“X‐RAYING” HERBARIUM SPECIMENS WITH TRANSMITTED LIGHT, A NON‐DESTRUCTIVE WAY OF INVESTIGATING DRY PLANT MATERIAL

Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima) is an aquatic vascular plant (Ruppiaceae) which has been the source for rare balls of plant material found at the shores of lakes on four continents. In North America, the lakes involved were in North Dakota, Oregon, and now northern and southern Saskatchewan. The formation of the balls has not been observed in nature, but similar balls have been produced in other studies with Posidonia or Turtle Grass (Hydrocharitaceae) fibers under the wavelike action in a washing machine. Our samples are from a saline lake in southern Saskatchewan (49°N), and an over 40-year-old sample from an unknown lake north of the boreal transition zone (52°N). Comparisons of the plant material with herbarium specimens confirm that the balls are almost entirely comprised of Ruppia maritima, with minor items including invertebrate animal parts, sand pebbles and feathers. The context in which the material was found is consistent with the proposition that they are formed by Ruppia inflorescences breaking apart, drifting to near shore due to wind and being rolled into balls by wave action.

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Engaging Children with Herbarium Specimens at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s Science Festival

Biodiversity Information Science and Standards ◽

10.3897/biss.2.25933 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. e25933

Author(s):

Melissa Bavington

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Specimen Preparation ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Full Time ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Herbarium Collection ◽

Herbarium Sheet ◽

Royal Botanic Gardens

The Kew and Wakehurst Science Festivals consists of five days of activities over two weekends. Workshops and tours allow visitors to engage with the scientists and their research. We designed an interactive experience, so children could understand what a herbarium sheet is and the process of making one. The Herbarium accessions an average of 30,000 specimens per year and because specimens need to have a long life and be able to withstand being handled for hundreds of years they need to be ‘mounted’ according to strict protocols and guidelines. Botanical specimens are vital to research at Kew and beyond, providing key scientific data. Once mounted onto herbarium sheets botanical specimens are added to the Herbarium and made widely available to visiting scientists and researchers. Digitising these specimens increases access further through online portals. To achieve a specimen that can be handled for many years the specimens are mounted onto archival paper, along with their labels, before being added to the collection. There are 6 members in RBG Kew’s Specimen Preparation team who work full time to prepare botanical specimens for accession into the Herbarium collection; which currently stands at 7 million specimens and the oldest dates from the 1700s. We simplified this specimen preparation process down to the basic component parts of paper, glue, plant material and pressing. Using material and tools that visitors would be able to find for themselves; art paper, child friendly glue and plant material used in flower crafts we created a hands-on experience for mounting a herbarium specimen. The Science Festival is now in its 3rd year and each year the activity has been modified based on lessons learned over the course of the festival and each year. The stall is immensely popular going from 300 participants in the first year to over 700 in 2017. In the second year we added a new dimension and allowed visitors to image the specimens they created allowing them to zoom in and see plant parts and structures in further detail to highlight the importance of digitisation. These images can be viewed on the Kew Science Flickr group.

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New protocol for successful isolation and amplification of DNA from exiguous fractions of specimens: a tool to overcome the basic obstacle in molecular analyses of myxomycetes

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.8406 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e8406 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paulina Janik ◽

Michał Ronikier ◽

Anna Ronikier

Keyword(s):

Biological Material ◽

Dna Isolation ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Biological Research ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Direct Pcr ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Successful Isolation ◽

Herbarium Collections ◽

Non Destructive

Herbarium collections provide an essential basis for a wide array of biological research and, with development of DNA-based methods, they have become an invaluable material for genetic analyses. Yet, the use of such material is hindered by technical limitations related to DNA degradation and to quantity of biological material. The latter is inherent for some biological groups, as best exemplified by myxomycetes which form minute sporophores. It is estimated that ca. two-thirds of myxomycete taxa are represented by extremely scanty material. As DNA isolation methods applied so far in myxomycete studies require destructive sampling of many sporophores, a large part of described diversity of the group remains unavailable for phylogenetic studies or barcoding. Here, we tested several procedures of DNA isolation and amplification to seek for an efficient and possibly non-destructive method of sampling. Tests were based on herbarium specimens of 19 species representing different taxonomic orders. We assayed several variants of isolation based on silica gel membrane columns, and a newly designed procedure using highly reduced amount of biological material (small portion of spores), based on fine disruption of spores and direct PCR. While the most frequently used column-based method led to PCR success in 89.5% of samples when a large amount of material was used, its performance dropped to 52% when based on single sporophores. Single sporophores provided amplicons in 89.5% of samples when using a kit dedicated to low-amount DNA samples. Our new procedure appeared the most effective (94.7%) while it used only a small fraction of spores, being nearly non-destructive; it was also the most cost-effective. We thus demonstrate that combination of adequate handling of spore micro-disruption coupled with application of direct PCR can be an efficient way to circumvent technical limitations for genetic studies in myxomycetes and thus can substantially improve taxon sampling for phylogeny and barcoding. Additionally, this approach gives a unique possibility to apply both molecular and morphological assays to the same structure (sporophore), which then can be further stored as documentation.

