| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section / ASPT Nepal, Madhav P. [1], Ferguson, Carolyn J. [1], Mayfield, Mark H. [1]. Exploring A. S. Hitchcock’s herbarium: historical botanical findings from computerization of the Kansas State University Herbarium. The Kansas State University Herbarium (KSC) was established in 1877 and currently holds ca. 200,000 collections. It is known particularly for historical (pre-1900) collections from the central Great Plains, making it an important resource for the study of temporal and spatial floristic changes in the region. Collections of Albert Spear Hitchcock constitute the major foundation of this herbarium, with over 20% of current holdings of Kansas vascular plants attributable directly to him. Hitchcock (1865-1935) joined then Kansas State Agricultural College in 1892 following his schooling and work at Iowa State Agricultural College (M.S., 1886) and a position at the Missouri Botanical Garden (MO, 1889-1892). While at MO, Hitchcock determined many collections of Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer (1801-1879). The Lindheimer collection at KSC (546 specimens including 18 isotypes and representing 463 numbers of ca. 650 numbers of his final collection; years 1849-1851) is almost certainly due to Hitchcock. Hitchcock built an extremely active botanical program at KSC until his departure to the USDA in 1901 (where he remained, later also associated with the U.S. National Herbarium [US], until his death in 1935). Study of the KSC specimen database now enables an understanding of Hitchcock's collecting activity (and that of his students and associates) in the Great Plains during his short career at KSC. This activity was both thorough and broad within Kansas, laying a strong foundation for KSC not only as a taxonomic resource, but now also as a critical collection for data-mining as we explore floristic changes through time in the Great Plains.
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1 - Kansas State University, Herbarium and Division of Biology, Ackert Hall, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506-4901, USA
Keywords:
computerization
herbarium
Database
historical collection
Hitchcock
Lindheimer
specimens.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: CP19
Location: PDR 2/Hilton
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2007
Time: 2:45 PM
Number: CP19007
Abstract ID:1976 |
