Bryophyte Curation
In 2016, Lee Crane decided to tackle the approximately 35,000 unorganized bryophytes, some still in bags, many without names. Without a bryologist on staff, Lee reached out to researchers across the country and found some willing to help with identification. He then set to work on organization and curation. This involved a lot of research, deciphering handwritten labels, databasing, fixing errors from previous projects, putting specimens into archival packets, printing new labels, and organization. Some three years later and with the help of the Collections Manager, Lee has added almost 3,400 records to the bryophyte database and curated approximately 11,200 bryophyte specimens including type material and exsiccati. If you are interested in bryophytes and would like to contribute to this project please contact Jamie Minnaert.
Drummond Bryophyte Exsiccati
In 2017, one of the more remarkable discoveries made while curating the bryophytes was locating the Drummond Bryophyte Exsiccati: Musci Americani; Specimens of Mosses Collected in British North America. This incredible set of specimens was collected while Thomas Drummond acted as the assistant naturalist on Captain John Franklin’s Second Land Arctic Expedition searching for the Northwest Passage. This book of mosses was hidden in plain sight under cover as an algae exsiccati! While not a complete set, the discovery inspired our staff to research Drummond and his incredible journey collecting through Canada and the Rocky Mountains. This exsiccati has been curation and rebound in two archival quality volumes, databased, and barcoded. You can read more about Thomas Drummond in this biography or the expedition journal.
Databasing the ILL Vascular Plant Collection
For the last two years, we have been building a team of volunteers to help us database our vascular plants. Currently, we are working on the ferns, gymnosperm, and dicots. Would you like to be a volunteer? Contact us to ask how!
Transcribing the Digitized Collection of ILL
Of the approximately 520,000 vascular plants, only 11% have been digitized (photographed). Of those digitized, 21% have been transcribed. We are working with volunteers to transcribe the data from the digital label in an online portal. Last year, WeDigBio at Illinois transcribed almost 2,600 ILL vascular plant records! Interested in joining our team of volunteers? Contact us to ask how you can volunteer from home!