Welcome alumni and friends!

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Welcome alumni and friends!
To the new William Mary Herbarium
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This 5 minute slide show will introduce you to
herbaria and their function.
Then exit left to see our facility and an exhibit
featuring..
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Virginia plants student research
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Herbaria are repositories of dried and pressed
plant specimens, archivally maintained in a
library of plants
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There are 3,382 herbaria worldwide, representing
over 300 million specimens contained in herbaria
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Herbarium specimens document where and when a
plant grew
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This allows us to understand the ecology and
geographic ranges of species
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Herbarium specimens also provide biological
material for scientists to study such as
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Herbarium specimens also provide biological
material for scientists to study such as

• Microscopic features like pollen

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Herbarium specimens also provide biological
material for scientists to study such as

• Variation within a particular kind of plant

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Herbarium specimens also provide biological
material for scientists to study such as

• Even DNA itself!

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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions
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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• Are exotic and destructive species spreading?

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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• What species are found in the College Woods or
  other areas?

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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• Are these three goldenrods distinct species?

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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• Yes!

Solidago altissima
Solidago canadensis
Solidago juncea
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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• How do you identify species?

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Herbaria are a vital resource for many kinds of
research questions

• This one, because of its ? alternate leaves and
  3 leaflets

box elder
Virginia creeper
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Over a hundred research students and herbarium
associates have contributed over 30,000 specimens
to the herbarium
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These specimens document species occurrences and
provide material for other research projects
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Your visit to the herbarium will show you more
about
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Your visit to the herbarium will show you more
about

• Student research projects

Cypripedium kentuckiense
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Your visit to the herbarium will show you more
about

• Plant identification

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Your visit to the herbarium will show you more
about

• And plants that can be found in our College
  Woods!

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• Funding Acknowledgements
• The College of William Mary
• National Science Foundation
• Virginia Native Plant Society
• Anonymous donors

• Image credits
• Botanical Society of America
• Illinois Natural History Survey (ILLS)
• Michael Clayton, Wisconsin State Herbarium
  (WIS)
• Robert Bebb Herbarium (OKL)
• University of Victoria herbarium (UVIC)
• VA Department of Conservation Recreation
• Gary Flemming
• Hal Horwitz
• Keir Morse
• Phillip Merritt
• Troy Weldy

Phlox nivalis
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Please exit left into the herbarium
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This five minute slide presentation will repeat
in 1 minute.