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Changes in phenology are a conspicuous fingerprint of climate change, leading to fears that phenological mismatches among interacting species will be a leading cause of population declines and extinction. We used quantile regression to analyze museum collection data and estimate changes in the phenological overlap of Baltimore checkerspot butterflies and 12 common nectar plant species over several decades in two geographic regions. We combined these museum data with field estimates of each species' flower density and nectar sugar production to estimate changes in resource availability caused by shifts in phenological overlap. Phenological overlap (measured as the proportion of plant flowering during the flight period of an average butterfly) decreased through time, primarily because the flowering period of nectar plants was longer, but the flight period of butterflies was shorter in recent years. Our study was also motivated by the hypothesis that phenological mismatches may be more severe in the southern region due to a midsummer dearth in floral resources, but this hypothesis was not supported by our data. Although phenological overlap was somewhat smaller in the southern region, changes in overlap through time were similar in both regions. When phenological overlap was weighted by nectar sugar production of different species, the overlap increased in the southern region but decreased in the northern region (the opposite of our prediction). Overall, nectar resources were much more abundant at study sites in our northern region than in our southern region, possibly due to differences in land management. Our study demonstrates the complexities of phenological mismatch of interacting species and highlights that phenological changes may have small impacts on population viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular studies have contributed to the taxonomy of carrageenan-producing Kappaphycus spp. and Eucheuma denticulatum. However, unresolved species complexes and the lack of standardization in the use of genetic markers impede the identification of specimens and the delineation of a robust taxonomic framework. Here, nine molecular markers (cox1, cox2–3 spacer, cox2, cox3, COB, ITS, psbA, UPA and rbcL) were used to generate a multilocus phylogeny for 113 fresh eucheumatoid samples and four herbarium specimens. Analyses of species delineation and genetic distances confirmed the monophyly of currently accepted taxa. These analyses suggest that clades previously reported as K. striatus KS1 and KS2 are conspecific, and that E. denticulatum EDA 'spinosum' and EDB 'endong/cacing' are also conspecific. The results also unveiled possible new taxa from Hawaii and Indonesia. Each molecular marker and combinations thereof were assessed with regard to species identification, ease of amplification and sequencing, and haplotype characterization. All genetic markers recorded at least 94% success in the amplification and sequencing of fresh specimens, with cox1 being the most phylogenetically informative. Automatic partitioning, phylogenetic and tree-based assessments showed cox1, cox2–3 spacer, cox2 and rbcL were able to correctly identify species while cox1+ rbcL, COB+rbcL, cox2+ rbcL or cox1+ COB+rbcL trees best represented the phylogeny with consistently high nodal support. Among individual markers, cox1 identified the greatest number of haplotypes, while UPA, partial rbcL (750 bp), ITS, cox3 and cox2–3 spacer were able to retrieve information from herbarium specimens of 12–16 years of age. These molecular results provide a basis for a database essential for the taxonomic framework, cultivar development and germplasm conservation of eucheumatoids. Highlights: Mitochondria cox1, cox2–3 spacer, cox2 and plastid rbcL can be used for species identification and cox1 for haplotype detection of eucheumatoids. cox1+rbcL, COB+rbcL, cox2+rbcL or cox1+COB+rbcL are the most cost-effective molecular markers for phylogenetic inference. The most comprehensive up to date multilocus phylogeny of Kappaphycus spp. and Eucheuma denticulatum is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Herbaria, as collections of preserved plants, contain large amounts of data both in the labels and the specimens themselves, which can be applied in different study fields. A literature review was conducted to discover how the uses of herbaria have evolved over time since records began. This analysis revealed insights into how herbaria are presently used. Uses include traditional taxonomic review, as well as advanced technological tools, which are being applied to herbaria material to address societal and global challenges and therefore contribute to decision‐making in conservation. Summary: Herbaria as collections of preserved plants contain large amounts of data and prominent information, both on the labels and on the specimens themselves. There are 400 million specimens preserved in herbaria worldwide, with great potential for studies in conservation and effects of global change on plants. (1) In this paper, we investigate the array of herbaria uses through a systematic review of the scientific literature in SCOPUS covering the period 1842–2022. (2) We reviewed a total of 2900 papers and classified them in different areas of knowledge, as well as the taxonomic level studied. (3) Our results show that taxonomic use is the most relevant over time. This taxonomic use, together with the use as primary source of plant diversity data, is essential for documenting, planning, and acting on the conservation of threatened plants. Furthermore, our results have shown that new and diverse uses have emerged since 1990, mostly related to ecological issues, as herbaria provide a historical record of plant diversity and distribution, as well as their ecological and evolutionary responses, allowing scientists to track changes over time. (4) This contributes to improve the knowledge of biodiversity and to increase the effectiveness of conservation strategies and policies, which are a priority to address on going global change. Therefore, our study shows the relevance and potential of herbaria in ecology, including new or forthcoming uses, which are different from the uses originally intended by collectors. Thus, their preservation is critical as the unique and exceptional record for the knowledge of changes in biodiversity over space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the effects of soil type on the concentrations of seven elements (calcium, potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc) in plants using x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and plant specimens collected from calcareous and ultramafic soil areas, and ‘general soils’ (other types of soil represented by Brown Forest soils and Andosols) of Japan. Compared with the plants from other types of soils, the means of these seven elements were lower in plants originating from ultramafic soils, especially in phosphorus. Plants from calcareous soil areas had high iron and zinc concentrations on average, but this tendency was biased by plants collected on Mt. Fujiwara, which had extremely high average values of these elements. Calcium concentration in plants had a negative correlation with zinc or iron from calcareous or general soils, respectively, and iron showed positive correlations with zinc, manganese, and sulfur in plants from calcareous, ultramafic, and general soils, respectively. These correlations were not found in plants from general soils, suggesting that these relationships reflect the chemical characteristics of soil types. On the contrary, plants from all soil types showed a positive correlation between sulfur and phosphorus, whereas a positive correlation between potassium and phosphorus was found in plants from calcareous and general soils, but not in ultramafic plants, which instead showed a weak, but statistically significant correlation between potassium and sulfur. Statistically, iron and sulfur concentrations were positively correlated in all soil types, but manganese showed a low correlation with the other elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf area varies within and between species, and previous work has linked this variation to environment and evolutionary history. However, many previous studies fail to examine both these factors and often are data‐limited.To address this, our study developed a new workflow using machine learning to automate the extraction of leaf area from herbarium collections of Australian eucalypts (Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia). This dataset included 136,599 measurements, expanding existing data on this taxon's leaf area by roughly 50‐fold. Our methods were validated using field standard metrics of accuracy, and comparisons to manual measurements both from the present study and existing datasets.With this dataset for the eucalypt clade, we observed positive relationships between leaf area and mean annual temperature and precipitation similar to those reported for the global flora. However, these relationships were not consistently observed within species, potentially due to gene flow suppressing local adaptation. When we examined these relationships at different phylogenetic levels, the slope of trait–climate associations within lineages converged towards the