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ABSTRACT

HERBARIUM COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP

by Amanda Lauren Leslie Harmon

The Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium at Miami University (MU) is the largest collection of preserved botanical material in the state of Ohio. This report describes the projects I conducted at the MU Herbarium during my herbarium collections management internship. The internship and subsequent report were conducted to fulfill requirements for graduation from the Master of Environmental Science (MEn) program at MU’s Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES). I completed three main projects during the course of my internship. The first project involved updating the MU Herbarium Assistant’s Manual, which was last updated in 1980. The second project was the digitization of the fungal collection of the University of Cincinnati. The final project was the organization and intercalation of Peruvian specimens collected between 2004- 2005 by MU Botany PhD graduate Xanic Rondon. Herbarium curator and advisor Michael Vincent selected these projects for my internship to provide specific learning opportunities that have prepared me for professional natural history collections management.

HERBARIUM COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP

An Internship Report

Submitted to the

Faculty of Miami University

in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the degree of

Master of Environmental Science

Amanda Lauren Leslie Harmon

Miami University

Oxford, Ohio

2018

Advisor: Dr. Michael Vincent

Reader: Dr. Richard Moore

Reader: Suzanne Zazycki

This Internship Report titled

HERBARIUM COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP

Amanda Lauren Leslie Harmon

has been approved for publication by

The College of Arts and Science

and

The Institute for the Environment and Sustainability

______MICHAEL A. VINCENT

______RICHARD C. MOORE

______SUZANNE ZAZYCKI

Table of Contents

List of Figures………………………………………………….....………………………iv Acknowledgements…………………………………………….....……………...…….….v

Section 1: Introduction...... ………………………………...... ……………...... 1 1.1. Background on Herbaria…………………………………………………………...... 1 1.2. Federal and International Laws and Regulations……………………………………..2 1.3. Herbarium Collections and Biodiversity Conservation……………………………....4 1.4. Overview of Internship……………………………………………………………….5

Section 2: MU Herbarium.…...... …………………………………………...7 2.1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………….…..7 2.2. History and Organization of the MU Herbarium…...... ……...... 7 2.3. Collection Overview…………………………………………………………….…....8

Section 3: Internship Projects……………………………………………………….10 3.1. Digitization of University of Cincinnati Fungal Collection………………………...10 3.1.1. Project Background………………………………………………………..10 3.1.2. Methods……………………………………………………………………13 3.1.3. Results……………………………………………………………………..21 3.1.4. Conclusions………………………………………………………………..21 3.2. Intercalation of Xanic Rondon’s Peruvian Specimens……………………………...23 3.2.1. Project Background………………………………………………………..23 3.2.2. My Role in the Project…………………………………………………….23 3.3. Updating the MU Herbarium Operations Manual…………………………………..26

Section 4: Internship Summary and Connection with IES Experience…………...... 28

References…………………………………………………………………….………….32

Appendix 1 – MU Herbarium Operations Manual..……………………………………..36

iii

List of Figures

Figure 3.1. Individually-Boxed Specimen…………………………………………...11 Figure 3.2. Exsiccati Specimen in Mounted Packet……………………………….....11 Figure 3.3. Large Specimen………....……………………………………………….12 Figure 3.4. Large Label Close-Up………………………………………………....…12 Figure 3.5. Barcoded Specimen.……………………………………...……………...13 Figure 3.6. Collector Information Box..…………………………..………………….14 Figure 3.7. Latest Identification Box...……………………………………………….16 Figure 3.8. Locality Box……………...………………………………………………16 Figure 3.9. Miscellaneous Information.………………………………………...……16 Figure 3.10. Curation Management……………………………………………………17 Figure 3.11. Added Occurrence Number...……………………………………………17 Figure 3.12. Editing Page……………………………………………………………...18 Figure 3.13. Completed Occurrence Record………………………………………..…19 Figure 3.14. Example of Incomplete and Incorrect Autofill…………………………..20 Figure 3.15. IndexFungorum Search…………………………………………………..20 Figure 3.16. Bresadola’s Specimen……………………………………………………22 Figure 3.17. Jacaranda copaia………………………………………………...……....24 Figure 3.18. Rondon’s Data Key………………………………………………………24 Figure 3.19. Spreadsheet Example…………………………………………………….25 Figure 4.1. Tasmanian Coral Fungi…………………………………………………..29 Figure 4.2. Inside Information………………………………………………………..30 Figure 4.3. Clavaria zollingeri…………………………………………………….....30

Acknowledgements

I owe my deepest gratitude to my internship supervisor Dr. Michael Vincent, curator of the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium at Miami University. Dr. Vincent was extremely helpful, flexible, and understanding throughout the course of my internship. He provided crucial insights into my work at the herbarium and helped build this internship into a wonderful learning experience. He inspired a passion for herbarium collections that I look forward to pursuing after completion of my degree.

I would also like to thank my advisor and associate director of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, Suzanne Zazycki, M.En., JD. I am deeply grateful for her guidance and support throughout my time as a graduate student. Despite the obstacles I faced, I was able to succeed with her encouragement. I will never forget her graciousness.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Richard Moore of the Biology Department at Miami University as the third reader of this report. I am thankful for his valuable input toward the formation and successful completion of this internship.

Finally, I must express my most profound gratitude to my family and to my partner for their unwavering support and continuous encouragement. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them, and I will be forever grateful. Thank you.

Section 1. INTRODUCTION

In this section, I provide an introduction to herbaria and their role in conservation biology. I present a brief background that illustrates the connection between natural history collections, such as herbaria and botanical gardens, and the conservation of biodiversity. I summarize the major federal and international laws pertaining to herbarium operations. Lastly, I outline the major projects that I conducted during the course of this internship, and I establish how they will be presented through this report.

1.1. Background on Herbaria

A herbarium is a curated collection of preserved vascular plant, algae, bryophyte, and fungal material. Herbarium specimens are individually preserved material curated with associated data such as the location where the material was collected, when the material was collected, and who collected it. The specimens’ data provide evidence that a particular species exhibiting particular characteristics was found in a specific location at a specific date in history (DeWolf 1968). The data held within herbarium collections are useful in the fields of botanical systematics and taxonomy in that they contribute to the scientific community’s understanding of the evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms (Smith and Figueiredo 2009). These data also contribute to the studies of biodiversity, biogeography, and phylogeny – the development and diversification of species over time (Cracraft 2002). This information is vital in ecological and climate change studies and can aid in understanding potential anthropogenic influences on species occurrence (Greve et al. 2016; Mounce et al. 2017).

The usefulness of any given specimen is dependent on the extent of the data accompanying the specimen, as well as the number of related specimens within the herbarium’s collection. When properly organized and integrated, specimens in a herbarium collection can provide an array of raw data on a particular taxon including growth habit, habitat, character variation, and possible uses (e.g. medicinal or agricultural uses) (Bridson and Forman 1998). Herbaria may also provide ecological information if many specimens of the same species are collected over the course of the year, or if many species are collected in a particular geographical

area over time (thus providing crucial phenological data such as the timing of flowering or leaf- out) (Willis et al. 2017).

Herbaria are often associated with academic or research institutions, and thereby offer students and researchers invaluable opportunities to work with preserved material and its associated data (Drew 2011). Many herbaria are also affiliated with botanical gardens and conservatories; these provide the living correlates to many of the preserved taxa housed in the associated herbarium. The living specimens allow for study of features often lost during the preservation of herbarium specimens, such as three-dimensional structure, flower color and pattern, fragrance, and other aspects of phytochemistry (i.e. extraction of compounds such as papain, a cysteine protease found in plants such as Carica papaya of the family Caricaceae). Well known and world-renowned examples of such herbaria exist at the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MO) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K) (Thiers [continuously updated]).

The curation of preserved plant specimens has been a significant tool in the development of botanical taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny for hundreds of years, with the earliest curated specimen collections dating back to the mid-1500s (DeWolf 1968). Early herbaria focused on the documentation of medicinal species, but later collections blossomed into illustrations of hypothesized taxonomic relationships (Bridson and Forman 1998; Harris 2006). These early taxonomic relationships were based primarily on morphological observations and may not necessarily reflect present understanding of groups’ genetic relationships (De Antonino and Nicoletta 2009). Modern herbaria strive to preserve as much plant material and associated data as possible to conserve the diverse knowledge of botanical systematics. Some herbaria are highly specific in the constitution of their collections (e.g. locally significant plant collections, agricultural collections, medicinal plant/fungal collections, cultural collections), whereas others may house a broad array of important specimens that attempt to represent the breadth and depth of as many taxa as possible.

1.2. Federal and International Laws and Regulations

Curation and management of a natural history collection involves careful handling of potentially valuable and/or legally protected material that is subject to state, federal, and international regulations that safeguard the planet’s environmental heritage (Nudds and Pettitt

1997). In particular, contributors to herbarium collections must take into account laws that permit field collection and possession of species on protected federal land, the collection and possession of endangered species, and laws that regulate the transfer of biological specimens across state and international borders (Kubasek and Silverman 2014). There are also laws pertaining to the types of chemical materials used in the herbarium work environment.

Laws vary from country to country regarding the collection and possession of plant materials. The most important international regulation overseeing the transfer of plants is CITES: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This international agreement began in 1975 with 80 participating nations; today, there are 169 participating nations working together to protect over 30,000 species of plants and animals. There are three appendices under which a species may be placed in CITES based on the potential level of threat that international trade of the species would engender. Appendix I of CITES includes species threatened with extinction; species listed here are only allowed to be traded under special circumstances and can only be transferred if trade permits are obtained from both the exporting and importing countries. Appendix II of CITES includes species that are considered to be at risk for extinction if trade is not closely controlled. Species controlled under Appendix II only require permits from the exporting country. Appendix III of CITES covers species that are already regulated under a nation’s current laws but are considered in need of protection from unsustainable or illegal collection. In the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs Program coordinates the distribution of CITES specific export and import permits, as well as the distribution of permits required for possession of listed species. CITES maintains a database of all protected species.

