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Introduction to Plant Specimens

Introduction to plant specimens

Specimen information from institutes was gathered with the aim of creating a digital database of one million specimen samples held by university herbariums and research centers. Currently 750,000 specimens are available. (2012 November)

Requirements for plant specimen database
Plant specimens provide a variety of information on taxon, and for systematic study, plant diversity study, their actual distribution, monitoring of emerging plants, and preservation management. For this, the following items are required.
  • To put various specimens by region and collection period into the database.
  • To construct sufficient variation of diversity in each taxon.
  • To provide accurate taxon information for plant specimens.
  • To provide accurate information about regions and time of distribution.
  • To provide sufficient and accurate information necessary for plant taxonomy, ecology, plant resource research, and plant preservation.
Main contents of plant specimen database
The plant specimen database project has been promoted by focusing on the factors below.
  • To increase the integrity and availability of information by integrating plant specimens dispersed throughout the country.
  • To establish a semi-permanent storage system by creation of a database for specimens.
  • To construct a foundation for various kinds of research by compiling a vast amount of specimen information.
  • To increase efficient utilization and search ability through information standardization.
Process of plant specimen database construction

Process of Plant specimen DB formation

Main operator of national database project

  • Equipment supply and installation management (PC, scanner, digital camera, worktable)
  • Provision of plant specimen management program (plant specimen information registration/maintenancet/search)
  • Support and management of digitalizing workforce (workforce support for each herbarium, supply and management of digitalizing workforce)

Herbarium of each university/natural history museum/national arboretum herbarium

  • Plant specimen
  • Plant specimen management, Specimen image, collection information/geographical ecological information/management information
  • Plant specimen information

National Arboretum

  • Establish a plant specimen digitalization policy and technical standard
  • Select an information collection unit (the herbarium of each university, the natural history museum of each district, and arboretum herbarium)
  • Inspect the actual state of information collection (verification of collection data)

Introduction of search methods

The National Biodiversity Information System is mainly divided into three search methods: searches by name, organization, and detailed search. The search methods are as follows

Search by name go
  • You can search a plant by its plant name, Korean name, and scientific name.
Search by organization go
  • On this site you are able to search for detailed information by comparing your own images or samples with image data.
  • As a space for nonprofessionals, this site shares plant knowledge with you through various searching methods.
    Search by approaching a more specific taxon from a larger taxon,
    (e.g.: Compositae-Heteropappus).
Detailed search go
  • This is an integrated type of search page for professionals using various option items.
  • You can search more rapidly by a further, closer data approach method.
    When you insert information into the relevant section and search for it, you can find the data easily.
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