PLSC 630

COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AND CURATION PROJECT

Spring 2001

          This small scale project will provide students with realistic experience in the identification and maintenance of plant collections in public gardens.  Students will work in teams of three to identify, accession (or update the accession records), collect data and label an assigned area of the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens.  Students must use appropriate reference to verify the identity of the plants, accumulate the information for the accession record (what is the valid name of the plant, who is the authority, where was the plant obtained, when was the plan obtained, what is the accession number, where is the plant located in the garden, etc.), and verify the accession and display labels (or make them if they are lacking).  Students will use BG-Base to make/update the accession records and BG Map to locate the plant in the garden if it has not been already mapped.  This will provide students experience with a widely used computer based accession system.  In order to create the accession record(s), students may also need to make entries in the name, source, location, authority or other records within the system.

          Students will have access to the current records for the plants in the collection.  Using these and appropriate references, they will build the accession records.  Michael Dirr’s, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, will serve as the basic nomenclature reference.  The goal is not necessarily to be the most current by taxonomic standards but rather to be consistent for teaching purposes.  You will have to consult other references for plants not considered in Dirr, and for authority and more detailed information.  Hortus Third will serve as the reference for the common name for the families.  The instructor will fill in any information not available by other means.

          Students must first survey their areas and prepare an inventory with plant names.  The next task will be to gather the information necessary for accessioning.  I would suggest that you complete a form similar to the following as it contains much of the information, which you will require.  At this time you should consult with the instructor to verify the information and fill in unknown information.  Once the information is compiled and approved by the instructor, the entry can be made in BG-Base.  If the plant does not exist in BG Map, students must use the GPS equipment to locate the plant and add it to the base map.  Finally, both accession and display labels need be verified.  If either are lacking, they must be replaced.  Accession labels (1 x 3” yellow) and display labels (3 x 5” black, non-native, or green, native) can be prepare on the plastic engraver located in 142 TNS.