In the United States, a number of federal laws regulate the collection and transmission of threatened or endangered species in this country. The first federal law to regulate wildlife trade of any kind was the Lacey Act of 1900. Under the Lacey Act, any individual who collects wildlife that has been obtained illegally (including international, national, or state regulations) is subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. The Lacey Act, however, does not pertain to the trade of plant species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) was the first law to include specific protections for rare, threatened, or endangered plants. Endangered species are defined as those at high risk of extinction throughout a significant portion or all of their native range, whereas threatened species are those considered likely to become endangered within the near future if 3

otherwise unprotected. Under the ESA, it is illegal to import or export any federally threatened or endangered species into or out of the United States. The ESA also prohibits the collection, distribution, sale, or possession of any federally threatened or endangered species without prior authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Specific sections of the ESA pertain to herbarium operations. Section 4 designates which plant species are considered threatened or endangered. Section 9 of the ESA prohibits interstate import and export of listed species, whereas Section 10 of the ESA describes the specific permissions under which listed plants may be collected. Species that are listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be found through the Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS) (George et al. 1998).

During my internship, I was not responsible for the collection of any specimens that became part of the MU herbarium. The legality of all incoming herbarium specimens, as well as the maintenance of permits required to preserve the collection, is strictly overseen by the curator. Any individual adding to the MU collection is typically responsible for obtaining the correct local, state, federal, or international grants or permits required for collecting and transporting specimens to Oxford, Ohio.

If other authorized herbarium personnel were not present upon closing (5pm), I was responsible for locking the herbarium upon leaving every night. This was not only a safety measure for the protection of the valuable collection materials, but it is also considered protocol under the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS is responsible for overseeing the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program, which safeguards U.S. agricultural and natural resource products against pest and disease. APHIS is also responsible for issuing permits to herbaria for interstate transport and on- site preservation of federally regulated organisms such as noxious weeds or specimens containing seeds of parasitic plants (PPQ Program Overview 2017).

1.3. Connection between Natural History Collections and Biodiversity Conservation

Species conservation requires a base of knowledge including species classification, relationships, distribution, and ecology (Simpson 2010). Although modern molecular methods exist to determine species based on genetic relationships, herbaria remain as vital working tools 4

for any researcher interested in understanding botanical taxonomy, phylogeny and geographic distribution (Drew 2011). Local botanist Dr. E. Lucy Braun considered herbaria to be crucial in the understanding of a group of species: “For a taxonomic work, herbarium specimens are the only acceptable records of the occurrence of [plant] species.” - E. Lucy Braun 1961 (cited in Cooperrider 1984). Herbaria often work with genomic researchers to maintain an updated phylogenetic classification of collection materials via online databases (Beck and Semple 2015; Nualart et al. 2017).

Herbarium collections are important scientific tools that contribute to the growing understanding of the plant and fungal constituents of an environment at a particular time and place. Each specimen within a collection may provide specific phenotypic information that aids in identification and classification of a newly found organism. Furthermore, the compilation of species data (i.e. scientific name, author, taxonomic relationships, or photographs) and collection data (i.e. collection date, habitat information, associated species, or geolocation) from older specimens can be compared with modern species occurrence data in the same habitats and locations. Differences observed in older specimens and modern occurrences may suggest changes in biodiversity or species shifts across space and time. Although rare, threatened, or endangered speices may exist as dried, pressed material within a herbarium’s cabinets, the preservation of each specimen and its associated data is crucial for the understanding and conservation of such species in the wild (in-situ conservation). Herbaria serve as significant datasets that can provide a mode of ex-situ conservation in that they maintain the information necessary for recognizing plant diversity and ecosystem processes under past conditions and current climate changes (Willis et al. 2017).

1.4. Overview of Internship

Projects that were completed during this internship were chosen by MU Herbarium curator Dr. Michael Vincent to provide a thorough experience of herbarium operations. Because all projects were conducted using MU Herbarium equipment and resources, Section 2 of this report is dedicated to MU Herbarium history, organization, and operations.

Section 3 describes three of the major projects I conducted over the course of the internship. Each project undertaken for the internship is given individual treatment in subsequent sections. Section 3.1 describes the purpose, methods, and results of the digitization of the University of Cincinnati fungal collection. Section 3.2 is devoted to the project involving label preparation of voucher specimens collected by Miami PhD graduate Xanic Rondon, and briefly describes Rondon’s research, as well as the purpose and methods used for intercalation of these specimens into the MU collection. Section 3.3 illustrates the methods used to update the MU Herbarium Operations Manual. The completed manual is available in plain-text format in Appendix 1. The final section provides a summary of the internship and concludes with a reflection on its connection with my experience in the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability.

SECTION 2. MIAMI UNIVERSITY HERBARIUM

2.1. Introduction The Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium at Miami University (MU) is the largest herbarium in the state of Ohio, and is within the top 25 largest in North America. In a report of the world’s herbaria published by Index Herbariorum in January 2018, Miami Univeristy’s herbarium was ranked as the 68th largest herbarium in the world (Thiers 2018). The MU collection holds approximately 650,000 specimens, including vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, algae, and fossils; it also houses wood specimens and microscope slides generated from various anatomical and morphological research projects. The collection houses several thousand vascular and cryptogamic type specimens, and it provides educational and research services to the university and wider scientific community via preservation and loan of specimens, and digitization of crucial collection information for herbaria and researchers to access from all over the world (Vincent 1991). Specimens may be used for many purposes, such as references for comparison and identification of unknown samples, for documenting species geographical distribution, or for documenting variation within a species (DeWolf 1968). Numerous courses at Miami University (such as Plant Taxonomy, Field Botany, and Global Plant Diversity), as well as non-University groups make use of the herbarium for research and ongoing learning purposes.

2.2. History and Organization of MU Herbarium The herbarium at Miami University began in 1906, founded by the first chair of the Department of Botany and Bacteriology, Dr. Bruce Fink. The collection remained of modest size until 1957, when – under curatorship of H. A. Miller – the herbarium began exchange programs with many herbaria around the world. In 1967, Miami University purchased the non-Ohio holdings (approximately 140,000 specimens) of the Oberlin College Herbarium, using funds from the National Science Foundation, as well as a gift from Elizabeth P. Turrell in honor of her uncle, Willard Sherman Turrell, an 1842 graduate of Miami University. The Oberlin College collection was a significant purchase, as that collection had been growing for nearly 135 years. Today, the MU collection holds approximately 650,000 specimens and continues to grow through gifts and exchanges (Vincent 1991). I was particularly happy to work with Oberlin College specimens, as OC is my undergraduate alma mater.

Dr. Michael A Vincent is the present curator of the MU herbarium. Student workers, both undergraduate and graduate, aid in daily operations. During my time at the herbarium, other workers were primarily working on the processing and digitization of MU holdings. Toward the end of my internship, I helped oversee undergraduate digitization workers as I focused on other projects. I was initially hired as a student worker in the spring semester of 2017, but my employment was later updated to a temporary, hourly staff position through Miami’s Biology Department.

2.3. Collection Overview Management policies and physical organization of herbarium collections may differ from institution to institution. The MU Herbarium organizes its physical collection using a system based on the evolutionary classification model established by German botanists Engler and Prantl in their 23 volumes of Die naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien (The Natural Plant Families) between 1887 and 1915 (Bridson and Forman 1998; Engler and Prantl 1887-1915). The collection at the MU Herbarium has been slightly modified from the Engler and Prantl system to aid in organization of taxa based on a modern genetic understanding of relationships. Detailed information about the organization and operation of the herbarium may be found in the updated Herbarium Operations Manual, located in Appendix 1 of this document. Numerous students and professors at Miami University utilize the herbarium for learning and research; therefore it is crucial to maintain the preservation quality and taxonomic diversity of the herbarium collection. There is a steady influx of new specimens, frequently through donation from students or professors working on a particular taxon. New specimens require a process of intercalation to be properly brought into the MU collection; this process is discussed further in Appendix 1. Digital management of the MU Herbarium collection is conducted using BRAHMS - Botanical Research And Herbarium Management System (BRAHMS 2018). MU specimens are also being digitally cataloged using taxon-specific online data portals; for instance, fungal specimens at MU are being digitized using MycoPortal and bryophytes are being digitized using the Consortium of North American Bryophyte Herbaria (CNABH) data portal (MycoPortal 2018, CNABH 2018). Lichens are added through the CNALH (Consortium of North American Lichen

Herbaria), and macroalgae are digitized through the Macroalgal Herbarium Consortium Portal (CNALH 2018, MHCP 2018). The digitization of vascular plants from MU is about 30% complete. Data on vascular species at MU has been made available through several NSF grants. This data is available through various online portals, such as the vascular plant dataset on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF 2018), and multiple region-specific data portals available through Symbiota (Symbiota 2018).

Section 3. Internship Projects

3.1. DIGITIZATION OF CINC FUNGAL COLLECTION 3.1.1. Project Background Fungal specimens from the University of Cincinnati Herbarium (CINC) were transported to Miami University for digitization. Digitization is the process of converting physical data into a digital format for storage and organization using computers (Willis et al. 2017). Work was conducted using funds from a grant from the National Science Foundation: “The Microfungi Collections Consortium: A Networked Approach to Digitizing Small Fungi with Large Impacts on the Function and Health of Ecosystems.” The Principal Investigator of this grant was Andrew Miller, and sponsor of the grant was University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (NSF 2015). For the purposes of this grant, the primary goal of my work was the digitization of preserved fungal specimens housed at CINC Herbarium. The goal of the project was met by transcription and imaging of the label data for each individual fungal specimen in the CINC Herbarium collection. Although the grant was written for microfungi digitization, the whole of the CINC fungal collection was digitized regardless of specimen type. Digitization of preserved herbarium specimens is an important process that extends the tools herbaria offer to the entire scientific community, aids in the progress of taxonomic and systematic investigation, and furthers the preservation of biodiversity knowledge. The first set of fungal specimens from the University of Cincinnati Herbarium arrived at the MU Herbarium in the spring of 2017. Approximately 30 drawers of specimens were pulled from the CINC Herbarium and brought to the MU Herbarium for digitization. Drawers may hold boxes containing specimens (Figure 3.1), large folders with packets containing specimens attached to mounting sheets (Figure 3.2), or – in the case of large specimens – they may be placed freely in the drawer with label information affixed to the directly specimen (Figure 3.3 and Figure 3.4). Drawers may contain 10s to 100s of specimens, depending on specimen size and the method of storage (i.e. whether specimens are in boxes or in packets mounted on large paper that are organized in folders).

Figure 3.1. Individually-Boxed Specimen. This is a common kind of labeled box used for small to medium specimens in the CINC herbarium fungal collection. The label shows that William (Wm.) Bridge Cooke collected this specimen of Exidia glandulosa on May 1, 1937 at Rock Run in Jackson County, Ohio. The number printed next to Cooke’s name is his personal collection number; this number is useful for corroborating the label information with notes kept in his field journal.

