Computerization of Fungal and Vascular Plant Collections at Washington State University

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A grant has been awarded to Washington State University under the direction of Dr. Larry D. Hufford to computerize information from collections of vascular plants and fungi in the herbarium of WSU. The plant collection has worldwide holdings but has an emphasis on the flora of western North America, and it is this region that is the focus of the project. The scientists and student assistants will transcribe information from labels on species identification, distribution, habitat, and time of collection into a computer database. Altogether, the project will capture data for 155,000 specimens of vascular plants and nearly 53,000 specimens of fungi. The data will be available worldwide on the Internet as a searchable digital catalog of information that will be used by researchers, students, and natural resource managers. This ready availability of information will expedite studies and save time and travel costs for researchers who can access the herbarium data from their home institutions. In addition to its primary importance as a research and educational tool for the botanical community, the database will provide data useful for control of agricultural pests and food security. Dr. Hufford and other senior investigators will oversee the project, which will also utilize graduate students with expertise in vascular plants and fungi to train and supervise undergraduate students as data entry specialists. In addition, Dr. Hufford plans to incorporate the database into middle school Internet-based educational programs.