McMillan, P.D., A.H. Blackwell, C. Blackwell, and M.A. Spencer. 2013. The vascular plants in the Mark Catesby collection at the Sloane Herbarium, with notes on their taxonomic and ecological significance. Phytoneuron 2013-7: 1–37. Published 28 January 2013. ISSN 2153 733X THE VASCULAR PLANTS IN THE MARK CATESBY COLLECTION AT THE SLOANE HERBARIUM, WITH NOTES ON THEIR TAXONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE PATRICK D. MCMILLAN School of Agriculture, Forestry, and the Environment Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina AMY HACKNEY BLACKWELL School of Agriculture, Forestry, and the Environment Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Corresponding author:
[email protected] CHRISTOPHER BLACKWELL Department of Classics Furman University Greenville, South Carolina MARK A. SPENCER Natural History Museum Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD, UK ABSTRACT We provide a list of all vascular plant specimens collected in the Carolinas and Georgia by Mark Catesby that are housed in the Sloane Herbarium at the Natural History Museum, London. We present the identifications along with notes on the significance of selected specimens. We also describe the process of digitizing the specimens and discuss the potential benefits of an integrated digital library of historical botany. Catesby’s specimens provide insight into the nature of the flora of the Carolinas and Georgia prior to extensive modification by European immigrants. Through comparison with modern ranges these plants may help to shed light on the routes that Catesby might have travelled as well as pinpointing some areas that he visited. They also serve as a good reference for assessing the native ranges of several problematic taxa. Catesby’s specimens are of special interest due to their taxonomic relevance when viewed as supporting material for the color plates contained in Catesby’s two-volume Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands , which was extensively cited by Linnaeus.