Figure 3.2. Exsiccati Specimen in Mounted Packet. William Bridge Cooke (W.B.C.) collected this CINC specimen of Coleosporium solidaginis (syn. Coleosporium asterum (Dietel) Syd. & P. Syd.) on July 25, 1941 at an elevation 4500 ft. on Mount Shasta in California, U.S.A. It was recorded in

W.B.C.’s collection as number 15604. It is number 120 of Cooke’s Mycobiota of North America.

Figure 3.3. Large Specimen. This is an example of one of the larger specimens in the UC collection. It is stored in a drawer with other oversized specimens that are too large or oddly shaped to fit into a packet or individual box.

Figure 3.4. Large Label Close-Up. This is the label attached to the specimen in Figure 3.3. As shown by the label, this specimen of Daedalea ambigua was collected on October 17, 1935 in Dunlap, Hamilton County, Ohio. The collection number WBCMYA6255 shows that William Bridge Cooke collected this, and this is specimen No. 6255 in his collection. This label data can be corroborated with W. B. Cooke’s field notes, which are in the archives of the Miami University Herbarium.

3.1.2. Methods The purpose of providing these methods in a step-by-step format is to give the students continuing to work on this project a thorough understanding of the digitization process. Step 1: Attach barcode to each specimen. The format for the University of Cincinnati Herbarium fungal barcodes is CINC-F-XXXXXXX (e.g. CINC-F-0000001), where CINC is the recognized acronym for the herbarium in Index Herbariorum (see Thiers [continuously updated]). Fungal specimens from the University of Cincinnati are typically in small boxes or paper packets, with labels affixed to the top with glue. If possible, the barcode sticker was placed on the label such that all original label information remained visible. Occasionally, the sticker had to be placed on the side or bottom of a box to preserve the original label contents. The purpose of attaching this barcode to the specimen is to tie the physical specimen to the data entered into Mycoportal.

Figure 3.5. Barcoded Specimen. This specimen of Coleosporium solidaginis (syn. Coleosporium asterum (Dietel) Syd. & P. Syd.) is enclosed in a paper packet attached to 11.5” x 16.5” herbarium mounting sheet. The stamp on the bottom left of the packet indicates that this specimen was given to the UC Herbarium by the Lloyd Library in Cincinnati, from the personal collection of Curtis Gates Lloyd. It was originally collected by W. A. Kellerman in Edgerton, Williams County, Ohio on September 15, 1902, and was number 85 in the exsiccati set issued as The Ohio Fungi by Kellerman. The small print on the original label is the original species description given in Latin.

Step 2: The new specimen entry is considered an “occurrence” record in the Mycoportal database. A new occurrence record is created for each specimen, and each can be found instantly within the database by searching for its unique barcode number. In this example (Figure 3.5.), the bar-code number is CINC-F-0003400.

Step 3: Locate the name of the specimen collector on the original label and type initials and full last name into the box marked “Collector” within the “Collector Info” box. Some collectors marked each specimen with their own personal collection number. For instance, William Bridge Cooke was a prominent local mycologist who collected thousands of specimens from many locations around the United States. His collection numbers are typically given on each of his specimen labels, and can be matched up to the corresponding field notes he took. Figures 3.1., 3.2. and 3.4 illustrate collection numbers that William Bridge Cooke gave to specimens he collected throughout his career. If no collection number is clearly provided, type abbreviation “s.n.” is given in the “Collection Number” box; “s.n.” or “sine numero” in Latin, means “without a number” and otherwise indicates that no collection number was assigned to this specimen.

Figure 3.6. Collector Information Box. The barcode sticker shown in Figure 3.5 can be scanned and read instantly into the “Catalog Number” box in the upper left corner of the New Occurrence Record page on Mycoportal. This barcode is used to link the physical label data with the data input into Mycoportal. The “Collector” box autofilled with W. A. Kellerman as I typed the first few letters of his name, because many other occurrences of his collection have been previously entered into the database by other herbaria personnel. The abbreviation “s.n.” is given in the “Collection Number” box; “s.n.” or “sine numero” in Latin, means “without a number” and otherwise indicates that no collection number was assigned to this specimen by W. A. Kellerman prior to its inclusion into The Ohio Fungi.The exsiccati number (85) is associated with the Exsiccati Title, because represents No. 85 within The Ohio Fungi exiccati collection. Many mycologists, including W. B. Cooke, amassed large collections called exsiccatae, which are numbered series of specimens, often representing a specific geographic region (Purdue 2015). Exsiccatae sets are frequently sold or exchanged among herbaria and collectors around the world (Stevenson 1970). In this state, The Ohio Fungi is an important exsiccatae series that began with collections from W. A. Kellerman, professor at Ohio State University and frequent contributor to The Ohio Mycological Bulletin – a publication of The Ohio Mycological Club (Kellerman 1903). The Ohio Mycological Bulletin is no longer in print, but The Ohio Fungi

remains an important representation of the fungal diversity of Ohio. The example given in Figure 3.5 is number 85 in The Ohio Fungi, collected by W. A. Kellerman. If given, the exsiccatae number should be entered into the “Number” box adjacent to the “Exsiccati Title” box. Most well-known exsiccatae have been entered into Mycoportal and will appear in a drop-down menu as you begin to type their name. Figures 3.2 and 3.6 show a standard exsiccatae format, which provide its number to the left of the species name. Step 4: Locate the collection date and record this in the “Date” box using the format “Year-Month-Day” (e.g. 2018-05-19). If no date is given on the specimen, insert the abbreviation “s.d.,” Latin for sine die, or “without date”. In the “Verbatim Date” box, enter the date as Month, Day, Year (e.g. May 19, 2018). Occasionally, collectors will state a series of days over which the specimen was collected (e.g. May 18-20, 2018). In such a case, enter the first day of collection in the “Date” box (e.g. 2018-05-18), and enter the span of days into the “Verbatim Date” box (e.g. May 18-20, 2018). Collectors may only provide a month and year; in such cases, provide the month and year as shown above, and enter “-00” for the day in the “Date” box; provide the name of the month and year into the “Verbatim Date” box. Similarly, if only a year (or a season) is given, type the year into the “Date” box followed by “-00-00.” The “Verbatim Date” box is useful for specimen collection dates that are given in a format such as, “Spring 2018.” Step 5: In the “Latest Identification” box, type the binomial scientific name as given on the original label. Before continuing, check for updated synonomy using a credible source. The preferred source used to corroborate author, family, and species names is IndexFungorum (IndexFungorum 2018). IndexFungorum is a collaborative, freely-shared, regularly updated database presently coordinated by the Mycology Section from The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Mycology Group from Landcare Research-NZ, and the Institute of Microbiology from the Chinese Academy of Science (IndexFungorum 2018). Many species have already been entered into the Mycoportal database by other herbaria; therefore it is not always necessary to look up the author and family name of the species, as the database can autofill these boxes based on previous examples. It is important to check - using a credible source - to ensure the author and family name given (either on the original label or by the autofill function of Mycoportal-) are correct and up to date.

Figure 3.7. Latest Identification Box. The species name (here, entered as Coleosporium solidaginis) is typed into the “Scientific Name” box; this automatically filled the “Author” and “Family” boxes with the species’ authors and the family to which the species belongs, based on previous users’ entries of this species’ name. These data must be verified using a source such as IndexFungorum. In this case, the authors and family are correctly identified.

Figure 3.8. Locality Box. The location where the specimen was collected is clearly marked on the packet. Upon entering all information provided on the label, Mycoportal automatically generated georeference coordinants for this specific occurrence – the latitude and longitude, as well as a radius of uncertainty (in meters) for those coordinates – because The Ohio Fungi No. 85 has already been entered into the system as a duplicate. Duplicate entries occur when more than one copy of a specimen exists, and one or more portal users have previously entered the same information into the system.

Figure 3.9. Miscellaneous Information. This box allows for the entry of any additional information given on the label by the collector or subsequent specimen owners.

Figure 3.10. Curation Management. This box is largely left blank by those doing data entry. The only information that should be entered here by those working on the project is the “Processing Status”. This is a drop down menu that allows for the selection of the stage at which the specimen is when digitization is complete. Stage 1 indicates that only data entry from the label has been completed; stage 2 indicates that the data entry and imaging is complete; and stage 3 indicates that the specimen has been digitized and georeferenced. Step 6: The imaging process involves clearly photographing the label data associated with each specimen, using a Bencher CopyMate II stand with Canon camera. Each image is named with the barcode number used to associate physical specimen label data with the occurrence record uploaded into Mycoportal. If the specimen’s box or packet label did not provide room for the barcode such that it would fit into a single image, the occurrence number should be displayed in the image by clearly printing the unique occurrence number onto a small slip of paper and including this in view with the label itself (see Figure 3.11.).

Figure 3.11. Added Occurrence Number. This image shows a label on a box containing Daedalea confragosa (syn. Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt.) that had no room on the label itself to add the barcode sticker, and therefore required a small slip of paper with the occurrence number clearly printed to be added to the image before upload to MycoPortal.

Figure 3.12. Editing Page. It is easy to find the data of any Occurrence Record again by searching for the Occurrence number assigned to the desired data. Upon doing so, this editor will pop up, allowing for any changes to be made. Highlighted in the red box is the link used to add images associated with this data.

University of Cincinnati, Margaret H. Fulford Herbarium (CINC) Home >> Collection Management >> Public Display >> Editor |< << | 1 of 1 | >> >| >* Action Status: SUCCESS: edits submitted and activated Label Processing Occurrence Data Determination History Images Linked Resources Admin Zoom? Med Res. High Res.

Collector Info << Catalog Number Other Cat. #s Collector Number Date

CINCF0003400 W. A. Kellerman s.n. 19020915 Auto search Associated Collectors Verbatim Date September 15, 1902

Exsiccati Title Number

Ohio Fungi 85

Latest Identification Scientific Name Author Coleosporium asterum (Dietel) Syd. & P. Syd. ID Qualifier Family Coleosporiaceae

Identified By Date Identified Locality Country State/Province County Municipality United States Ohio Williams Edgerton Locality Edgerton Locality Security Deactivate Locality Lookup Options Image 1 of 1 Latitude Longitude Uncertainty Datum Verbatim Coordinates OCR whole image 41.448662 84.748012 5372 WGS84 << OCR w/ analysis Elevation in Meters Verbatim Elevation Depth in Meters Verbatim Depth <<

Georeferenced By Georeference Sources Georeference Remarks bdowns (20160518 05 georef batch tool 20160 Georeference Protocol Georef Verification Status Footprint Polygon reviewed high confidence

Misc Habitat

Substrate on Solidago canadensis Host

Associated Taxa

Description Notes (Occurrence Remarks)

Life Stage Sex Individual Count Sampling Protocol Preparations

Phenology Establishment Means Cultivated

Curation

Type Status Disposition Occurrence ID Field Number

Basis of Record Language Label Project Dupe Count

PreservedSpec imen

Institution Code (override) Collection Code (override) Owner Code (override) Processing Status

CINC CINC Stage 2 Data Generalizations

Key: 4922524 Modified: 20180327 11:00:03 Entered by: harmona4 [20170912 13:53:26]

Additional Options

Status AutoSet: Not Activated

Carry over locality values

Figure 3.13. Completed Occurrence Record. This image is a screen capture of the completed Occurrence Record for this specimen within Mycoportal.

