Notes From Nature Talk

Herbarium: 9 fields not 10 - is it deliberate?

  • nosenabook by nosenabook

    First, thanks for the fixes!

    When I was working this morning I saw only nine fields where I am used to ten. The scientific reference field was gone, the one where I most often type (L).

    I'd enjoy hearing why it was removed, if it was.

    Posted

  • robgur by robgur scientist, admin

    Hi yes, we did remove this field. After looking at preliminary transcription results, we decided this field was likely to be more hassle to collect and interpret than it was worth both for you, the transcribers and for the herbarium data providers. In the botanical taxonomic literature, one can retrieve the authority if one has the species name in almost all cases. Given this, we decided to remove this particular field to speed up the transcribing process a bit. Hope this make sense!

    Posted

  • nosenabook by nosenabook

    It is faster, except for that first one where I typed in the information without checking! That was the very definition of flummoxed!

    Do you mind telling me what L. stands for? Is it the oldest reference, or something like "lore"?

    Posted

  • Mr._Kevvy by Mr._Kevvy

    L. is shorthand for Carl Linnaeus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus
    The other common one is Michx. for André Michaux: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Michaux

    Posted

  • robgur by robgur scientist, admin in response to Mr. Kevvy's comment.

    Linnaeus even has a birthday tomorrow!

    Posted

  • Mr._Kevvy by Mr._Kevvy

    Botany presents for him?

    <>

    Posted

  • nosenabook by nosenabook

    Yes, I can see how it is Linnaeus who gets the single initial. 😃

    Posted

  • SandersClan by SandersClan

    I know where we can get lots of plant specimens for him.

    Posted

  • xairbusdriver by xairbusdriver

    I made the same mistaken entry of the Scientific Author in the new/old fourth field! :b Wasn't until I got to the second specimen that I noticed the change!

    If you are still interested in the full names of 99% of those Botanists, this site has a great list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_botanists_by_author_abbreviation#A

    Posted