Herbaria, Voucher Specimens,

1
Herbaria, Voucher Specimens,

• and YOUR research

2
Outline

• Herbaria
• What are they?
• The Intermountain Herbarium
• Voucher specimens
• What are they?
• Why make them?
• Your research
• Optional Assignment

3
Herbaria what are they?
Organized collections of carefully preserved and
documented plant specimens PLUS Associated
resources
4
The Intermountain Herbarium

• A major regional herbarium with
• 232,413 specimens
• 60,811 in database
• 20,142 Utah
• 7,286 Nevada
• 20,629 grasses
• 14,497 georeferenced

5
Specimens
The Intermountain Herbarium contains mostly
vascular plants, but the fungal and bryophyte
collections are becoming more active.
6
Specimens have two parts
The plant material and
7
and the label
The label is critical.
The identity of the plant specimen can be
checked the accuracy of the label cannot be
checked.
8
Our specimens come from
These are just georeferenced specimens. We have
many others.
9
Some useful cabinets to know
Range Class
Accessible 8-5, M-F
10
The Intermountain Herbarium .
Has a non-circulating reference library
11
With professional references
And an on-site copier, 5 per page, cash
12
other references
13
and yet more .
Books for children useful for those in
education
14
Resources for teaching
15
And more teaching resources
Demonstration mounts
16
Voucher specimens

• What are they?
• Why make them?

17
Voucher specimens

• Voucher specimens are herbarium specimens that
• Document your work
• Explain what you mean by a name
• Give your work longevity
• May end up being an integral part of studies
  you never thought of giving you greater fame.

18
When are voucher specimens needed?
Any time the name being used is important to the
story you are telling. If others might use your
work If you want the value of your work to
outlast you If using grass 1 and blue flower
2 would not change your story, voucher specimens
are not needed.
19
Why make voucher specimens?

• Because plant identification is not easy
• Because names mean different things to
  different people
• Because the meaning of plant names may change
  over time
• For credibility
• As a contribution to knowledge

20
Identification is not easy
Every taxonomist has found mistakes of their own
to correct Every taxonomist has had others
correct their mistakes New species are not new
they are species that have not yet been
recognized not even by experienced taxonomists.
Identification is not always easy compare with
specimens, not pictures.
21
Some warnings
If the name is important, as much effort should
go into determining the appropriate name as
selecting a method of data analysis. Field
identifications should be verified in an
herbarium Checklists are often incomplete and
may contain errors
22
Why isnt the name enough?
Because its meaning may differ according to the
reference used.
23
Citing authorities
Adds little information.
State which reference you used for identification
24
Making voucher specimens
Requires time and some equipment The folks in the
herbarium will show you how to make specimens,
loan you the inexpensive equipment, get you
started on identification.
25
Other tools needed
Field notebook Clippers and digger Pencil(s) Tags
Bags GPS, altimeter Field press
26
Other needs
The Intermountain Herbarium will loan plant
presses and allow you to use its plant dryer and
label making program.
27
And, most importantly
A place to identify your plants. Floras are on
shelves adjacent to this space. Specimens are in
cabinets all around.
28
The label should inform
29
Cultivated plant label
30
Tell others about vouchers
State that you made voucher specimens, state
where they are deposited, and make sure that you
have deposited them.
31
Are voucher specimens used?

• YES
• Ferren Chenopodiaceae
• Fleur Persoonia
• Bowden Pascopyrum smithii
• Resource for other studies
• Floristic
• Morphology
• Molecular

32
Lack of vouchers costs

• Mitella
• Themeda

33
Your Research
Unvouchered work cannot be refuted or
substantiated. It can, and ideally should, be
rejected for publication if published, it should
be ignored or its dubious status mentioned.
34
Is that what you want for your research?
35
MAKE VOUCHER SPECIMENS

• Let your research live

36
Optional Assignment
The prizes
Take a learning tour of the herbarium and maybe
win a prize.