The autofill feature of Mycoportal is useful for expediting the process of translating the original label data into the organizational format of the database, but it does not always provide the most up-to-date information. Instances of incorrect or outdated information on Mycoportal were corrected using the website IndexFungorum. IndexFungorum is a more reliable and 19

updated taxonomic resource than Mycoportal because Mycoportal database’s autofill information is generated based on the consensus of all inputs from contributing herbaria, and there is a possibility of outdated information or clerical error during data entry. IndexFungorum presents species information based on the most up to date taxonomic understanding of the species (IndexFungorum 2018).

Figure 3.14. Example of Incomplete and Incorrect Autofill: Pucciniastrum agrimoniae. On the specimen packet, the authors listed are given as “(DC) Diet.” On Mycoportal, entering this species binomial will not autofill the author box; the family box is auto-filled with Coleosporiaceae. The reason the author box does not automatically fill is because no other Mycoportal user has entered an author name for this taxon.

Figure 3.15. IndexFungorum Search. Upon looking on IndexFungorum, Pucciniastrum agrimoniae shows the authors as (Dietel) Tranzschel, and the family is listed as Pucciniastraceae. These data must be entered manually into the appropriate boxes in Mycoportal.

3.1.3. Results As of the publication of this report, I was able to digitize approximately 5000 specimens from the UC fungal collection. I estimate that at least 5000 specimens remain to be digitized. This work will be carried out by myself (following completion of this report) and other herbarium workers at MU Herbarium. Of these 5000 specimens, 210 different families were represented, including 400 genera and 1560 different species. The majority of the specimens were collected in the United States, but a significant portion were collected in Europe – specifically Germany, Latvia, and the United Kingdom.

3.1.4. Conclusions The digitization of the UC fungal collection was the primary project of my internship and took up the majority of my time at the herbarium. I learned a great deal about mycological classification and the digital management of collections, and the knowledge I gained from this project strongly influenced all other work I conducted in the herbarium. In particular, I grew to appreciate the importance of complete specimen labels, and I found myself increasingly frustrated when working with specimens that lacked crucial label information such as collection location or date. This information may seem trivial to an untrained eye, but as a budding natural history collections technician, I came to recognize the worth of a complete label containing information such as the collector’s name, the date of collection, the location the specimen was found, the habitat in which the specimen was found, and I especially valued specimen labels that included extra information such as associated taxa, measurements, or notes regarding the living organism before it was collected and preserved. I would be remiss to neglect a brief discussion on the legibility of handwritten labels, as well as the importance of reading cursive handwriting and understanding basic collection terminology in other languages (specifically German, French, and Latin). Many of the older specimens in the collection were labeled by hand, often in idiosyncratic cursive that may be smudged or faded over time. It is all too easy to overlook the information on these difficult labels, but the information they contain can be important and one should always make an effort to translate it. An especially proud moment during the course of my internship was the translation of a slip of paper found inside a scantily-labeled packet. Upon first inspection of the typed label on the face of the specimen packet, the specimen was given its correct species name,

but the location was given as “Bresadole, Europe.” There is no such location in Europe. I opened the packet and found that the original collection information was still inside (see Figure 3.15). The importance of proper specimen labeling cannot be stressed enough. If a specimen lacks label data, it cannot provide any accurate temporal or geographical information to illuminate a species’ unique characteristics or growth patterns. When labels are misplaced or placed with the incorrect specimen, the specimen itself becomes effectively worthless to any future researchers hoping to understand details of that species.

Figure 3.16. Bresadola’s Specimen. On the left is the typed label for specimen of Clavaria testaceaflava (syn. Ramaria testaceoflava (Bres.) Corner 1950). Inside the packet, I found this slip of paper. It reads “In silvia coniferin – Mendola.” Below that is the name “Bresadola.” Giacomo Bresadola was an Italian mycologist from the town of Trento, approximately 60 km south of Mendola, Italy. Dr. Vincent and I agreed that this specimen was collected by Bresadola in a coniferous forest in Mendola, Italy. Although no date is included, this discovery provided important specimen information that was neglected on the typed label. I made sure to include this information when entering the specimen information into the Mycoportal database.

3.2. Intercalation of Xanic Rondon’s Peruvian Specimens 3.2.1. Project Background In 2008, Xanic J. Rondon completed a dissertation on her study of the sustainability of strip clear-cutting in heterogeneous tropical forests. In the system of strip clear-cutting, forests are managed for native gap-dependent timber species by clear-cutting narrow strips over a cycle of 40 years; all timber from the strip is harvested for use or sale to attain maximum value of the area cut. Rondon’s dissertation investigated tree regeneration of two strips that had been clear- cut in the Peruvian Amazon in 1989 in order to assess the ecological and economic sustainability of this harvesting system (Rondon 2008). Through modeling tree regeneration between 1989 and 2005, Rondon determined that strip clear-cutting is not a sustainable method of timber harvesting in tropical forests (Rondon 2008). During her project, Rondon and her dissertation director, Dr. David L. Gorchov, collected hundreds of specimens representing hundreds of genera from the two strips. Some specimens were from the original 1989 observations of the area, and others were from Rondon’s data collection between 2004-2005. The specimens were brought back to the MU Herbarium to have labels made, to be mounted and added to the herbarium’s collection. Intercalation is the insertion of a new specimen into the herbarium’s collection. Processing involves creating a complete and accurate label, mounting the specimen, providing a new accession number and record, and finally filing the specimen in its correct cabinet within the collection.

3.2.2. My Role in the Project At the start of the project, I was provided with the complete set of Xanic J. Rondon’s collection, as well as multiple Excel spreadsheets containing the data she collected for her dissertation project. All of the specimens were unmounted and labeled directly on the newsprint enclosing each specimen. Figure 3.18 illustrates a common way specimens were labeled in Rondon’s collection. I sorted each specimen individually and created a spreadsheet based on the template that MU Herbarium uses to organize its holdings. The spreadsheet lists the most obvious collection number (including any punctuation or letters that accompany it), the scientific name, and the most likely collection location based on the information given in the collection numbering system (see Figure 3.17).

Figure 3.17. Jacaranda copaia. The collection number(s) for this specimen are given as F2 = 21:59, =3:86, as well as 5:50. It is not immediately apparent what all of this information means, or how best to link these numbers with this and other specimens in her collection.

Figure 3.18 . Rondon’s Data Key. This key was provided to Dr. Vincent by Dr. Gorchov to aid in understanding Rondon’s collection number system.

Figure 3.19. Spreadsheet Example. I started with the specimens in the top of the cabinet and created a new row for each individually wrapped specimen. I documented all relevant information provided by what was written on the newsprint. Specimens were placed in numbered folders (not grouped alphabetically) for ease of access and handling. Any specimen labels with contradictory information were highlighted.

The purpose of creating this spreadsheet was to allow future workers in the herbarium to easily create labels for each specimen, and to allow for the incorporation of the label data into the BRAHMS database. I was unable to complete the project during the course of my internship (as of the completion of this report) due to the complexity of the collection numbering system used by Rondon (i.e. many specimens were given the same number, and the numbering system includes letters and punctuation that do not clearly indicate the date of collection or strip from which the specimen came). The updated spreadsheet I created was provided to Dr. Vincent to be given to the next individual working on this project.

3.3 Updated Herbarium Operations Manual Donna Ford authored the previous MU Herbarium Assistants’ Manual in 1980. Although many of the practices have remained consistent between 1980 and 2018 (e.g. the methods used to mounting specimens), others have changed dramatically (e.g. the process of ridding material of possible pests prior to mounting) and therefore require amendment. Furthermore, it is in the best interest of the MU herbarium to maintain a fluid digital copy of this manual that can be updated regularly as the need arises. As of this publication, the MU Herbarium does have a website (located at http://herbarium.muohio.edu/index.html), but its information is outdated and requires updating through the University’s web servers. The updated MU Herbarium Assistants’ Manual has been renamed as the MU Herbarium Operations Manual, and is intended to be used by any individual regularly working in the herbarium. The Operations Manual contains a brief history of the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium at Miami University to provide perspective of the importance of the MU collection to the reader. In addition to the previous MU Operations Manual (Ford 1980), I referred to operations manuals from numerous large herbaria and related institutions (e.g. The Ohio State University Herbarium and The Plant Inventory Operations Manual from the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University) to gather information on the operations of a modern herbarium (Damery et al. 2011; OSU 1985-1991). I also relied heavily on The Herbarium Handbook, 3rd edition – a manual printed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Bridson and Forman 1998). This book provides detailed information ranging from proper specimen storage to herbarium management techniques. Many of the chapters in the manual I wrote provide information that has not changed in many years; this includes correct methods of specimen mounting, the filing of specimens, and basic care and maintenance of the herbarium. Changes that have been made in the MU Operations Manual fall into the following categories: staff composition, workers’ duties, pest control, and reference materials. Prior to 2014, the herbarium functioned as part of the Botany Department at Miami University. With the merger of the Zoology and Botany departments, it is now a part of the Biology Department. In the past, in addition to a curator, the MU Herbarium had an assistant curator, who then became the curator, and no assistant curator was on staff. More recently, a half-time assistant served in the herbarium, but that position was not refilled when the assistant left the university. In addition, since the mid-1990’s, a graduate assistantship has been available to the herbarium.