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Lectotype of Solidago ×niederederi (Asteraceae) selected from a recently rediscovered original material

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.438.1.8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 438 (1) ◽

pp. 62-64

Author(s):

KATARÍNA SKOKANOVÁ ◽

PAVOL MEREĎA Jr. ◽

BARBORA ŠINGLIAROVÁ ◽

STANISLAV ŠPANIEL

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Solidago Canadensis ◽

Original Material ◽

Field Margins ◽

Forest Edges ◽

Hybrid Species ◽

Living Material ◽

The 19Th Century ◽

First Time

Solidago ×niederederi Khek (1905: 22) is a hybrid between North-American S. canadensis Linnaeus (1753: 878) and European native S. virgaurea Linnaeus (1753: 880). Solidago canadensis was introduced to Europe in the 17th century (Kowarik 2003). It has spread invasively throughout Europe since the second half of the 19th century (Weber 1998), reaching, besides sites disturbed by human activity, also (semi)natural biotopes, as forest edges, abandoned meadows and field margins which are often inhabited by native S. virgaurea. Their hybrid was discovered for the first time in nature by a local schoolmaster Franz Niedereder in the area of Vorderstoder village (Austria). Niedereder sent a plant material of the assumed hybrid to Eugen Johan Khek (born in 1861, Neuhaus/Jindřichov Hradec; died in 1927, Vienna), the pharmacist and botanist who lived in Vienna since 1889 (Anonymous 1916). Khek described the hybrid species under the name S. ×niederederi in honour of his discoverer (Khek 1905). The protologue indicates that the relevant communication between Niedereder and Khek was going on between July 1900 (when they met for the first time) and February 1905 (when the hybrid’s description was published). Before its description, Khek studied the hybrid for four years and he saw a herbarium material from Niedereder as well as a living material. In the protologue, no particular herbarium specimens or illustrations had been indicated or associated with S. ×niederederi (Khek 1905).

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Unmounted Doesn’t Mean Unprocessed: A Case Study of Exporting Australian Herbarium Specimens

Biodiversity Information Science and Standards ◽

10.3897/biss.2.26284 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. e26284

Author(s):

Sarah Hirst ◽

Peter Jobson

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

The United States ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

United States Department ◽

Department Of Agriculture ◽

States Department ◽

The Usa ◽

Exchange Material ◽

Herbarium Collections

In 2017, two incoming international herbarium loans were confiscated and destroyed by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR). Following these regrettable incidents, communication has improved between Managers of Australasian Herbarium Collections (MAHC) and Plant Import Operations Branch of DAWR. The outcome is that new protocols now exist for shipment of plant material between herbaria based on the recognition by DAWR that all herbarium specimens are in fact processed (pressed, dried and frozen) even if they are not fully mounted (Brown et al, this conference). Simultaneously, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had been reported to be destroying incoming unmounted specimens, thus making it difficult to send unmounted exchange material overseas, and particularly to the USA. Using the documentation developed for incoming overseas loans by MAHC and, encouraging the receiving institution in the USA to acquire a USDA 588 Importing Permit for unprocessed plant specimens (non-loan, unmounted herbarium specimens), it was possible to export unmounted herbarium specimens and dried DNA samples into the USA. Excluding the USA specific requirements, we were also able to export exchange material and dried DNA samples to Singapore and Sweden.

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Floristic Studies in Two Species of Eleocharis R. Brown (Cyperaceae)

Plantae Scientia ◽

10.32439/ps.v4i6.299-301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 299-301

Author(s):

Dr. Shaikh Rafeeque Ishakhoddin

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Plant Material ◽

Present Report ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Basic Material ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Taxonomic Description ◽

Fresh Plant Material ◽

Floristic Studies ◽

Different Parts

Present study is on our own critical observations on fresh plant material collected from the different parts. The observations are also based on herbarium specimens. Relevant data from literature have been referred for comparative study and conclusion including recent nomenclature. The study of Eleocharis R. Brown provides a detailed taxonomic description, illustration and relevant information for its easy identification in the field. Two species are collected and are described. The present report is hoped to provide basic material for further research in Cyperaceae

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A non-destructive DNA sampling technique for herbarium specimens v1 (protocols.io.i3jcgkn)

protocols.io ◽

10.17504/protocols.io.i3jcgkn ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Lara Shepherd

Keyword(s):

