northern Group; CG, Central Group; SG, Southern Group.</p>
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<p>Representative landscapes of the Greater Midlands Centre of Floristic Endemism (GMCFE): (<b>A</b>) degraded, unprotected grassland on dolerite, Groenvlei, northern KZN (Northern Group–GB–early autumn); (<b>B</b>) state protected grassland on dolerite, Ncandu, north-western KZN (Northern Group–GB–late winter); (<b>C</b>) unprotected savanna woodland on quartzitic Mozaan Group sandstone, Louwsburg, northern KZN (Northern Group–SB–late winter); (<b>D</b>) unprotected grassland and Southern Mistbelt Forest on dolerite, Fort Nottingham, KZN Midlands (Central Group–GB-FB–midsummer); (<b>E</b>) privately protected grassland on dolerite, Mt. Gilboa, KZN Midlands (Central Group–GB–late spring); (<b>F</b>) state protected grassland on dolerite, Umgeni Vlei, KZN Midlands (Central Group–GB–late autumn); (<b>G</b>) state protected grassland on dolerite; Ntsikeni, southern KZN (Southern Group–GB–late spring); (<b>H</b>) state protected grassland on dolerite, Mt. Currie, southern KZN (Southern Group–GB–midsummer). All photos by C. Carbutt. Abbreviations: FB, Forest Biome; GB, Grassland Biome; SB, Savanna Biome. Biome limits followed Mucina and Rutherford [<a href="#B22-diversity-15-01137" class="html-bibr">22</a>] and Mucina et al. [<a href="#B35-diversity-15-01137" class="html-bibr">35</a>].</p>
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<p>Pie-chart analysis showing the breakdown of Greater Midlands Centre (GMC) endemic spermatophyte taxa arranged by: (<b>A</b>) group; (<b>B</b>) larger families; (<b>C</b>) larger genera; (<b>D</b>) plant growth form; (<b>E</b>) biome; (<b>F</b>) lithology; (<b>G</b>) threat status; and (<b>H</b>) Endemicity Index. All data were arranged from highest to lowest values, except for (<b>A</b>) arranged by northernmost to southernmost latitudes.</p>
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<p>Representative photographic examples of Greater Midlands Centre (GMC) endemic spermatophytes across a range of divisions, larger contributing families, growth forms, and high threat classes: (<b>A</b>) <span class="html-italic">Pachycarpus acidostelma</span> M.Glen &amp; Nicholas (Apocynaceae)—CE forb; (<b>B</b>) <span class="html-italic">Schizoglossum ingomense</span> N.E.Br. (Apocynaceae)—E forb; (<b>C</b>) <span class="html-italic">Gerbera aurantiaca</span> Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae)—E forb; (<b>D</b>) <span class="html-italic">Helichrysum citricephalum</span> Hilliard &amp; B.L.Burtt (Asteraceae)—CE shrub; (<b>E</b>) <span class="html-italic">Aloe saundersiae</span> (Reynolds) Reynolds (Asphodelaceae)—E succulent aloe; (<b>F</b>) <span class="html-italic">Kniphofia ichopensis</span> Schinz var. <span class="html-italic">aciformis</span> Codd (Asphodelaceae)—DD forb; (<b>G</b>) <span class="html-italic">Moraea hiemalis</span> Goldblatt (Iridaceae)—VU geophyte; (<b>H</b>) <span class="html-italic">Kniphofia latifolia</span> Codd (Asphodelaceae)—E forb; (<b>I</b>,<b>J</b>) <span class="html-italic">Encephalartos aemulans</span> Vorster (Zamiaceae)—CE male-coning cycad; (<b>K</b>) <span class="html-italic">Satyrium rhodanthum</span> Schltr. (“red form”) (Orchidaceae)—E forb; (<b>L</b>) <span class="html-italic">Brunsvigia undulata</span> F.M.Leight. (Amaryllidaceae)—rare geophyte. All photos by C. Carbutt. Abbreviations: CE, Critically Endangered; DD, Data Deficient; E, Endangered; VU, Vulnerable.</p>
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<p>Representative photographic examples of Greater Midlands Centre (GMC) endemic spermatophytes across a range of divisions, larger contributing families, growth forms, and high threat classes: (<b>A</b>) <span class="html-italic">Pachycarpus acidostelma</span> M.Glen &amp; Nicholas (Apocynaceae)—CE forb; (<b>B</b>) <span class="html-italic">Schizoglossum ingomense</span> N.E.Br. (Apocynaceae)—E forb; (<b>C</b>) <span class="html-italic">Gerbera aurantiaca</span> Sch.Bip. (Asteraceae)—E forb; (<b>D</b>) <span class="html-italic">Helichrysum citricephalum</span> Hilliard &amp; B.L.Burtt (Asteraceae)—CE shrub; (<b>E</b>) <span class="html-italic">Aloe saundersiae</span> (Reynolds) Reynolds (Asphodelaceae)—E succulent aloe; (<b>F</b>) <span class="html-italic">Kniphofia ichopensis</span> Schinz var. <span class="html-italic">aciformis</span> Codd (Asphodelaceae)—DD forb; (<b>G</b>) <span class="html-italic">Moraea hiemalis</span> Goldblatt (Iridaceae)—VU geophyte; (<b>H</b>) <span class="html-italic">Kniphofia latifolia</span> Codd (Asphodelaceae)—E forb; (<b>I</b>,<b>J</b>) <span class="html-italic">Encephalartos aemulans</span> Vorster (Zamiaceae)—CE male-coning cycad; (<b>K</b>) <span class="html-italic">Satyrium rhodanthum</span> Schltr. (“red form”) (Orchidaceae)—E forb; (<b>L</b>) <span class="html-italic">Brunsvigia undulata</span> F.M.Leight. (Amaryllidaceae)—rare geophyte. All photos by C. Carbutt. Abbreviations: CE, Critically Endangered; DD, Data Deficient; E, Endangered; VU, Vulnerable.</p>
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Review

Jump to: Research

10 pages, 233 KiB  
Review
Strengthening Partnerships to Safeguard the Future of Herbaria
by Barbara M. Thiers
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010036 - 5 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2340
Abstract
Herbaria remain the primary means of documenting plant life on earth, and the number of herbaria worldwide and the number of specimens they hold continues to grow. Digitization of herbarium specimens, though far from complete, has increased the discoverability of herbarium holdings and [...] Read more.
Herbaria remain the primary means of documenting plant life on earth, and the number of herbaria worldwide and the number of specimens they hold continues to grow. Digitization of herbarium specimens, though far from complete, has increased the discoverability of herbarium holdings and has increased the range of studies from which data from herbarium specimens can be used. The rather large number of herbaria about which no current information is available is a source of concern, as is herbarium consolidation and removal of herbaria to offsite storage facilities. Partnerships are key to the future health of herbaria. Benefits could accrue from the reimagining of the world’s herbaria as a global resource rather than a collection of independent, often competing institutions. Herbaria can extend the reach of their specimens by joining the nascent effort to link the species occurrence data they manage to other biological and environmental data sources to deepen our ability to understand the interrelationships of earth’s biota. To assure that data held by herbaria contribute to the range of conservation-related projects for which they are relevant, herbaria should embrace the tenets of Team Science and play a more proactive role in promoting their holdings for relevant research and conservation projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Herbaria: A Key Resource for Plant Diversity Exploration)
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