Student wage funds through the Biology Department and from the Gene P. Williamson Herbarium Fund provide for 2 to 3 part-time student workers to carry out tasks required for maintenance of the collection. Other large herbaria may have room in the budget to staff a collection manager, multiple assistant curators, or multiple herbarium assistants. The differentiation between these positions is as follows: collection managers oversee the day-to-day operations of the herbarium and often manage activities such as specimen identification, record keeping, and budgeting; assistant or associate curators work with the primary curator to help build the herbarium’s collection and carry out specific research duties; and herbarium assistants (or graduate assistants) carry out the work of drying, mounting, and filing specimens. The primary role of the curator is to coordinate the growth of the herbarium while maintaining the integrity of the collection, participating in research, and often instructing students (SHC 2018). The curator of the Miami University herbarium is responsible for most of these tasks. Insect pests can be a very serious problem in herbarium collections. In the past, pests were controlled via chemical extermination; private exterminators were contracted to fumigate the herbarium every six months. Individual specimens brought into the collection were first placed into a fumigation chamber that contained paradiclorobenzene (PDB) and carbon tetrachloride. Today, the herbarium no longer uses a fumigation chamber for prevention of the introduction of insect pests on arriving specimens, as the carcinogenicity of the compounds utilized in the fumigation chamber was relatively high. Instead, an ultra cold freezer cabinet, maintained at -80°C, is used to decontaminate incoming specimens of any pests. Naphthalene remains in use as a chemical insect repellent in the herbarium cabinets, due to the fact that the desired humidity and temperature controls are not available in the present space. Monitoring for signs of pests remains a crucial role in any herbarium worker’s daily activities, and the consumption of food or beverages around specimens is not allowed. The MU Herbarium library remains a vital reference tool for all herbarium workers. In the past, the primary indices utilized by herbarium workers were Dalla Torre and Harms’ Genera Siphonogamarum and Willis’ Dictionary of Flowering Plants and Ferns. Each alphabetically lists genera and their corresponding families. Web-based data portals, such as TROPICOS, now provide a much quicker and more up-to-date reference for any worker to utilize. (TROPICOS [continuously updated]).

Section 4. Internship Summary

I entered the program at the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability with a mix of goals and a variety of background interests that made it difficult to solidify an initial academic path for myself. Adding to this difficulty was the fact that I began having seizures and received a diagnosis of epilepsy after I was admitted to IES, during the summer before classes began. In many ways, my experience in graduate school has involved equal parts learning about professional environmental science and learning how to navigate the world with a poorly understood disability. The faculty and staff in IES have consistently provided kind support and constructive evaluation of my skills and the areas that I need to improve, while maintaining that my health and wellbeing always come first. During my undergraduate degree at Oberlin College, I studied environmental science and had a broad set of interests, ranging from microbiology to botany to medicine. I spent the summer between my sophomore and junior years working on a permaculture homestead in Oregon, and I also spent a semester as produce buyer for the Harkness Cooperative in Oberlin, Ohio. That job involved working with the co-op’s treasurer and chefs to determine weekly menu plans for approximately 100 students. I purchased local food from farmers and oversaw the delivery and food storage at the co-op kitchen. That experience strongly influenced my interest in Miami University’s Institute for Food. While working with the Institute for Food, I had extensive experience exploring a career path in sustainable food systems. I was involved in the creation of a student organization that connected the Miami student body with the Institute for Food farm – F.A.R.M. club (Food Accessibility and Resilience at Miami). I also worked closely with the first Institute for Food farm manager, Lauren Wulker, to physically establish the first acre of the farm, and to establish connections between the farm and the community. Lastly, I worked at Miami’s Culinary Support Center (CSC); the goal of my position there was to set up a connection between the farm and the school’s dining halls. Through these experiences, I realized that this work was not aligned with my career goals. I began working at the MU Herbarium in the Spring of 2017, and came to realize that many of my academic and professional goals aligned with the opportunity I found at the herbarium. I had studied the importance of natural history collections in Conservation Biology (BIO 567), and quickly came to understand the significance of herbarium collections in the 28

broader understanding of biodiversity. Dr. Michael Vincent was able to provide me with a strong background in herbarium operations through suggested literature readings and frequent meetings. I gained a greater understanding of plant taxonomy and collections management over the course of this internship. I enjoyed all of the work and research, but the project that was most exciting to me was the digitization of the fungal collection from University of Cincinnati. I also developed a strong passion for the preservation of collection information, and I also grew fascinated with mycological diversity. I am extremely appreciative of the access I had to learn from the UC Fungal collection. I enjoyed learning from the UC specimens with a parasitic or pathogenic nature toward plants, specifically those found infesting agricultural crops. I also would like to briefly discuss my introduction to the coral fungi (those of the Clavariaceae and Clavulinaceae families) through the investigation of original collection information. Coral fungi frequently demonstrate a spectrum of unique colors and forms that stand out in their environments, but these traits may be lost during preservation and/or over time. Occasionally, the original collection information would be included inside the specimen packet or box, but kept from the outer label. These preserved observations breathed new life into old specimens that had lost crucial identification characters such as living physical structure and color. A memorable example of this was the time when I came across a specimen of Clavaria amethystina (syn. Clavaria zollingeri Lév.), labeled as being from Tasmania. Aside from the collector’s name, not much further information was provided.

Figure 4.1.Tasmanian Coral Fungi. The outside label of this specimen gave little clue to the living features of the organism.

I opened the packet to check for the possibility of finding further details. Inside, there were small slips of paper containing further information about the specimens when they were alive and first observed. Data such as measurement of spores was present, but I was most taken that the collector would note the color too. Such notes are occasionally lost with time.

Figure 4.2. Inside Information. Inside the packet, along with the preserved specimen, I found this slip of paper. The specimen itself was brittle and brown, but this note suggested that it had once been “amethyst blue.” Notes on the spore structure are important for the identification of different species within the coral fungi families.

I was prompted to look further into this particular species based on the description of an “amethyst blue” – primarily, to look for images of C. zollingeri. MycoPortal provides public- domain images of living occurrences that have been entered into the database, so I trusted these for my visual, virtual introduction to this beautiful species.

Figure 4.3. Clavaria zollingeri. MycoPortal provided the following data associated with this image: Taxon: Clavaria zollingeri Lév.; Family: Clavariaceae; Determiner: Renee Lebeuf; Collector: Renee Lebeuf HRL0127; Date: 2008-08-10; Locality: Canada, Quebec, MRC Portneuf, Saint-Casimir 46.67347 -72.16035 +-20m.; Habitat: Deciduous forest; Substrate: On the ground.

If and when I pursue further education, I would like to focus further on the preservation of fungal and plant biodiversity. I may also pursue study of the variety of parasites and pathogens that affect economically valuable plants.

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Willis, Charles G., Elizabeth R. Ellwood, Richard B. Primack, Charles C. Davis, Katelin D. Pearson, Amanda S. Gallinat, and Pamela S. Soltis. (2017). Old Plants, New Tricks:

Phenological Research Using Herbarium Specimens. Trends In Ecology & Evolution 32 (7): 531-546.

Willis, J. C., & Shaw, H. A. (1966). A dictionary of the flowering plants and ferns. Cambrdige U.P.

Winker, K. (2008). What I Do: Notes from the Frontiers of Academic Curating in Biology. Curator, 51(4): 393-406.

Appendix 1

MU HERBARIUM OPERATIONS MANUAL 2017 - 2018

Prepared for the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium Amy L. Harmon Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

Appendix 1

PREFACE

This manual is designed for anyone working at the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium of Miami University. This manual describes the function of this herbarium, and it provides up-to-date guidelines regarding procedures that may be encountered by present and future herbarium personnel. This is an updated version of the previous herbarium manual, submitted by Donna I. Ford on December 16, 1980. The majority of its contents referring to procedural matters will remain consistent with Ms. Ford’s version. However, as herbarium curation techniques have evolved, it is necessary to provide proper updates. Furthermore, a digital version of this manual allows for updates to be made in the future as needed.

Appendix 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface...... ii

Table of Contents...... iii

List of Tables...... iv

List of Figures...... v

Introduction...... 1

Specimen Acquisition and Receipt...... 2

Processing Specimens...... 3

Filing...... 9

Pest Control...... 14

Service Operations...... 15

Specimen Disbursement...... 17

Records...... 18

References...... 19

iii

Appendix 1

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. The Families of Flowering Plants (MU Classification System)

Appendix 1

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Complete MU Label...... 4 Figure 2. Fully Processed Vascular Plant Specimen...... 6 Figure 3. Complete MU Fungi Specimen Packet...... 8 Figure 4. Geographic Divisions for File Folders...... 10 Figure 5. Annotation Label...... 13

Appendix 1

INTRODUCTION

An herbarium is a collection of preserved plant, fungal, algal, bryophyte, and lichen specimens organized based on modern taxonomic standards. It serves as an information center and functions as a research tool and teaching institution. A herbarium assistant aids this functioning through participation in effective operation of the herbarium. The position includes duties in the development, maintenance, and usage of the collection. Bruce Fink founded the Miami University (MU) Herbarium in 1906. The collection has grown over the years and is presently the largest herbarium in Ohio and within the top 25 largest herbaria in the United States (Thiers 2018). The MU collection currently includes approximately 650,000 specimens and continues to expand The herbarium facility consists of the center workroom and three levels of metal cases which house the collection. The upper and middle levels are used to store vascular plants, and cabinets in the basement contain vascular and nonvascular specimens. The workroom and storage levels are served by a dumb waiter, which facilitates careful transfer of material between floors. There is a table in the center of the workroom for mounting, repair, and general observation of specimens. The Herbarium is equipped with approximately 330 herbarium cases, a drying cabinet, a - 80C ultra-cold freezer for fumigation of specimens, research-grade compound microscopes, numerous dissecting microscopes, and networked computers equipped with bar-code readers. Two computers are set up with adjacent CopyMate camera stands to be used in the imaging of specimens and label data (one is in the main room, and one is in the library). The adjacent W. Hardy Eshbaugh Herbarium Library contains the herbarium library (holdings listed in part in the Miami University Libraries catalogue), computers equipped for data entry, and one computer with adjacent CopyMate camera stand used for imaging of specimens and label data. The present curator, Dr. Michael Vincent, oversees herbarium operations. The staff is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students conducting a number of ongoing projects in the herbarium. One of the most important ongoing projects at MU is the digitization of all accessioned specimens.

