Project Number: 1230-21000-050-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2010
End Date: Aug 31, 2014

Objective:
Investigate the taxonomy and characteristics of plant species grown as ornamentals in the Pacific Northwest, and provide herbarium resources for the National Arboretum, the University of Washington, and cooperating institutions to support and enhance future scientific study of the cultivated ornamental plants of this area.

Approach:
A collector or collectors employed by the University of Washington will prepare herbarium specimens from as many species as possible that are grown as ornamental plants in the region around Seattle and (if deemed desirable) elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest. For each species encountered in appropriate condition for herbarium collecting, one herbarium specimen will be collected for the National Arboretum herbarium, one specimen for the University of Washington Horticulture herbarium, and (when possible) up to four additional specimens to be used for exchange with the herbaria of other cooperating institutions. Data collected will include the location of the plant, the provenance of the germplasm (when known), significant characters that may not be permanently preserved with the specimen (such as growth form, odor, color of flowers and fruit). Brief notes may also be made of any evidence noted of spontaneous reproduction in the vicinity of the planting, of heavy damage that might be caused by disease, insects, or abiotic factors, and any other available data that may provide insight into the biology or ornamental value of the plants in the site. The University of Washington PI will identify an appropriate collector or collectors to carry out the collecting. The collector(s) will be trained in techniques for collecting herbarium specimens and supervised by the University of Washington PI. Unmounted herbarium specimens with the data recorded on appropriate, archival-quality labels will be supplied to the herbaria: one complete set to the University of Washington Herbarium, and one complete set plus exchange sets to the herbaium of the U.S. National Arbortum.