overall eucalypt slope at shallow phylogenetic scales (5–12 MY), suggesting that effects of gene flow relax just above the species level.The strengthening of trait–climate correlations at evolutionary scales just beyond the intraspecific level may represent a widespread phenomenon across various traits and taxa. Future studies can unveil these relationships with the larger sample sizes of new trait datasets generated through machine learning.Synthesis. Using machine learning, researchers are able to confirm current positive global relationships between leaf area and mean annual temperature and precipitation. Additionally, they were able to take this a step further and examine how it changes across time. Here they saw that at roughly 5–12 million years ago in the phylogenetic tree, the trait–climate slope begins to show significantly less variation. Overall, the study shows the potential of machine learning in ecology, with exciting new potential findings with its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Using herbarium specimens spanning 133 years and field-collected measurements, we assessed intraspecific trait (leaf structural and stomatal) variability from grass species in the Great Plains of North America. We focused on two widespread, closely related grasses from the tribe Paniceae: Dichanthelium oligosanthes subsp. scribnerianum (C3) and Panicum virgatum (C4). Thirty-one specimens per taxon were sampled from local herbaria from the years 1887 to 2013 to assess trait responses across time to changes in atmospheric [CO2] and growing season precipitation and temperature. In 2021 and 2022, the species were measured from eight grasslands sites to explore how traits vary spatially across natural continental precipitation and temperature gradients. Δ13C increased with atmospheric [CO2] for D. oligosanthes but decreased for P. virgatum , likely linked to increases in precipitation in the study region over the past century. Notably, this is the first record of decreasing Δ13C over time for a C4 species illustrating 13C linkages to climate. As atmospheric [CO2] increased, C:N increased and δ15N decreased for both species and %N decreased for D. oligosanthes. Across a large precipitation gradient, D. oligosanthes leaf traits were more responsive to changes in precipitation than those of P. virgatum. In contrast, only two traits of P. virgatum responded to increases in temperature across a gradient: specific leaf area (increase) and leaf dry matter content (decrease). The only shared significant trend between species was increased C:N with precipitation. Our work demonstrates that these closely related grass species with different photosynthetic pathways exhibited various trait responses across temporal and spatial scales, illustrating the key role of scale of inquiry for forecasting leaf trait responses to future environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: Understanding how plants respond to increasing atmospheric CO2 is crucial for predicting future climate interactions. However, the long-term effects of rising CO2 on plant physiology, especially in tropical regions, are not well known. To investigate this, we studied how a CO2 increase of about 95 ppm from 1927 to 2015 affected five tropical tree species in Fiji. We analysed historical leaf samples to measure the following two key traits: how efficiently the trees use water (intrinsic water-use efficiency) and the maximum rate of conductance through leaf pores (maximum stomatal conductance). Our results showed that the responses to rising CO2 varied significantly by species. Generally, the number of stomata on the leaves was more important than their size in determining the trees' response to higher CO2 levels. While photosynthesis is a major factor in improving the water-use efficiency, changes in stomatal conductance primarily drive this trend across different species. Trees that showed greater increases in the water-use efficiency also displayed a greater reduction in stomatal conductance. Overall, our study shows the importance of considering differences in the maximum stomatal conductance when predicting how different tree species will react to increasing CO2 levels. Understanding plant physiological response to a rising atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca) is key in predicting Earth system plant–climate feedbacks; however, the effects of long-term rising ca on plant gas-exchange characteristics in the tropics are largely unknown. Studying this long-term trend using herbarium records is challenging due to specimen trait variation. We assessed the impact of a ca rise of ~95 ppm (1927–2015) on the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and maximum stomatal conductance (gsmax) of five tropical tree species in Fiji using the isotopic composition and stomatal traits of herbarium leaves. Empirical results were compared with simulated values using models that uniquely incorporated the variation in the empirical gsmax responses and species-specific parameterisation. The magnitude of the empirical iWUE and gsmax response was species-specific, ranging from strong to negligible. Stomatal density was more influential than the pore size in determining the gsmax response to ca. While our simulation results indicated that photosynthesis is the main factor contributing to the iWUE gain, stomata were driving the iWUE trend across the tree species. Generally, a stronger increase in the iWUE was accompanied by a stronger decline in stomatal response. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of variation in the gsmax in simulations is necessary for assessing an individual species' iWUE response to changing ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As formal education is increasingly valued among rural and Indigenous communities, a common assumption is that local ecological knowledge may simultaneously become devalued or lost. To solve this, several scholars point out that using ethnobotanical knowledge to teach science can be a great way to engage students and help them learn scientific concepts in a more meaningful way and develop a deeper appreciation for their local environment and culture. Through a school herbarium project in three rural schools in western Mexico, students developed different activities, experiments, and applied ethnobotanical tools in order to learn about plant science. A total of 39 wild edible species were collected by students, from which they obtained information about their local name, seasonality, preparations, where they could be found and uses other than food. As the students developed the different activities of the school herbarium project, they not only shared their prior knowledge but were also able to expand that knowledge with scientific information and value into their own ethnobotanical knowledge by learning in accordance with cultural context. The use of ethnobotany as a tool to teach science proved to be a good way not just to learn scientific concepts in a contextualized way but also to revitalize the local ethnobotanical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Herbaria, as collections of preserved plants, contain large amounts of data both in the labels and the specimens themselves, which can be applied in different study fields. A literature review was conducted to discover how the uses of herbaria have evolved over time since records began. This analysis revealed insights into how herbaria are presently used. Uses include traditional taxonomic review, as well as advanced technological tools, which are being applied to herbaria material to address societal and global challenges and therefore contribute to decision‐making in conservation. Summary Herbaria as collections of preserved plants contain large amounts of data and prominent information, both on the labels and on the specimens themselves. There are 400 million specimens preserved in herbaria worldwide, with great potential for studies in conservation and effects of global change on plants. (1) In this paper, we investigate the array of herbaria uses through a systematic review of the scientific literature in SCOPUS covering the period 1842–2022. (2) We reviewed a total of 2900 papers and classified them in different areas of knowledge, as well as the taxonomic level studied. (3) Our results show that taxonomic use is the most relevant over time. This taxonomic use, together with the use as primary source of plant diversity data, is essential for documenting, planning, and acting on the conservation of threatened plants. Furthermore, our results have shown that new and diverse uses have emerged since 1990, mostly related to ecological issues, as herbaria provide a historical record of plant diversity and distribution, as well as their ecological and evolutionary responses, allowing scientists to track changes over time. (4) This contributes to improve the knowledge of biodiversity and to increase the effectiveness of conservation strategies and policies, which are a priority to address on going global change. Therefore, our study shows the relevance and potential of herbaria in ecology, including new or forthcoming uses, which are different from the uses originally intended by collectors. Thus, their preservation is critical as the unique and exceptional record for the knowledge of changes in biodiversity over space and time.