Appendix 1

SPECIMEN ACQUISITION AND RECEIPT

Herbaria grow through the acquisition of new specimens. In order for the herbarium to serve as an accurate scientific tool, it is important for this growth to broaden the depth and breadth of the collection. Herbarium assistants should be aware of the methods and sources of specimen acquisition, as well as the procedures to be used upon receipt of specimens. Specimens are obtained through gifts, purchases, or exchanges; exchange of specimens occurs between two institutions with the goal of enriching each institution’s collection. Specimens received as gifts are frequently from student or faculty collections, but some may arrive from private collectors, and from agencies. Major purchases have helped to build the size of the collection. Miami University purchased approximately 140,000 non-Ohio specimens from the Oberlin College Herbarium in 1967. The purchase was made possible through a bequest in memory of Willard Sherman Turrell, in whose honor the MU herbarium was subsequently named, and a grant from NSF. Other large-scale purchases have come from the collections of R. D. A. Bayliss, G. G. Hatschbach, and S. Hattori. Miami participates in specimen exchange with many other institutions, with the most active with Vienna, Canberra, the Institute Darwinion in Argentina, and the New York Botanical Garden. It may be useful for herbarium personnel to become familiar with international herbarium institution codes, as well as Index Herbariorum – an online database maintained by the New York Botanical Garden. Index Herbariorum provides information on all registered herbaria around the world, including physical location, contact information, and collection content. The curator presently oversees all incoming material. If assigned to help, herbarium workers should defer to the curator for information regarding unpacking and organizing. In general, upon arrival of a shipment, the herbarium worker should carefully unpack the material. Count and record the number of specimens received. A shipping notice is typically sent separately to verify the delivery. The curator signs the designated copy, which is returned to acknowledge receipt of the material. Much of this process is often conducted by email.

Appendix 1

PROCESSING SPECIMENS

Processing describes the method by which a specimen is prepared for addition to the herbarium collection. This work includes making labels, if needed, specimen preparation, and applying the barcode. Accessioning, which is done as material is received, is the recording of the new specimen in the record book and assigning it an accession number; the number ties the specimen to its source. Each specimen is mounted on a pre-stamped (with the MU Herbarium symbol) and numbered (with the accession number) mounting sheet. The MU symbol and the bar code both indicate ownership of the specimen by the Miami University Herbarium (MU).

Labels A label accompanies every specimen belonging to the herbarium. The label contains the name of the specimen and information relating to its collection. This information is recorded by the collector in the field and later typed onto a permanent label. A specimen without its associated label data is worthless. Typical data found on specimen labels include the following: specimen name (genus, specific epithet, author), locality, habitat, collector, date, collection number, and determiner (individual who positively identified the specimen). Occasionally, the common name or family of the specimen is noted. Thorough collectors may also include information not apparent from the preserved specimen itself, such as observations concerning abundance, altitude, size, color, odor, and associated species. Some labels include a map on which the collection locality is marked. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) coordinates are often included on more recently collected specimens. With increasing use of molecular sequencing to identify or confirm taxonomic relationships, some specimens may require updated label information when changes have been made to the genus and/or specific epithet. In this case, it is necessary to apply an annotation label, containing information such as the updated name, date of the amendment, and the name of the individual who determined the correct revision. Such labels are attached to the specimen sheet by the researcher who makes the change, or by the curator. Herbarium personnel are responsible for neat and accurate typing of the permanent label data into a spreadsheet, if necessary. While almost all specimens received arrive with labels,

Appendix 1 occasional specimens do require production of labels. All labels made by herbarium personnel are made from data in a standardized Excel spreadsheet, using mail merge in MS-Word. Due to the variation of type and quantity of observations made by the collector at the time of collection, there is no set format for labels. However, the specimen name, state, and county (or country), collector, and collection number should always be prominent. An example of a complete, well-formatted label is given in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Complete MU Label. The specimen name, Trifolium dubium (Sibthorp) is clearly listed near the top of the label, just beneath the name of the herbarium and the name of the collection. The collectors’ names, the collection number, and the date are prominent at the bottom of the label. Habitat information and observation of the flower color are valuable additions to the label contents. Specimen Preparation There are two methods of specimen preparation. Vascular plants are mounted on 11.5” x 16.5” sheets of acid-free mounting paper. The mounting paper contains a pH buffer that prevents paper deterioration. Preparation of non-vascular plants frequently differs from the preparation methods of vascular plants.

Preparation of Vascular Plants A useful specimen must be properly pressed and correctly mounted. The collector is responsible for pressing the specimen, but herbarium personnel are responsible for careful mounting. Mounting specimens is an art, with techniques relating to the selection, positioning, and attachment of the specimen to the paper.

Appendix 1

Mount one specimen from the material of each distinct collection number. In the event that extra material has been pressed, consult with the curator to select the best representative to be processed into the MU collection, then sort the remaining material into duplicate sets for exchange. If there are many small plants from one distinct collection event, mount several on one sheet to show character variation. If possible, include sufficient flower and fruit material that may be taken for dissection. Large specimens may require two or more sheets for mounting. In such cases, after mounting, mark the sheets “Sheet 1 of _,” “Sheet 2 of _,” and so on. Remove the material to be mounted from its newsprint folder and set it on the sheet as it best fits. Always place the label in the lower right hand corner, but wait to affix the label until the final positioning is determined. Position the plant so that the flowers, fruit, and/or other diagnostic features are visible, and so that the specimen is best attached to the sheet. When possible, display both upper and lower leaf surfaces. It is generally expected that the base of the plant is oriented at the bottom of the sheet; distribute roots or other bulky portions of the plant in various sections of the sheet to allow for even stacking within the cabinets. For similar reasons, avoid always placing small specimens in the center of the sheet. Large items, such as fruits or cones, may be packaged in boxes and stored separately in the carpological cabinet. These have a duplicate label attached and have the same accession number as the sheet. Special labels are placed on the sheet and box, referring one to the other. After the best placement is determined, attach the label and plant to the sheet. Affix the label and plant material to the sheet using a diluted solution of Elmer’s glue (2/3 glue, 1/3 water) applied with a paintbrush. Keep a small container of water nearby for rinsing the mounting tools. Begin by moistening a brush in water. Apply glue around the edges of the label, and place it in the lower right hand corner of the sheet. For large, multi-sheet specimens, affix identical labels to each sheet. Place metal weights upon the label to keep it flat while drying. Lift the plant, turn it over, and place it onto an adjacent sheet of newspaper. Gently spread diluted glue over the back of the specimen. When this process is complete, lift the plant from the newspaper and carefully return it to its original position on the mounting paper. Blot excess glue from the specimen with tissues. Use metal weights to keep the plant in place and adhered to the sheet. Make best use of time by mounting a second sheet in another area of the workspace while the first is drying.

Appendix 1

Some plants are especially fragile (grasses in particular), making it difficult to transfer them from sheet to sheet without tissue breakage. For such specimens, it is best to apply the glue to the specimen while it is positioned on the mounting paper. Two special tools are used for this procedure: the dissecting pin and the metal spatula. Dip the blade of the spatula into the glue, raise a portion of the plant from the sheet with the dissecting pin, and carefully apply glue onto the bottom surface of the specimen with the spatula. Blot and weight the specimen to dry, as described above. In five or ten minutes, when the glue has sufficiently dried, remove the weights. Stems or bulky portions of the plant may be secured to the mounting paper with narrow strips of gummed linen tape. Place any detached material, such as fruits or seeds, into a fragment packet and attach it to an available section on the sheet. Fragment packets are of several sizes and are scored for proper folding. There are several styles of fragment packets, which fold in different ways; ask other herbarium personnel about how this is done. Do not glue the packets shut, since this makes the contents inaccessible. An example of a completed vascular specimen, ready for filing, is given in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Fully processed vascular plant specimen (Trifolium dubium, Fabaceae).

Appendix 1

Preparation of Non-Vascular Plants Non-vascular plants include algae, bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), fungi, and lichens. Macro-algae are mounted on sheets in a manner analogous to the treatment for vascular plants. All other non-vascular specimens are stored in packets or small boxes. Non-vascular plant packets are constructed from 8.5 x 11” acid-free paper, which have the MU herbarium logo preprinted on it. Fold back the side flaps of the packets using the guide in the herbarium, and crease the edges sharply. Packets are numbered prior to use, using a MS- Word file in which the accession numbers are generated. To packet a non-vascular specimen, simply place the material in an open packet and reclose it. With a single line of glue, attach the label to the top of the front flap. For Oberlin specimens, place an additional identifying label on the top of the inside of the flap. There are few Oberlin specimens left to be accessioned at this point in time. Boxes are used for specimens that are too large to be accommodated by a packet (mostly fungi). Boxes are of various sizes, depending on the source from which they are purchased. Acid free boxes are preferable. To prepare a boxed specimen, place both the specimen and its label inside an appropriately sized box. Write the name of the plant on the lid of the box. Labels are photocopied and affixed to the front of the box if the box is large enough. The MU herbarium logo is stamped on by hand, and the accession number is hand-written below it.

Accessioning and Stamping A specimen must be accessioned before becoming a part of the MU herbarium collection. An accession number is a unique number assigned to each specimen when it is received. Numbers are used sequentially, so accessioning serves to maintain an accurate count of the number of specimens in the collection, in addition to tying the specimen to records of how it was acquired by the herbarium. The accession number is also occasionally used to identify a particular specimen, especially in instances where the collection number is lacking. The MU herbarium uses a series of seven accession numbers, one each for vascular plants, algae, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens. To distinguish between these series, the letters A, B, F, L, W, and S (wood and slides) prefixes the last four specimen types, respectively. The accession number appears directly below the herbarium logo.

Appendix 1

For vascular plants, the herbarium logo and accession number are preprinted on the mounting sheets by the supplier. Numbers for packets are printed either from a computer or written by hand onto the packet below the preprinted logo. Each sheet of multiple-sheet specimens receives the same accession number. All non-vascular plant specimens must be accessioned and labeled in the same manner. Packets are pre-printed with the herbarium logo; boxes must be stamped by hand on the lid. If the accession number is not preprinted on the packet, write the accession number in archivally permanent black ink below the herbarium stamp. Number the packets immediately after folding, as it is difficult to write clearly on the packet after the specimen is inserted. Figure 3 shows a completed specimen packet after processing.

Figure 3. Complete MU Fungi Specimen Packet. This specimen of Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam., Amanitaceae, has a clearly printed label which details the specimen’s collection data. The packet has been stamped with the MU Herbarium logo and given an accession number within the fungal (F) series. The packet has been given a barcode sticker that aids in its digitization onto a database such as Mycoportal.

Appendix 1

FILING

Filing is the process of placing a specimen into the collection (otherwise known as intercalation). Before one can insert a specimen, one must understand the MU filing system. The filing system specifies the grouping and order of specimens, thereby providing a method by which any specimen can be readily located within the collection. This chapter discusses the MU herbarium filing system and the procedures to follow when filing.

