Welcome alumni and friends!Welcome alumni and friends!To the new William & Mary Herbarium

Herbarium Director: Dr. Martha A. CaseAssociate Professor of Biology

Herbarium Curator: Beth Chambers

Herbarium associates: Dr. Donna M. E. Ware, Director/Curator EmeritusDr. Stewart Ware, Professor EmeritusStaff of the VA Natural Heritage Program (DCR)The Virginia Native Plant SocietyOver 20 collectors & contributors

Major funding:

The College of William & MaryThe National Science Foundation

This 5 minute slide show will introduce you to herbaria and their function….

Then exit left to see our facility and an exhibit featuring…..

Virginia plants & student research

Clematis addisonii

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Asclepias tuberosa

Herbaria are repositories of dried and pressed plant specimens, archivally maintained in a “library of plants”

There are 3,382 herbaria worldwide, representing over 300 million specimens contained in herbaria

Herbarium specimens document where and when a plant grew

This allows us to understand the ecology and geographic ranges of species

• For example, the counties in VA whereCampanulastrum americanum has been found

Herbarium specimens also provide biological material for scientists to study such as:

• External form and structure

Herbarium specimens also provide biological material for scientists to study such as:

• Microscopic features like pollen

Herbarium specimens also provide biological material for scientists to study such as:

• Variation within a particular kind of plant

Herbarium specimens also provide biological material for scientists to study such as:

• Even DNA itself!

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions

• Have populations of American ginseng declined in the last 150 years?

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions

• Are exotic and destructive species spreading?

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions

• What species are found in the College Woods or other areas?

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions:

• Are these three goldenrods distinct species?

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions:

Solidago altissima Solidago juncea Solidago canadensis

• Yes!

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions

• How do you identify species?

• Which one is poison ivy?

Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of research questions

• This one, because of its → alternate leaves and 3 leaflets

box elder

Virginia creeper

Dr. Amanda Ingram“Flora of Greensprings”

1998

Over a hundred research students and herbarium associates have contributed over 30,000 specimens to the herbarium

Dr. Doug Soltis “Flora of the Davis Pond”

1974

Dr. Gretchen North “Flora of E. Middlesex Co.”

1983

Christopher Johnstone“Flora of Totuskey Creek”

2008

These specimens document species occurrences and provide material for other research projects

“The Flora of Virginia, with publication targeted for 2012, will describe more than 3,500 plant species in 200 families and feature 1,400 captioned, scaled, and botanically accurate illustrations”

Such as the Flora of Virginia Project

Your visit to the herbarium will show you more about:

• Specimen collecting & processing

• Student research projects

Cypripedium kentuckiense

Your visit to the herbarium will show you more about:

• Plant identification

Your visit to the herbarium will show you more about:

• And plants that can be found in our College Woods!

Your visit to the herbarium will show you more about:

Image credits:

• Botanical Society of America

• Illinois Natural History Survey (ILLS)

• Michael Clayton, Wisconsin State Herbarium (WIS)

• Robert Bebb Herbarium (OKL)

• University of Victoria herbarium (UVIC)

• VA Department of Conservation & Recreation

• Gary Flemming

• Hal Horwitz

• Keir Morse

• Phillip Merritt

• Troy Weldy

Funding Acknowledgements• The College of William & Mary

• National Science Foundation

• Virginia Native Plant Society

• Anonymous donors

Phlox nivalis

Please exit left into the herbarium

This five minute slide presentation will repeat in 1 minute.