The plant species Sesbania tomentosa (‘ōhai; Fabaceae) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, federally listed as endangered in the USA and has been proposed for categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In 2021, c. 12,000 seeds from 12 seed lots collected during 1990–1992 from across the Hawaiian Islands were discovered in ambient herbarium conditions (55% relative humidity (RH) at 20 °C). International gene bank standards suggest drying seeds in equilibrium with 15% RH and stored at −18 °C. To investigate seed viability, we mechanically scarified then sowed 15 seeds from each accession at daily alternating regimes of 12 h light and 12 h dark at temperatures of 25/15 °C, respectively. Germination was observed after 7 days and ended after 34 days. Mean final germination was 88.9 ± SD 0.1% (range 73–100%). Each seed lot was accessioned into the National Tropical Botanical Garden's Seed Bank and Laboratory. In seeds with a water-impermeable seed coat (i.e. physical dormancy), such as S. tomentosa, seeds can desorb but not absorb water. Therefore, if the seeds were initially dried, although exposed to high RH for up to 32 years, seed equilibrium RH may have remained low, which may in part explain the observed high germinability. This study holds significance for managers who are working to conserve this endangered Hawaiian species and suggests that even suboptimal conditions may still yield highly viable seeds several decades into the future.

The plant species Sesbania tomentosa ('ōhai; Fabaceae) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, federally listed as endangered in the USA and has been proposed for categorization as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In 2021, c. 12,000 seeds from 12 seed lots collected during 1990–1992 from across the Hawaiian Islands were discovered in ambient herbarium conditions (55% relative humidity (RH) at 20 °C). International gene bank standards suggest drying seeds in equilibrium with 15% RH and stored at −18 °C. To investigate seed viability, we mechanically scarified then sowed 15 seeds from each accession at daily alternating regimes of 12 h light and 12 h dark at temperatures of 25/15 °C, respectively. Germination was observed after 7 days and ended after 34 days. Mean final germination was 88.9 ± SD 0.1% (range 73–100%). Each seed lot was accessioned into the National Tropical Botanical Garden's Seed Bank and Laboratory. In seeds with a water-impermeable seed coat (i.e. physical dormancy), such as S. tomentosa , seeds can desorb but not absorb water. Therefore, if the seeds were initially dried, although exposed to high RH for up to 32 years, seed equilibrium RH may have remained low, which may in part explain the observed high germinability. This study holds significance for managers who are working to conserve this endangered Hawaiian species and suggests that even suboptimal conditions may still yield highly viable seeds several decades into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungarium was collected by Jerzy Wojciech Szulczewski in the Wielkopolska region in Western Poland in 1909–1911, 1928, and 1960–1966 (nine volumes). It includes dried plant specimens with disease symptoms of fungal origin and is currently located in the POZ Herbarium (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland). It is one of the oldest and richest Polish collections of this category although some parts were destroyed or lost after the Second World War. Many of the sheets have original annotations by the author and hand-written labels with both plant and fungus names. A checklist of all species is presented in the appendix. The whole collection was digitized in 2023 and is available on the website of the AMUNATCOLL project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Leafless, heterotrophic plants are prime examples of organismal modification, the genomic consequences of which have received considerable interest. In particular, plastid genomes (plastomes) are being sequenced at a high rate, allowing continual refinement of conceptual models of reductive evolution in heterotrophs. However, numerous sampling gaps exist, hindering the ability to conduct comprehensive phylogenomic analyses in these plants. Methods: Using floral tissue from an herbarium specimen, we sequenced and analyzed the plastome of Degranvillea dermaptera, a rarely collected, leafless orchid species from South America about which little is known, including its phylogenetic affinities. Results: The plastome is the most reduced of those sequenced among the orchid subfamily Orchidoideae. In Degranvillea, it has lost the majority of genes found in leafy autotrophic species, is structurally rearranged, and has similar gene content to the most reduced plastomes among the orchids. We found strong evidence for the placement of Degranvillea within the subtribe Spiranthinae using models that explicitly account for heterotachy, or lineage‐specific evolutionary rate variation over time. We further found evidence of relaxed selection on several genes and of correlations among substitution rates and several other "traits" of the plastome among leafless members of orchid subfamily Orchidoideae. Conclusions: Our findings advance knowledge on the phylogenetic relationships and paths of plastid genome evolution among the orchids, which have experienced more independent transitions to heterotrophy than any other plant family. This study demonstrates the importance of herbarium collections in comparative genomics of poorly known species of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bonnetia is the most representative genus of the Pantepui woody flora and is among the groups with the greatest endemism in the local flora. The genus has 28 currently recognized species in tropical America, 26 of them endemic to the Pantepui. Here we describe Bonnetia ayangannensis from the summit of Mount Ayanganna tepui in Guyana, providing a morphological description, illustrations, distribution maps, characterization of micromorphology under scanning electron microscopy and leaf venation, comments comparing the new species with closely related species, and a key for the identification of the species of Bonnetia occurring in Guyana. With its restricted distribution threatened by climate change, Bonnetia ayangannensis is assessed in the conservation threat category of Critically Endangered. Its description raises the number of endemic species of Bonnetia in the Pantepui to 27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico generates specific phytosanitary regulations for each product and origin to prevent the entry of quarantine pests and/or delay their spread within the national territory, including fungi and oomycetes. Phytosanitary regulations are established based on available information on the presence or absence of these pathogens in the country; however, the compilation and precise analysis