Sampling Technique ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Dna Sampling ◽

Non Destructive

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Tillandsia bandensis (Bromeliaceae): its lectotypification and a new subspecies from Uruguay

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.405.1.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 405 (1) ◽

pp. 15 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

ANDRÉS J. ROSSADO ◽

SABINA DONADÍO ◽

JOSÉ M. BONIFACINO

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Living Plant ◽

New Subspecies ◽

Reproductive Structures

A new epilithic subspecies of Tillandsia bandensis (Bromeliaceae) is described based on the analysis of herbarium specimens as well as living plant material in the field and in cultivation. The new subspecies differs from the typical one mainly by its bigger and more lepidote reproductive structures. Detailed morphological descriptions for T. bandensis and its subspecies are provided, as well as images, illustrations and data on distribution, habitat, phenology and conservation status for the new subspecies here described. Lectotypes for T. bandensis, T. bandensis var. intermedia and T. recurvata var. majuscula are designated.

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COMPOSIÇÃO, SIMILARIDADE E ESTRUTURA DO COMPONENTE ARBUSTIVO-ARBÓREO DE ÁREAS DE CAATINGA

Nativa ◽

10.31413/nativa.v8i3.9494 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 314-322

Author(s):

Alex Da Silva Barbosa ◽

Alberício Pereira de Andrade ◽

Leonardo Pessoa Félix ◽

Ítalo De Souza Aquino ◽

João Henrique Constantino Sales Silva

Keyword(s):

Plant Material ◽

Ground Level ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Herbarium Specimens ◽

Floristic Diversity ◽

Floristic Similarity ◽

Management Actions ◽

Representative Species ◽

Conservation Of Genetic Resources ◽

Composition Structure

Os fragmentos de caatinga constituem áreas que necessitam de estudos buscando subsidiar ações de manejo e conservação desses habitats. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a florística e a estrutura de três áreas de caatinga localizadas nos municípios de Campina Grande, Boa Vista e Monteiro - PB. Em cada área foram plotadas 100 parcelas de 100 m2, sendo amostrados e etiquetados todos os indivíduos de porte arbustivo-arbóreo com circunferência ao nível do solo ≥ 9 cm e altura total ≥ 1 m. Todo o material vegetal foi coletado e enviado para identificação no Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA/UFPB) “Herbário Jayme Coelho de Moraes” (EAN), por meio de comparação com exsicatas e literatura especializada. O processamento dos dados para obtenção dos descritores fitossociológicos e similaridade florística foi realizado no programa Mata Nativa 2®. As famílias mais representativas nas áreas foram Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae e Cactaceae, sendo as espécies mais representativas Croton blanchetianus Baill., Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz., Mimosa ophthalmocentra Mart. ex Benth. e Tacinga palmadora (Britton Rose) N. P. Taylor Stuppy. A caatinga de Monteiro apresentou maior diversidade florística (H’=2,3 nats. ind.-1) e melhor estado de conservação do patrimônio genético autóctone em relação às áreas de Campina Grande (H’=1,98 nats. ind.-1) e Boa Vista, PB (H’=1,78 nats. ind.-1). As áreas de caatinga apresentam algum grau de intervenção antrópica. Todas as áreas são similares floristicamente.Palavras-chave: florística; fitossociologia; vegetação nativa. COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND SIMILARITY OF COMPONENT SHRUB-ARBOREAL OF CAATINGA AREAS ABSTRACT:The caatinga's fragments areas still need of studies to support management actions and conservation of their habitats. The aim of this study was to analyze the floristic and structure of three caatinga's areas in the counties of Campina Grande, Boa Vista and Monteiro - PB. In each area were plotted 100 plots with 100 m2, being sampled and tagged all individuals of shrub-tree with a ≥9cm circumference at ground level and ≥1m height. All the plant material was collected and sent for identification at the Center for Agricultural Sciences (UFPB/CCA) "Herbarium Jaime Coelho de Moraes" (EAN), by comparison with herbarium specimens and literature. Data processing to obtain the phytosociological descriptors and floristic similarity was performed by using the Mata Nativa 2® program. The most representative families found in these three locations were Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Cactaceae, being the most representative species identified were: Croton blanchetianus Baill., Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz., Mimosa ophthalmocentra Mart. ex Benth. and Tacinga palmadora (Britton Rose) N.P. Taylor Stuppy. The caatinga of Monteiro showed greater floristic diversity (H'= 2.3 nats.ind.-1) and better state of conservation of genetic resources in relation to autochthonous areas when compared to Campina Grande (H' = 1.98 nats.ind.-1) and Boa Vista, PB (H'= 1.78 nats.ind.-1). The caatinga areas have some degree of human intervention. All areas are similar floristically.Keywords: floristic; phytosociology; native vegetation.

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