Plant Taxonomy - Biology 308

Plant Taxonomy (BIOL308) - Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Plant Collection Information

A. General - You are required to make a collection of 20 plants representing a minimum of 15 different families. Each specimen should be accompanied by a typed herbarium label. The entire collection will be accompanied by a plant collection grading worksheet and a field notebook. Your collection becomes the property of the CSB/SJU Herbarium. If you want to start and/or add to your personal herbarium, collect duplicate specimens. The collections will be evaluated based on the information provided in this document. Points will be deducted from the collections turned in late.

B. Field Notebook - Your collections should be accompanied by a field notebook. In our course we will not use a standard bound notebook as is typical for most plant taxonomists (see the text or my notes about field notebooks for more details). Rather, for each plant that you collect you will be required to complete a "Field Record Form" and insert these into a three-ring binder that will serve as your "field notebook." The rationale for this approach is that the field record form will help teach you the types of data to include in your notebook by providing a template of information to record. There must be a field record for every specimen collected, whether or not the specimen is submitted in the final collection. Thus, if you collect 100 plants during the semester but turn in only 20 for grading, you will have 100 field record forms inserted into your three-ring binder. The field records should be inserted in the notebook/binder in numerical order (e.g., 1 to n).

Your notebook is worth 30 points (1 point per required form + 10 additional points for general format and including records for all specimens collected). Since your labels will be prepared from the information in your notebook, everything on the label should be in your notebook. Also note that field notes should be recorded in the field as the specimens are collected and pressed. Thus, neatness is not important nor is using the same pencil/pen. Notebook entries should look like they've been in the field.

C. Herbarium Labels
Each specimen will be accompanied by a herbarium label (see the text or my notes about field notebooks for more details). Labels must be typed using either a: (1) Typewriter - an IBM Selectric typewriter and preprinted labels are available in the Bailey Herbarium. This is probably the easiest method to prepare one or a few labels; or (2) Computer and word processing program. I will provide a label template (MS Word format) for typing labels that is convenient because you can modify the template to avoid repetitive entries (i.e., your name, county). Labels should be printed on archival paper (100% cotton, acid-free) and then NEATLY cut into uniform-sized labels (ca. 3 x 5 inches) or carefully separated if using pre-scored sheets of labels. Archival paper and pre-scored labels will be available in the Herbarium. An ink jet printer should not be used because the ink is typically not permanent. You don't need to use my template to prepare your labels. However, your labels should be formatted similar to the standard CSB/SJU labels and should be a uniform size and be cut neatly (i.e., sides parallel).

D. General Rules

You may go on collecting trips together, but you are required to collect, press, identify, and label your own plants.

You are not permitted to trade plants or have anyone collect or identify plants for you.

flowering plants only (no ferns or gymnosperms)

native or naturalized only - no cultivated plants. A cultivated plant is one that was specifically planted where it is currently growing. This includes virtually all plants, with the exception of weeds, on the inner campus areas of both institutions. Trees, shrubs and herbs that have been planted in gardens, yards, or flower beds, are NOT permitted.

no plants from the St. John's prairie are permitted

E. How the collection is to be turned in for grading

each specimen will be enclosed in a standard sheet of newspaper that is folded in half.

binomial name, family name, and collectors initials and number written on the outside edge of the newsprint.

all of your specimens will be enclosed by a genus folder labeled with your name. The individual specimens in your folder should all open outward.

each specimen will be accompanied by a typed herbarium label (Herbarium Label Template; MS Word Format); do not tape the label to the newsprint

the entire collection will be accompanied by a "Plant Collection Worksheet" (pdf). Place this in your genus folder on top of the first specimen.

the collection will be accompanied by a field notebook (see above) with a Field Record Form (pdf) for each specimen in the collection, as well as specimens not included as part of the graded collection.

the specimens in the genus folder will be arranged in the order listed in the Collection Worksheet. Note this is not necessarily the same order as your personal collection numbers.

if fruits or other materials have been separated for drying, the specimens must be reconstituted

loose parts must be included in a separate packet that is included with the specimen

collections not turned in by the assigned date will be penalized

collections may include "bonus plants"

F. How the collection is graded - Your collection will be graded on three criteria:

1. Identification (4 pts total)

family = 2 points

genus = 1 points

specific epithet & author citation = 1 point (you must identify all specimens to species, even those that were only listed by genus on the Plants-to-Know exam)

2. Collection & Specimen Data (2 points)

locality, habitat, date of collection, your name, and your collection number = 1 point

other information that is not obvious by examining the specimens including: growth form (vine, tree, shrub), soil type, sun exposure, abundance, flower color, height of plant (if a tree or shrub), odor, neighboring plants = 1 point. At a minimum you must indicate the general abundance of the plant and if it is a woody plant how tall it was.

mark county on map (if using preprinted herbarium labels)

note: St. John's is located in Collegeville. Collegeville and St. Joseph are both in Stearns County.

3. Specimen/Label Quality (2 points)

specimens must include flowers and/or fruits

herbaceous specimens must have roots

normal or typical individuals, undamaged

thoroughly dry

pressing shows both sides of leaves

attractive label

parent tree/shrub shows no damage (e.g., pruned)

specimen fits completely within the sheet of newsprint; the newsprint fits completely within the genus folder

typically includes more than a single specimen, especially multiple flowers and/or fruits

labels are a uniform size and cut carefully with parallel sides

spelling & typos count (check your binomials)

binomial italicized or, less preferably, underlined (don't underline space)

remove excess soil on roots

includes packet or other parts that may have been removed to dry separately
sheets open in folder in same direction
woody plants must include more than a single leaf and fruit (e.g., stem, 2 or more leaves, fruit)
do not separate fruits/flowers from specimen except if the part is very large.
be careful when computer-generating your labels - if you make a mistake on one label and copy it to your other labels then you will loose points on all.
don't abbreviate (e.g., CSB, St. Joe, Lake Sag)

don't abbreviate dates (e.g., 5/7/04) - this date could refer to May 7, 2004 or May 7, 1904 or July 5, 2004, etc. Write out the month so there is no question and use the full year.

use metric measurements

use appropriate botanical terminology (e.g., tomentose not fuzzy)

use accurate terminology (e.g., notched petals not "notched flowers")

G. Tips

If you collect a woody plant, be sure it has fruits and that you collect more than a single leaf. Don't forget to record the height of the tree or shrub in meters. Woody plants are most easily identified using a "tree book" based on leaf/vegetative characters. Once identified, confirm the description and scientific name in Gleason & Cronquist or other technical source.
For herbaceous plants - collect plants with flowers. Be sure to collect more than one specimen or certainly more than one flower. If you don't have flowers it will be impossible to identify using a technical key like Gleason & Cronquist. In this case you will have to hunt for it in a picture book or using the XID polyclave keys to MN flora and Weeds on the herbarium computer. Again, confirm the description and binomial in a technical resource.
Do not separate parts unless absolutely necessary