of reports is a challenging task due to many publications lacking scientific rigor in determining the presence of a taxon of phytosanitary interest in the country. This review evaluated various studies reporting the presence of plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes in Mexico and concluded that some lists of diseases and phytopathogenic organisms lack technical-scientific basis. Thus, it highlights the need and presents an excellent opportunity to establish a National Collection of Fungal Cultures and a National Herbarium for obligate parasites, as well as to generate a National Database of Phytopathogenic Fungi and Oomycetes present in Mexico, supported by the combination of morphological, molecular, epidemiological, pathogenicity, symptom, and micrograph data. If realized, this would have a direct impact on many future applications related to various topics, including quarantines, risk analysis, biodiversity studies, and monitoring of fungicide resistance, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kew Bulletin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Kew Bulletin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The biodiversity of Indonesia showed by the numerous of plant species, including one of the 89,326 species of spore plants. Along with the high diversity of various threat factors that will affect the status of a plant, knowledge about plants can be enhanced through conservation literacy using modern technology-based learning media, such as 3D modeling and augmented reality (AR) websites. AR acts as an interactive window that opens the view of conservation reality. The aim of this research is to produce a rare plant learning media product in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park that exists on the Malangensis Herbarium with the integration of 3D modeling websites. The method used is R&D, referring to the ADDIE model. The practicality test results obtained 91.54%, while the media effectiveness test showed with n-gain scores obtaining a result of 0.66 that media can improve conservation literacy skills in biology students of the State University of Malang. This research could provide a benchmark and literature for advanced media development on plant divisions other than Pteridophyte.

Improving the standards of collecting and maintaining valuable genetic resources accessions and information about them is currently of crucial importance for the successful development of the world viticulture in the light of the challenges caused by the spread of grape diseases and climate change. This review briefly characterizes the global grapevine gene pool, approaches to its conservation, including base and duplicate conservation techniques, and the current status and prospects of the progress in in vitro and cryogenic preservation methods. The genetic potential of grape wild relatives is assessed focusing on particular species as sources of resistance genes to biotic and abiotic stressors. Achievements in the application of gene editing technologies to increase grape resistance to diseases are discussed. It is noted that a common practice at this stage is to knock out the genes responsible for grapevine susceptibility to diseases, whereas a more advantageous approach in the future will be to make targeted changes in the grape genome based on the knowledge of resistance genes in its wild relatives. Therefore, grape wild relatives need to be studied thoroughly using modern methods of forward and reverse genetics. Regarding the issues of grape genetic diversity conservation and expansion at the current technological stage, the status and significance of the plant germplasm and herbarium (WIR) collections held by VIR are scrutinized in detail. Authentication of grape germplasm accessions is marked as important, along with the role of the WIR herbarium, a unique collection incorporating physical carriers of reference genetic information on the national grapevine gene pool. Promising trends in the development of the WIR herbarium are outlined in connection with the establishment and preservation of nomenclature standards for domestic grape cultivars.

The history of Xanthium genus research in a protected area in European Russia (Mordovia State Nature Reserve) has been reviewed based on available data (herbarium collections, publications, archive of Chronicles of Nature). We found that X. strumarium was the only species, which has been mentioned in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve since 1939. However, the overview of available data allowed us to conclude that all Xanthium plants found in this protected area to date belong to Xanthium orientale, an invasive alien species.

Societal Impact Statement Given the current unprecedented concerns for global biodiversity loss, it is critical to identify best practices for describing new species more efficiently so we can complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora and implement appropriate conservation strategies in a timely manner. This study aims to answer the question of how long it takes to describe a new species of tree in the Neotropics by calculating the time elapsed from collection of the first specimen to the publication of a new species. It demonstrates that enhancing international collaboration and promoting taxonomy training may be the most efficient ways to accelerate species descriptions. Summary One of the main aspects of taxonomic research is the description of new species. Identifying how to describe new species more efficiently is key to completing the inventory of the Neotropical flora in an era of massive biodiversity loss. Here, we calculate the interval between first specimen collection and publication of new species for a group of 2123 Neotropical trees, and discuss the historical context surrounding specimen collection and new species publication events. Our results reveal that on average, it takes almost 16 years from specimen collection to publication of a new Neotropical tree species, which is considerably shorter than previous estimates for other tropical groups. Peru had the longest average time lags by country, while Haiti had the shortest. The average time lags increased until the early 1900s, when a decrease was observed, with the shortest lags between 1941 and 1960. We found that the majority of the species described more rapidly are from plants collected by a field botanist and described by a herbarium‐based researcher as part of ad hoc collaboration, and the ones collected and described by the same researcher. We demonstrate how political instability and conflict can delay or impede the completion of taxonomic research initiatives in the region. We argue that enhancing international collaboration and training opportunities in Latin American countries, as well as ensuring safe plant collection campaigns, are critical to complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora.