Filing System for Vascular Plants The filing system for vascular plants is based on division into families. The vascular plant filing arrangement begins with seedless plant families. Their order is given in Table 1, which is posted in various places within the herbarium. The seed plant families are ordered and numbered phylogenetically according to the sequence of Engler and Prantl, in most cases; this system recognizes 297 families. The gymnosperm families are assigned numbers 1 through 5. Within the angiosperms, numbers 6 through 51 are allocated to monocots, and 52 through 297 are used for filing dicot families. Within each family, the plants are divided by geographical region. These regions are distinguished by color and are ordered as followed: manila – United States and Canada, green – Caribbean, yellow – Mexico, Central and South America, gray – Europe, orange – Africa, red – Asia, and blue – Pacific Islands and Australia. Within each geographical region, the specimens are arranged alphabetically by genus and species. Figure 4. shows a world map with the color for each region highlighted. The mounted specimen sheets are enclosed in folders, known as genus covers, and stored on the herbarium case shelves. The folder color denotes geographic region; thus, the majority of folders are manila, for most of the herbarium’s collection are North American specimens. Each genus cover accommodates six to ten specimens, based on the bulkiness of the plants inside. A genus cover may contain all specimens of one genus, but more often there are so many specimens of a particular species that it requires several folders. Each genus cover is marked with the appropriate family name and number in the lower right hand corner. The species or genus that the folder contains is written in the lower left hand corner. The bottom center is occupied by the part designation, if necessary. The part notation is

Appendix 1 made in pencil since it frequently needs to be changed. Figure # is an example of a properly labeled genus cover. It must be noted that a slight modification in the system described above occurs in the following families: Ferns and allies, Gramineae (#17), Cyperaceae (#18), and Compositae (#297). These plants are first divided by the initial letter of the genus name and then separated into geographical region. This extra division is due to the large number of specimens in these groups. Subsequent arrangement is identical to that of the other families.

Figure 4. Geographic Divisions for File Folders. This world map illustrates the colors used on folders containing specimens from specific regions. Filing System for Non-Vascular Plants Non-vascular specimens are filed in the following groups: algae, fungi, lichens, and bryophytes. The specimens are arranged alphabetically by genus and specific epithet. There is no division into families or separation by locality, except that all undetermined specimens are accumulated at the ends of these sections, filed geographically. Algae are stored in genus covers, as are vascular plants. Specimens of the remaining groups are filed in trays that slide into the herbarium case shelves. Packets and boxes stand edgewise in the tray in proper alphabetical sequence. Strips of paper 5” x 11.5” serve as dividers between genera or species within a genus.

Appendix 1

Table 1. THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS (MU Classification System) THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS (MU Classification System)

Acanthac eae 283 Convallariaceae (Liliaceae) 36 Labiatae (Lamiaceae) 271 Polemoniaceae 267 Aceraceae 172 Convolvulaceae 265 Lacistemataceae 209a Polygalaceae 154 Achariaceae 214 Coriariaceae 159 Lactoridaceae 97 Polygonaceae 77 Actinidiaceae 189a Cornaceae 241 Lamiaceae 271 Pontederiaceae 32 Adoxaceae 289 Corynocarpaceae 165 Lardizabalaceae 92 Portulacaceae 85 Agavaceae 37 Crassulaceae 115 Lauraceae 102 Potamogetonaceae 9 Aizoaceae 84 Crossosomataceae 129 Lecythidaceae 230 Primulaceae 252 Alismataceae 13 Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) 105 Leeaceae 178a Proteaceae 66 Alliaceae 37 Crypteroniaceae 228 Leguminosae (Fabaceae) 134 Punicaceae 229 Amaranthaceae 79 Cucurbitaceae 292 Leitneriaceae 59 Pyrolaceae 243 Amaryllidaceae 41 Cunoniaceae 124 Lemnaceae 22 Quiinaceae 194 Anacardiaceae 162 Cupressaceae 4b Lennoaceae 245 Rafflesiaceae 75 Ancistrocladaceae 219 Cuscutaceae 266 Lentibulariaceae 281 Ranunculaceae 91 Annonaceae 98 Cycadaceae 1 Liliaceae 36 Rapateaceae 29 Apiaceae 240 Cyclanthaceae 20 Limnanthaceae 161 Resedaceae 108 Apocynaceae 263 Cynomoriaceae 238 Linaceae 141 Restionaceae 24 Aponogetonaceae 11a Cyperaceae 18 Loasaceae 216 Rhamnaceae 178 Aquifoliaceae 166 Cyrillaceae 163 Loganiaceae 260 Rhizophoraceae 231 Araceae 21 Datiscaceae 217 Loranthaceae 67 Rhoipteleaceae 60a Araliaceae 239 Diapensiaceae 249 Lythraceae 226 Rosaceae 130 Araucariaceae 3c Dichapetalaceae 155 Magnoliaceae 95 Rubiaceae 287 Arecaceae 19 Dilleniaceae 189 Malesherbiaceae 212 Rutaceae 146 Aristolochiaceae 74 Dioscoreaceae 44 Malphigiaceae 150 Sabiaceae 175 Asclepiadaceae 264 Dipsacaceae 291 Malvaceae 184 Salicaceae 56 Asparagaceae 37 Dipterocarpaceae 198 Marantaceae 49 Salvadoraceae 259 Avicenniaceae (Verbenaceae) 270 Droseraceae 112 Marcgraviaceae 193 Santalaceae 69 Balanophoraceae 73 Ebenaceae 255 Martyniaceae 277 Sapindaceae 174 Balanopsidaceae 58 Elaeagnaceae 225 Mayaceae 26 Sapotaceae 254 Balsaminaceae 177 Elaeocarpaceae 180 Melanthiaceae 37 Sarraceniaceae 110 Basellaceae 86 Elatinaceae 199 Melastomataceae 234 Saururaceae 53 Batidaceae 81 Empetraceae 160 Meliaceae 149 Saxifragaceae 118 Begoniaceae 218 Epacridaceae 248 Melianthaceae 176 Scheuchzeriaceae 12 Berberidaceae 93 Ephedraceae 5 Menispermaceae 94 Schisandraceae 95b Betulaceae 61 Ericaceae 246 Menyanthaceae 262 Scrophulariaceae 274 Bignoniaceae 275 Eriocaulaceae 28 Mimosaceae (Fabaceae) 134 Scytopetalaceae 188 Bixaceae 204 Erythroxylaceae 143 Molluginaceae 84a Simaroubaceae 147 Bombaceae 186 Escalloniaceae 120 Monimiaceae 101 Smilaceae 39 Boraginaceae 269 Eucommiaceae 63a Monotropaceae 244 Solanaceae 273 Brassicaceae 105 Eucryphiaceae 190 Montiniaceae 121a Sonneratiaceae 227 Bromeliaceae 30 Euphorbiaceae 156 Moraceae 64 Sparganiaceae 8 Brunelliaceae 123 Fabaceae 134 Moringaceae 109 Stachyuraceae 210 Bruniaceae 126 Fagaceae 62 Musaceae 46 Stackhousiaceae 169 Brunoniaceae 294a Flacourtiaceae 209 Myoporaceae 284 Stangeriaceae 1b Buddlejaceae (Loganiaceae) 260 Flagellariaceae 23 Myricaceae 57 Staphyleaceae 170 Burmanniaceae 50 Fouquieriaceae 202 Myristicaceae 99 Stemonaceae 35 Burseraceae 148 Frankeniaceae 200 Myrothamnaceae 125 Sterculiaceae 187 Butomaceae 14 Fumariaceae 104b Myrsinaceae 251 Stylidiaceae 295 Buxaceae 158 Garryaceae 241b Myrtaceae 233 Styracaceae 256 Cabombaceae 88a Geissolomaceae 221 Myzodendraceae 68 Surianaceae 131 Cactaceae 220 Gentianaceae 261 Najadaceae 10 Symplocaceae 257 Caesalpiniaceae (Fabaceae) 134 Geraniaceae 138 Nepenthaceae 111 Taccaceae 43 Callitrichaceae 157 Gesneriaceae 279 Nolanaceae 272 Tamaricaceae 201 Calycanthaceae 96 Ginkgoaceae 2 Nyctaginaceae 80 Taxaceae 3 Calyceraceae 296 Globulariaceae 282 Nymphaeaceae 88 Taxodiaceae 4a Campanulaceae 293 Gnetaceae 5a Nyssaceae 241a Theaceae 195 Canellaceae 207 Gomortegaceae 100 Ochnaceae 191 Thelygonaceae 82 Cannaceae 48 Gonystylaceae 182 Olacaceae 72 Theophrastaceae 250 Capparidaceae 107 Goodeniaceae 294 Oleaceae 258 Thurniaceae 34a Caprifoliaceae 288 Gramineae (Poaceae) 17 Oliniaceae 223 Thymelaeaceae 224 Caricaceae 215 Grossulariaceae 121 Onagraceae 235 Tiliaceae 183 Caryocaraceae 192 Grubbiaceae 70 Opiliaceae 71 Trapaceae 236 Caryophyllaceae 87 Guttiferae (Clusiaceae) 196 Orchidaceae 51 Tremandraceae 153 Casuarinaceae 52 Haemodoraceae 40 Orobanchaceae 278 Trigoniaceae 151 Cecropiaceae 64a Haloragaceae 237 Oxalidaceae 139 Triplochitonaceae 185 Celastraceae 167 Hamamelidaceae 127 Palmae (Arecaceae) 19 Triuridaceae 16 Centrolepidaceae 25 Hernandiaceae 103 Pandanaceae 7 Tropaeolaceae 140 Cephalotaceae 117 Hippocastanaceae 173 Papaveraceae 104a Turneraceae 211 Cephalotaxaceae 3b Hippocrateaceae 168 Papilionaceae (Fabaceae) 134 Typhaceae 6 Ceratophyllaceae 89 Humiriaceae 142 Passifloraceae 213 Ulmaceae 63 Cercidiphyllaceae 90a Hydnoraceae 76 Pedaliaceae 276 Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) 240 Chenopodiaceae 78 Hydrangeaceae 119 Penaeaceae 222 Urticaceae 65 Chlaenaceae 181 Hydrocharitaceae 15 Pentaphyllacaceae 164 Valerianaceae 290 Chloranthaceae 55 Hydrophyllaceae 268 Philydraceae 33 Velloziaceae 42 Chrysobalanaceae 130a Hydrostachyaceae 114 Phrymaceae 285 Verbenaceae 270 Cistaceae 203 Hypericaceae (Clusiaceae) 196 Phytolaccaceae 83 Violaceae 208 Clethraceae 242 Icacinaceae 171 Pinaceae 4 Vitaceae 179 Clusiaceae 196 Illiciaceae 95a Piperaceae 54 Vochysiaceae 152 Cneoraceae 145 Iridaceae 45 Pittosporaceae 122 Welwitschiaceae 5b Cochlospermaceae 205 Juglandaceae 60 Plantaginaceae 286 Winteraceae 95c Columellaceae 280 Julianaceae 162a Platanaceae 128 Xyridaceae 27 Combretaceae 232 Juncaceae 34 Plumbaginaceae 253 Zamiaceae 1a Commelinaceae 31 Juncaginaceae 11b Poaceae 17 Zingiberaceae 47 Compositae 297 Koeberliniaceae 206 Podocarpaceae 3a Zygophyllaceae 144 Connaraceae 133 Krameriaceae 136 Podostemaceae 113

