# dots on maps

[Mark Mayfield]

Steven,

You and Neil are discussing two different endeavours, perhaps related but with
different scientific emphases.  For the most part, your flora is not possible
except on a very small scale and for a depauperate flora (like the bird fauna).
I don't think most would quibble about the correctness of identification of your
red maples.  You are right that to voucher that many red maple locations around
such a small area would create an unwanted set of vouchers and would impede the
progress of your interesting work.  On the other hand, if I'm reading a
taxonomic treatment, I want to know that alllll dots are vouchered at an
herbarium.

Mark Mayfield


----------
>From: Steven Clemants <steveclemants at BBG.ORG>
>To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>Subject: Re: # dots on maps
>Date: Thu, Nov 4, 1999, 8:13 AM
>

>
>
>My problems with vouchers/non-vouchers are based partly on Neil's comments
>about shot-guns but more importantly on several other thoughts.
>
>First.  In my studies of the flora around New York Metropolitan region I
>have accumulated about a 1000 recent records of Red Maple.  I know of no
>herbarium that would want 1000 specimens of red maple from NYC region.  I
>have, however, collected about 75 vouchers from throughout the region and
>they provide a basis checking the validity of the non-vouchered reports.
>