Human activities have led to a substantial loss of biodiversity, with terrestrial ecosystems experiencing over a 20% average reduction. Conservation priorities are crucial, but data on species, threats, and protection are limited, especially in tropical countries like India. Open biodiversity data, facilitated by platforms like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), are a powerful tool for addressing these challenges. This paper describes two datasets (for a total of more than 50,000 plant occurrences), primarily from the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site and biodiversity hotspot. The two datasets could play a pivotal role in supporting conservation policies, since they provide valuable insights into the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

Summary: Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (CO2) and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition have contrasting effects on ectomycorrhizal (EM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbioses, potentially mediating forest responses to environmental change.In this study, we evaluated the cumulative effects of historical environmental change on N concentrations and δ15N values in AM plants, EM plants, EM fungi, and saprotrophic fungi using herbarium specimens collected in Minnesota, USA from 1871 to 2016. To better understand mycorrhizal mediation of foliar δ15N, we also analyzed a subset of previously published foliar δ15N values from across the United States to parse the effects of N deposition and CO2 rise.Over the last century in Minnesota, N concentrations declined among all groups except saprotrophic fungi. δ15N also declined among all groups of plants and fungi; however, foliar δ15N declined less in EM plants than in AM plants. In the analysis of previously published foliar δ15N values, this slope difference between EM and AM plants was better explained by nitrogen deposition than by CO2 rise.Mycorrhizal type did not explain trajectories of plant N concentrations. Instead, plants and EM fungi exhibited similar declines in N concentrations, consistent with declining forest N status despite moderate levels of N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioecy has evolved many times independently within the angiosperms. The distribution, frequency of occurrence, and floral morphology of dioecious angiosperms constitute the foundations for comparative studies of dioecy, yet for many groups they are still poorly characterized. We assessed species of Miconia for the presence of a dioecious reproductive system, characterized the floral morphology for staminate and pistillate flowers, and used herbarium records to analyze patterns of distribution and elevational range. We find that dioecious Miconia represent an uncommon case of a mismatched stage of organ abortion between staminate and pistillate flowers, with functionally pistillate flower morphology being largely consistent across species and morphological expression in functionally staminate flowers varying from near-absent gynoecia to slight reductions in gynoecia. We identify 60 dioecious species and 15 putatively dioecious species within Miconia that are distributed primarily in montane habitats between 1000 and 3500 m in the Andes, parts of Central America, and the Caribbean. Our results double the last known count of dioecy in Miconia and highlight the gradient of vestigial morphology in staminate flowers. Last, we provide discussion on the significance of dioecy in relation to floral development, pollination, and ecology in Miconia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing climate change is likely to put increased selection pressures on the phenology of plants, yet for many species their abilities to respond to environmental cues are unknown. The present research focuses on using herbarium specimens to examine how 14 native plant species in Alberta have adjusted or adapted to changes in temperature and precipitation over the past century. We specifically investigate the impact of flowering-time responses and determine (1) whether herbaria collections contain sufficient evidence of these phenological responses to climate in plant species in Alberta, and (2) whether the responses are dependent on the typical moisture regime of their habitat. We compared plants from mesic and xeric habitats in terms of their phenological responses to air temperature and precipitation. In this study, the taxonomic relationships between the species were considered by selecting 14 species representing seven different angiosperm orders (one pair of species for each order). By collating data on the peak flowering date over the past century using preserved specimens, we found that on average, species from xeric habitats are more responsive to temperature, but not precipitation. This tendency might be explained by the thermal properties of mesic habitats, a finding that may lead to ways to predict the degree to which environmental cues will govern flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can archaeobotanical material be treated as a nomenclatural type of a fossil taxon? Here we show that archaeobotanical taxa should be named according to the rules for non‐fossil taxa. Examples of archaeobotanical taxa are summarized and discussed. A best‐practice guide for the correct treatment of archaeological plant remains as the type of a new name is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, set within an art–science collaborative framework, exposes a multidisciplinary research platform aimed at identifying new relationships with hops (Humulus lupulus), its harvest, and local memory. It presents an ecological and ethnobotanical study of the plant, from its natural habitat to its past/present cultivation, its traditional uses, and possible applications in pharmacy and cosmetics. It offers a qualitative study with an ethnographic approach to participant observation, using techniques such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and life stories. Finally, it brings forth a process of material experimentation from the arts, based on rethinking waste systems to create new biomaterials with manifold future applications. The results from this hybrid methodology show the multiple possibilities that the plant offers beyond its cultivation for the brewing industry. Likewise, it shows how spaces, relationships, and dialogues have been generated with wide repercussions on a local and planetary scale, related to the sustainability of the rural world and territorial cohesion, all of which are intrinsic to emergent agrarian practices. The conclusions show a complex scenario that demands a hybrid response to understand the paradoxes to which the plant is subjected and the uncertain future of agrarian culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Given the current unprecedented concerns for global biodiversity loss, it is critical to identify best practices for describing new species more efficiently so we can complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora and implement appropriate conservation strategies in a timely manner. This study aims to answer the question of how long it takes to describe a new species of tree in the Neotropics by calculating the time elapsed from collection of the first specimen to the publication of a new species. It demonstrates that enhancing international collaboration and promoting taxonomy training may be the most efficient ways to accelerate species descriptions. Summary: One of the main aspects of taxonomic research is the description of new species. Identifying how to describe new species more efficiently is key to completing the inventory of the Neotropical flora in an era of massive biodiversity loss.Here, we calculate the interval between first specimen collection and publication of new species for a group of 2123 Neotropical trees, and discuss the historical context surrounding specimen collection and new species publication events.Our results reveal that on average, it takes almost 16 years from specimen collection to publication of a new Neotropical tree species, which is considerably shorter than previous estimates for other tropical groups. Peru had the longest average time lags by country, while Haiti had the shortest. The average time lags increased until the early 1900s, when a decrease was observed, with the shortest lags between 1941 and 1960.We found that the majority of the species described more rapidly are from plants collected by a field botanist and described by a herbarium‐based researcher as part of ad hoc collaboration, and the ones collected and described by the same researcher. We demonstrate how political instability and conflict can delay or impede the completion of taxonomic research initiatives in the region. We argue that enhancing international collaboration and training opportunities in Latin American countries, as well as ensuring safe plant collection campaigns, are critical to complete the inventory of the Neotropical flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wide amount of scientific contributions published on alien plant species, their diffusion dynamics, and their interactions with native taxa, it is increasingly difficult to slow down their spreading and their negative impact on habitats. Last recent years, in fact, a sharp rise in the number of new alien plant taxa introduced in Italy and Europe has been recorded. The aim of this work is to investigate most of the Italian territory in order to verify whether this alarming trend is still underway. Specimen collections and/or observations of alien plants have been performed in as many as 12 Italian regions. All the collected specimens are stored in public or private herbaria. Taxa have been identified according to the literature from the countries of origin of the investigated taxa, while the nomenclature followed the current international references. Updates on 106 taxa are reported. In particular, among 117 new records, 89 are first records, 27 are changes to status and there is 1 extinction. Seven new taxa for Italian alien flora are reported, two of which are new to Europe. The administrative regions with the highest number of records are Calabria (48), Sardegna (17) and Sicilia (15). Five of the surveyed taxa, for the first time, have been considered invasive aliens to Italian territory. The unfrequent amount of original results provided by this work, over the simple importance of data itself, proves how floristic investigation, still today, represents one of the most effective tools in broadening the current knowledge about alien taxa and their dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cheadle Center at UCSB manages the North Campus Open Space (NCOS), which is a project that has restored 136 acres of upland and wetland habitats that existed before the area was converted into the Ocean Meadows Golf Course in the 1960s. The NCOS restoration project began in 2017 with a fine-scale grading of the site in order to recreate the salt marsh and use the excavated soil to rebuild the upland habitats to the southwest, which are now called the NCOS Mesa. In addition to re-establishing native biodiversity, a key goal of the restoration is to utilize the site as an educational, scientific, and recreational resource. This archived version of the September 2022 newsletter includes updates on irrigation removal, self-guided walking tours, pollinators visiting the native wildflowers, an annual tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) survey, camera trap wildlife sightings at Whittier Pond, and the next phase of the NCOS project. The feature story focuses on efforts to catalogue the plants of NCOS as herbarium specimens. Community photos include Wilson’s and Orange-crowned Warblers (Cardellina pusilla and Leiothlypis celata), Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), and Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeshna multicolor).

