Releasing rare plant locality data

[DAVID C. TAYLOR]

I think that it should be desirable to generate a file or database of
rare or endangered plants and then match the file to the database and for
every 'hit' the spatial data is overwritten with a text notation such as
'See herbarium label' or 'No data'.  This then allows the dataset to be
made available to the web.  Those pursuing legitimate academic research
on these spp. are then forced to do their research the old fashioned way (-:.

David C. Taylor
Undergraduate, Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University
GIS Assistant, Texas Regional Institute for Environmental Studies
stddct at unx1.shsu.edu
http://www.shsu.edu/~stddct/

On Wed, 27 Nov 1996, Michael.Chamberland wrote:

> Herbarium collections contain precise locality data for rare plant
> species.  I am curious what sorts of policies herbaria have
> established for dealing with requests by the general public to
> access these specimens and/or this locality data.  In particular
> what appoach should be taken if the plants in question are species
> know to be desirable to collectors, such as species of Calypso,
> Cypripedium, Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Pediocactus, Sclerocactus,
> Lophophora, or Cannabis?  How is this dealt with when herbarium
> databases are available over the internet?
>
> Michael Chamberland
> Beal-Darlington Herbarium
> Michigan State University
>