bonap/mip

[Neil A. Harriman]

An anonymous reviewer for a journal suggested I get the known range for a
weedy species in eastern North America from the website
http://www.mip.berkeley.edu/bonap/checklist_intro.html.  I went there,
typed in the name of the plant, and got a fine distribution map and
statement of range.  The whole thing printed off easily.  This is just too
good.  My question is, how reliable are the data?  Have the compilers
actually seen and reliably identified vouchers for each state where they
say it occurs?  Shall I now begin citing this source as equivalent to a
literature citation?

I certainly do not mean to impugn the professional reputations of the
compilers; rather, I would like to know some background and receive some
assurances that I am on firm ground here.  Many thanks.


Neil A. Harriman
Biology Department
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901