Abstract Background Herbaria are becoming increasingly important as archives of biodiversity, and play a central role in taxonomic and biogeographic studies. There is also an ongoing interest in functional traits and the way they mediate interactions between a plant species and its environment. Herbarium specimens allow tracking trait values over time, and thus, capturing consequences of anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication. Here, we present an open, reproducible, non-destructive workflow to collect leaf trait data from herbarium specimens using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and a proof of concept for the reliability of this approach. Results We carried out three experiments to test the suitability of non-destructive NIRS methods to predict leaf traits both for fresh and dried leaves: (1) With a fertilization experiment, we studied whether NIRS was able to capture changes in leaf N and leaf P during a fertilization experiment and we compared contents predicted by NIRS with results obtained from regular wet lab methods. Calibration models for leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents had a quality of R2 = 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. We fitted calibration models for NIRS readings on fresh and dried leaf samples, both of which produced equally precise predictions compared to results from wet lab analyses. (2) We tested the effect of herbarium conservation on NIRS readings by simulating them through the application of six treatments combining freezing, drying and pesticide spraying in a factorial scheme and comparing these with untreated samples. No consistent changes were observed in the spectra quality before and after the simulated herbarium conditions. (3) Finally, we studied the effect of specimen storage duration using specimens from a 2018 study which were re-analyzed and compared with spectra obtained in 2021. No consistent changes in spectra were observed after the storage period. Conclusions The results demonstrate the reliability of NIRS to measure leaf N and P on herbarium samples. Together with the calibration method and dataset presented here, they provide a toolset allowing researchers to study the development of leaf traits and their response to environmental changes over decades and even centuries in a fast and non-destructive manner.

Pembelajaran ilmu pengetahuan alam masih banyak yang menggunakan metode satu arah. Pengajar masih belum banyak menggunakan metode yang bervariasi. Selain itu, penggunaan media juga sangat diperlukan dalam pembelajaran yang melibatkan aktivitas siswa dan menarik serta menyenangkan siswa sehingga siswa akan memperoleh kemampuan yang baik. Oleh karena itu, solusinya pendidik dan peserta didik di lapangan harus dapat mengembangkan kegiatan salah satunya dengan pembuatan herbarium serta identifikasinya, maka tujuan pembelajaran akan tercapai dengan sempurna. Metode pelaksanaan dalam pelatihan ini adalah dengan survei, pendekatan kepada mitra yang dituju, melaksanakan pelatihan dan evaluasi. Hasil kuesioner yang disimpulkan adalah 100% peserta pelatihan menyatakan kegiatan pelatihan ini sangat bermanfaat bermanfaat karena dapat mengetahui cara membuatnya sehingga membuat tertarik peserta pelatihan untuk membuatnya sendiri.

Understanding plant physiological response to a rising atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca) is key in predicting Earth system plant–climate feedbacks; however, the effects of long-term rising ca on plant gas-exchange characteristics in the tropics are largely unknown. Studying this long-term trend using herbarium records is challenging due to specimen trait variation. We assessed the impact of a ca rise of ~95 ppm (1927–2015) on the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) and maximum stomatal conductance (gsmax) of five tropical tree species in Fiji using the isotopic composition and stomatal traits of herbarium leaves. Empirical results were compared with simulated values using models that uniquely incorporated the variation in the empirical gsmax responses and species-specific parameterisation. The magnitude of the empirical iWUE and gsmax response was species-specific, ranging from strong to negligible. Stomatal density was more influential than the pore size in determining the gsmax response to ca. While our simulation results indicated that photosynthesis is the main factor contributing to the iWUE gain, stomata were driving the iWUE trend across the tree species. Generally, a stronger increase in the iWUE was accompanied by a stronger decline in stomatal response. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of variation in the gsmax in simulations is necessary for assessing an individual species’ iWUE response to changing ca.

