Collection Numbers

[Curtis Clark]

At 11:24 AM 5/24/99 -0400, Susan B. Farmer wrote:
>The collection number on the label is the number that the individual
>(or group) collector assigns to that specimin.

The collection number is assigned to the *collection*, which may consist of
one or more individual specimens. For plants, at least, this is an
important distinction. Duplicate specimens are often sent to several
herbaria, each to receive its own accession or database number. The
collection number is often the most reliable way (and sometimes the only
way) to cross-reference these.


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