MANILA – North America north of Mexico; Greenland RED – Asia; Philippines GREEN – Caribbean basin islands GREY – Europe ORANGE – Africa BLUE – East Indies; Pacific Islands; Australia; New Zealand YELLOW – Central and South America 11

Appendix 1

Filing of Special Collections Type specimens and bound exsicatae collections, as well as oversized materials, receive different treatment than that given to “usual” specimens. A type specimen is the specimen(s) on which a specific epithet has been based; they are of particular value to herbarium collections as they document the organism that the author chose to represent while naming a new species. Due to their value, type specimens are stored in a separate case. The organizational pattern is identical to that of the corresponding group in the main herbarium. Specimens that come to MU that were previously part of another institution’s collection already mounted are reaccessioned and filed into the main collection. The prior herbarium stamp and accession number (if any) are retained and prefixed by “EX.”

Filing Procedures The importance of correct filing cannot be overemphasized: A SPECIMEN THAT IS MISFILED IS LOST. Pay particular attention to foreign specimens and type specimens, as these may be easy to overlook and to file incorrectly. Furthermore, always be sure that each specimen is properly stamped and accessioned prior to filing. When handling mounted specimens, never hold a sheet unsupported or upside-down, nor turn it as a page in a book.

Filing Procedures of Vascular Plants The procedure for filing vascular plants is the most involved. Begin by marking the family number in small numbers in pencil on each sheet above the label. Find the family for a genus by referring to Dalle Torre and Harms, Willis, or Mabberly. These references contain alphabetical lists of genera and their respective families. Use this information to locate the corresponding family number from the alphabetical family chart (Table 1.) Ferns are listed by family on a separate chart. Group the plants together by family, and order these into numerical sequence. Within each family separate the specimens into geographical groups. Ferns and allies (families 17, 19, and 297) are exceptions: first divide them by the beginning letter of the genus name. If there are large numbers of sheets to be filed, one should alphabetize the genera within each region. This allows sequential movement through the cases when filing, thus saving time.

Appendix 1

To file a sheet, go to the case containing the correct family. Locate the proper color folder corresponding with geographical region, and find the genus cover for the specimen. Withdraw the folder, and place the specimen inside in correct alphabetical order. Use a small, wheeled table to rest the folder on during this process. When finished, replace the folder in its same position.

Filing Procedures of Non-Vascular Plants

To file non-vascular specimens, first determine the major group to which it belongs by looking at the prefix to the accession number. When there are numerous specimens to file, pre- arrange them within their respective groups. Locate the case and tray containing the desired genus, and carefully slide the specimen into its appropriate place.

Annotations and Indets

An annotation is a correction to a name, usually due to misidentification or to a change in nomenclature (synonymy). In such cases, the individual responsible for recognizing the change attaches an annotation label (Figure 5.) to the sheet. An annotation should contain the correct name, the determiner’s name, and the date. A label with an exclamation mark followed by a person’s name indicates agreement with the existing identification. File specimens under the name assigned to them by the most recent identification. Occasionally, a specimen is not completely identified and may be labeled with the genus name followed by “sp.” Place these specimens, known as indets, separately at the end of their corresponding genera.

Figure 5. Annotation Label. This annotation label shows that in 1997, Dr. Michael A. Vincent determined that this specimen was incorrectly identified. An annotation label with his name, the date, and the correct name (Trifolium dubium) is highlighted in red in the lower left corner of the figure, to the lower left of the original specimen label. 13

Appendix 1

PEST CONTROL

Insects can cause a great deal of damage to preserved specimens and must be prevented from entering any part of the collection. Primary pests to be concerned about include dermestid beetles, book lice, silverfish, and cigarette beetles; these insects may cause damage to plant material and/or the mounting paper. To control insects, mothballs are placed in the cabinets. Workers in the herbarium should report any live insects, insect damage, or insect excrement found in the collection. If the infestation appears severe, the curator will make arrangements for immediate fumigation of the entire facility. Mold and mildew are other issues that should be noted by the herbarium worker; maintaining a low humidity environment and keeping the temperature steady best control these. To guard against the introduction of insects, all incoming specimens are put into the ultra-cold freezer. The freezer is a large airtight case that is kept at -80°C. This temperature kills any insect eggs, larvae, or adults that may be present on new specimens. After several days at this temperature, remove the specimens, allow them to warm to room temperature (place in the drying cabinet if the air is very humid to prevent rehydration and mold growth) and process or file them as is fitting.

Appendix 1

SERVICE OPERATIONS

The worth of the herbarium lies in the services that it provides to the university, the scientific community, and the general public. These services include visits and displays, a collection of literature, and loans of equipment and specimens.

Visits and Displays The herbarium is open to the public during working hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). Groups planning to visit may schedule tours by contacting Dr. Michael Vincent at [email protected] or by calling 513-529-2755. Visitors from other institutions are encouraged to sign the guest register. The herbarium periodically sets up displays in one of the Upham Hall exhibit cases. Past displays dealt with medicinal plants, economic botany, and invasive species. Herbarium personnel or botany students often participate in the research. Students working in the herbarium are encouraged to suggest and/or to develop displays.

Literature The herbarium has a collection of reference books in the Eshbaugh Library that may be used by faculty and students. Many of these books are catalogued within the Miami University Libraries system, and can be found using the MU Libraries website. Books may not be borrowed, but may be used on-site. A copier with email capability is available for sending PDF’s of pages to the user. A broad spectrum of botanical books and periodicals are housed in the Eshbaugh Library. The primary indices are Dalle Torre and Harms, Willis, Gray Index, and Index Kewnsis. Dalla Torre and Harms’ Genera Siponogamarum and Willis’ Dictionary of Flowering Plants and Ferns are of the greatest value to those working in the herbarium. Web-based portals such as GBIF (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility) or The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org/) may also provide a faster and more up-to-date information. Given that the names and relationships of species may change with genomic research, always check online for the most updated scientific name and classification.

Appendix 1

Equipment and Specimen Loans The herbarium participates in loans of equipment, mainly plant presses, to students and faculty. Any student or faculty member may place presses in the drying cabinet, located to the right of the door as one enters. The drying cabinet contains open shelves through which hot air circulates continuously. The power switch and temperature control are located on the side of the cabinet. The dryer is to be left continuously running at 200°C whenever plants are being dried. One very important aspect of herbarium service is the loan of specimens. Graduate students, professors, and visiting researchers may desire to remove specimen sheets for study or teaching purposes. The borrower signs out the sheets and, when finished, returns them to the top of the ultracold freezer in the workroom. Before the herbarium assistant files the returned sheets, they are frozen, inspected for damage and repaired as necessary. A large number of loan requests come from other institutions that wish to borrow specimens for research. Upon approval of request, herbarium personnel withdraw the material. These specimens must then be packed for shipment.

Appendix 1

SPECIMEN DISBURSMENT

Specimens may leave the herbarium as unmounted duplicates (exchange) or as mounted sheets (research loans). If assigned to work on packing outgoing exchanges or loans, herbarium personnel should carefully pack the specimens to avoid damage during shipment. Place each specimen in an acid-free white paper folder, and tie them in small groups between two cardboard corrugates. Evenly stack these bundles in a sturdy box. Tape each box shut, affix the mailing label to the package. Accompany each disbursement with a shipping form, sent by email to the curator of the recipient institution, and 2 hard copies in the box. Shipping forms are generated through the BRAHMS system.

Appendix 1

RECORDS

The herbarium keeps careful record of all transactions. Records are kept in books and file folders. There are seven books for recording accessions, one each for algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, wood specimens, and slides. Other books contains records of gifts, exchanges received, exchanges sent, purchases, loans received, loans sent, displays, and tours. The entries are brief, consisting of individual or institution name, date, and a short description of the transaction. At the end of each school year, this information is compiled as the herbarium’s Annual Report.

Appendix 1

REFERENCES

Bridson, D. M., & Forman, L. (1998). The Herbarium Handbook. [Kew, England]: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1998.

Consortium of North American Bryophyte Herbaria. Last updated 2017. Retrieved from http://bryophyteportal.org/portal/.

Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria. (2017). Last updated 2017. http://lichenportal.org/portal/.

Dalla Torre, K. v., & Harms, H. (1963). Genera siphonogamarum ad systema Englerianum conscripta. Wiesbaden, Verlag für Wissenschaftliche Neudrucke GMBH.

Damery, J., Dosmann, M., Hird, A., Pfeiffer, S., Port, K., & Richardson, K. (2011). Plant Inventory Operations Manual, 2nd Edition. Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Curation Department.

Index Fungorum (2018). Retrieved from http://www.indexfungorum.org/.

Mabberley, D.J. (1997). The Plant Book. Cambrdige University Press.

Mycology Collections Portal. (2018). Retrieved from http://mycoportal.org/portal/index.php.

Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 12, July 2012. Last updated June 8, 2017. Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/.

Society of Herbarium Curators. Last updated 2018. Retrieved from http://www.herbariumcurators.org/.

Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections. Last updated 2010. Retrieved from http://www.spnhc.org/.

Appendix 1

Thiers, B. [continuously updated]. Index Herbariorum: A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden's Virtual Herbarium. Retrieved from http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/.

Thiers, Barbara M. (2018). The World’s Herbaria 2017: A Summary Report Based on Data from Index Herbariorum. Issue 2.0, published January 3, 2018. Index Herbariorum.

TROPICOS [continuously updated]. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved from http://www.tropicos.org.

Willis, J. C., & Shaw, H. A. (1966). A dictionary of the flowering plants and ferns. Cambrdige U.P.