Background: Herbaria are becoming increasingly important as archives of biodiversity, and play a central role in taxonomic and biogeographic studies. There is also an ongoing interest in functional traits and the way they mediate interactions between a plant species and its environment. Herbarium specimens allow tracking trait values over time, and thus, capturing consequences of anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication. Here, we present an open, reproducible, non-destructive workflow to collect leaf trait data from herbarium specimens using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and a proof of concept for the reliability of this approach. Results: We carried out three experiments to test the suitability of non-destructive NIRS methods to predict leaf traits both for fresh and dried leaves: (1) With a fertilization experiment, we studied whether NIRS was able to capture changes in leaf N and leaf P during a fertilization experiment and we compared contents predicted by NIRS with results obtained from regular wet lab methods. Calibration models for leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents had a quality of R2 = 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. We fitted calibration models for NIRS readings on fresh and dried leaf samples, both of which produced equally precise predictions compared to results from wet lab analyses. (2) We tested the effect of herbarium conservation on NIRS readings by simulating them through the application of six treatments combining freezing, drying and pesticide spraying in a factorial scheme and comparing these with untreated samples. No consistent changes were observed in the spectra quality before and after the simulated herbarium conditions. (3) Finally, we studied the effect of specimen storage duration using specimens from a 2018 study which were re-analyzed and compared with spectra obtained in 2021. No consistent changes in spectra were observed after the storage period. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the reliability of NIRS to measure leaf N and P on herbarium samples. Together with the calibration method and dataset presented here, they provide a toolset allowing researchers to study the development of leaf traits and their response to environmental changes over decades and even centuries in a fast and non-destructive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WA Herbarium at the University of Warsaw houses a collection of plants created in 1717 by Matthew Ernest Boretius. They were gathered in former East Prussia, near Angerburg, now Węgorzewo (Poland). It is the oldest plant collection from this part of Europe. Boretius compiled the herbarium as a collection of all the surrounding plants, but their folk names (Polish and German) recorded in the herbarium confirm the ethnobiological or ethnopharmaceutical importance of some species. We identified bryophyte species and checked the accuracy of their original identifications recorded in the herbarium. We provided their Latin (scientific, pre-Linnaean) nomenclature together with German and Polish vernacular names. We contextualised this information within the history of the medicinal use of bryophytes around 1717, when the plant collection was created. We also investigated whether the specimens could have come from Northeastern Poland. Mosses and liverworts from the herbarium were identified nomenclaturally (by means of their original scientific polynomial names written on herbarium sheets) and taxonomically. The herbarium holds two species and one subspecies of liverwort and 27 species and one variety of moss. The accuracy of the original identifications was assessed, with a particular focus on the species considered medicinal at the time. We found that bryophytes were poorly known in the time of Boretius, which was the last period in bryology before the introduction of magnifying devices into this science (this crucial step was made by Dillenius in 1741). The vernacular names used in the herbarium were recorded for Marchantia polymorpha and Polytrichum commune—the only two species with confirmed medicinal use by the year 1717. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two different typologies of legal/contractual information in the context of natural history objects: the Biodiversity Permit/Contract Typology categorises permits and contracts, and the Typology of Legal/Contractual Terms for Biodiversity Specimens categorises the terms within permits and contracts. The Typologies have been developed under the EU-funded SYNTHESYS+ project with the participation of experts from outside the consortium. The document further addresses a possible technical integration of these typologies into the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo). The implementation in the DiSSCo data model is outlined and a concrete use case is presented to show how conditions, e.g. the Typology of Legal/Contractual Terms, can be introduced into the DiSSCo Electronic Loans and Visits System (ElViS). Finally, we give an outlook on the next steps to develop the typologies into a standard that supports compliance with legal and contractual obligations within the wider community of natural science collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the distribution of medicinal plants has a special weight in many preliminary analyses, places where it is possible to dominate and have a larger population to know is very important. Particularly if the resource base of the raw plant material is to be identified. Many literature sources give inaccurate habitat data, or give too large an area, which makes it very difficult to determine where the population is concentrated, i.e. the predominant population of the plant in question. The Asian genus Ajania includes about 43 species, depending on the authors, with a large number of representatives in China and Japan, as well as native to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Northern India, Russia and Tajikistan. Ajania fastigiata (C.Winkl.) Poljakov is a promising medicinal plant, which is undemanding and does not require special conditions of growth, thereby excluding the possibility of deterioration of the population during the collection of plant raw materials. The aim of the work is to identify the exact distribution of the studied species by means of actual herbarium specimens. As a result, a map of the studied species' habitats is drawn and the concentration of habitats where the species is most common is seen. According to our data the studied species is often found in the southern part of Almaty city and goes well up to Terskey Alatau, as well as in the north-eastern part of Dzungarian Alatau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biomonitoring studies are often employed to track airborne pollutants both in outdoor and indoor environments. In this study, the mercury (Hg) sorption by three biomonitors, i.e., Pinus nigra bark, Pseudovernia furfuracea lichen, and Hypnum cupressiforme moss, was investigated in controlled (indoor) conditions. In comparison to outdoor environments, controlled conditions offer the opportunity to investigate more in detail the variables (humidity, temperature, pollutants speciation, etc.) that control Hg uptake. The biomonitors were exposed in two distinct periods of the year for 2 and 12 months respectively, in the halls of the Central Italian Herbarium (Natural History Museum of the University of Florence, Italy), which are polluted by Hg, due to past plant sample treatments. The Hg sorption trend was monitored every 3 weeks by recording: (i) the Hg content in the substrata, (ii) gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations in the exposition halls, (iii) temperature, (iv) humidity, and (v) particulate matter (PM) concentrations. At the end of the experiment, Hg concentrations in the biomonitors range from 1130 ± 201 to 293 ± 45 μg kg−1 (max–min) in barks, from 3470 ± 571 to 648 ± 40 μg kg−1 in lichens, and from 3052 ± 483 to 750 ± 127 μg kg−1 in mosses. All the biomonitors showed the highest Hg accumulation after the first 3 weeks of exposure. Mercury concentrations increased over time showing a continuous accumulation during the experiments. The biomonitors demonstrated different Hg accumulation trends in response to GEM concentrations and to the different climatic conditions (temperature and humidity) of the Herbarium halls. Barks strictly reflected the gaseous Hg pollution, while lichen and moss accumulation was also influenced by the climatic conditions of the indoor environment. Mercury bound to PM seemed to provide a negligible contribution to the biomonitors final uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of macroalgal species within the Laurencia complex is challenging, due to the presence of inconspicuous morphological characters, extensive variation in these traits and a diverse biogeography. Moreover, for a number of these species, no DNA sequence data are available in online databases. For this study, five algal specimens, tentatively assigned to Laurencia, were collected from Malta in the central Mediterranean Sea and studied using an integrative systematics approach. An analysis of the data resulted in the description of a new species, Laurencia mediterranea using combined morphological and molecular criteria, including COI-5P and rbcL. Morphologically L. mediterranea sp. nov. was distinct from other Laurencia spp. in the type of holdfast, the colour and shape of the thallus, the presence of secondary pit connections, lenticular thickenings and 'corps en cerise'. Moreover, a new genetic species cluster indicated a separate taxon at the species level. Our study demonstrates that genetic sequences having clear links to sample metadata and digital herbaria are indispensable for macroalgal biodiversity research. This approach could offer a solution for algal taxonomy in cases where biogeography is important and limited sequence data exist in online DNA libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having recently published a book on herbaria, collections of preserved plants, I look back on my career teaching biology and the experiences that led me to the world of dried plants. My first job was teaching non-science majors, to which I devoted 45 years. Over that time, I worked to make biological inquiry as fascinating to my students as it was to me. I found that the private side of science, how science is actually done, was a good entry point with stories about the wrong turns, difficulties, and joys of research. This led me to biographies and essays by biologists, works on the philosophy and history of science, and interest in the relationship between science and art. Eventually these avenues brought me to the aesthetics of biology and then to botanical art and finally to where these streams seemed to come together in herbaria. I literally fell in love with them. Specimens contain a rich history of people and places, of exploration, colonization, exploitation, and the development of modern botany. Herbaria today are key to documenting and conserving the earth’s biodiversity and tracing how climate change is shaping it. Through digitization, herbaria are an essential component of bioinformatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbarium specimen digitization and transcription initiatives have led to revitalized use of plant collections making them more accessible than ever. Most digitization is done by producing 2D images of herbarium sheets; however, herbaria also include 3D collections such as fungi, mosses, and dry fruits, among others. Here we present a 3D digitization protocol developed at the Marshall University Herbarium (MUHW) using free photogrammetry software. We tested four freely available software applications, Meshroom, 3DF Zephyr Free, ColMap, and Regard3D on five types of 3D specimens, fungi, a moss, a lichen, a pinecone, and a compound fruit. Using 40-50 images and equipment already available in our herbarium such as a camera and light box, we produced 3D images in less than one hour per specimen. From the four applications tested, 3DF Zephyr Free gave the best results across the different specimens. Specimens that are bilaterally symmetrical or asymmetrical, such as fungi and compound fruit yielded detailed 3D images. Radially symmetrical specimens or specimens with repetitive patterns, such as the pinecone, moss, and lichen, resulted in poor or incomplete 3D images, which indicates that this workflow may be best suited for objects with differentiation in surfaces. Our workflow provides an effective, low-cost method of producing 3D images of 3D herbarium specimens that can be easily implemented in other herbaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kew Bulletin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Sabuco Revista de Estudios Albacetenses is the property of Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Morphology, hosts, and collecting sites of fungi assessed from herbarium material of special interest deserve to be brought to the attention of mycologists. Results Specimens of Lopadostoma and Oligostoma deposited at ZT are briefly described and listed to expand the knowledge about their distribution. Three yet unmentioned Rosellinia collections are reported. One could be identified as R. mastoidiformis, a second as R. neblina; both are known only from the type collections. The third one seems to be a yet undescribed taxon and is formally described as R. schueppii. Conclusions These observations emphasize the importance of keeping fungal collections and highlight the importance of field work and contributions by early mycologists.

Societal Impact Statement Herbaria are important tools in botanical documentation for verifying species distribution and past occurrence. In addition to their scientific value, some herbaria, especially those collected by iconic historic figures such as the radical socialist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg, can increase public interest in plant diversity and conservation by building a positive narrative with plants. Throughout her life, R. Luxemburg remained passionate for botany and started collecting plants in 1913 until her assassination in 1919, amassing a private herbarium that she cherished. This unique collection, which was thought to be lost, has since been rediscovered and is currently deposited in the Archive of Modern Records in Warsaw, Poland.

Societal Impact Statement Primary occurrence data (‘what, where, when’) enable study of species distribution and diversity, facilitating reactions to societal challenges from food security to climate change mitigation. Scientific names integrate information and are made concrete through reference to a type specimen. Research and conservation planning requires timely open access to this data. Around 2000 vascular plant species are described each year, and many are narrowly endemic and face conservation threats. Twenty‐four percent of those published between 2012 and 2021 is available openly, and only 12% of taxa is represented by digitised type material served from within their native range. We make several recommendations to increase open access to this vital information to support prompt conservation action and future research. Summary We review access to literature and type specimens, key resources for taxonomic research. Takeup of open access (OA) publishing in plant naming is analysed using the International Plant Names Index (IPNI) data (2012–2021), and online availability of specimens analysed using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Integration of the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) taxonomy and distributional data is used to examine regional variation. We found that 23% of vascular plant names are published OA, and 41% are digitally undiscoverable: contained in bibliographic works without a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or with an unresolvable DOI. The most common OA publishing model used is ‘gold’. We also found that 30% of taxa are represented by a digitised type specimen mobilised from within the continent of their natural range and only 12% from the (more precise) country. We recommend clear article processing charge (APC) waivers for authors from low and middle income countries to better enable ‘gold’ OA and promotion of deposition repositories to better enable ‘green’ OA. Nomenclators should clearly indicate the OA status of literature and mobilise type citation data as material citations to aggregators like GBIF. Names registration systems should promote the capture of code‐recommended elements such as catalogue numbers for type specimens. Digital mobilisation of specimen metadata and images from collections based in low‐ and middle‐income countries must be accelerated to help increase in country taxonomic capacity to document and conserve plant diversity.

Our herbarium inventory revealed that the collection of specimens of the genus Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the memorial collection of W.S.J.G. Besser (KW-BESS) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW) contains at least 1186 herbarium sheets. The collection of specimens of Artemisia is stored in folders Nos. 234–249 of the Besser herbarium. Each folder contains individual paper folders (here termed taxon covers). In total, there are 217 individual taxon folders. Our analysis of protologues and herbarium labels demonstrated that the KW-BESS collection contains types and/or other original specimens in 118 taxon folders, but much more actual types of species-rank and infraspecific names. Additional analysis of their possible type status is needed for specimens in 28 taxon folders. The KW-BESS collection contains authentic and historical specimens of such famous researchers and collectors of the 19th century as A. Bunge, L.K.A. Chamisso, A.P. de Candolle, D. Douglas, J.F.G. Eschscholtz, F.E.L. Fischer, J.É. Gay, A. Gray, J.D. Hooker, V.V. Jacquemont, G.S. Karelin and I.P. Kirilov, K.F. Ledebour, A.F. Marschall von Bieberstein, C.A. Meyer, T. Nuttall, J.D. Prescott, Ch. Steven, N.S. Turczaninow, N. Wallich, etc. We present and discuss here some examples of labels written by Besser and several other famous botanists. Our preliminary assessment of this globally important collection established the foundations for further nomenclatural and taxonomic studies of Artemisia, in particular, those based on historical specimens at KW.