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Accessions

ACCESSIONS POLICY (SPECIMENS)

The Intermountain Herbarium accepts well-documented specimens of plants and fungi from throughout the world, particularly those are directly related to its mission, but discourages donation of unidentified specimens from outside North America unless they are of particular interest to an individual associated with Utah State University. The staff will not provide an estimate of the value of specimens donated to the Herbarium.

Specimens are accessioned according to the priorities listed below.

l) Specimens documenting research being conducted by individuals associated with Utah State University. Individuals planning plant-related research are encouraged to discuss the preparation of voucher specimens with the Herbarium staff when planning their project. If the Herbarium's resources permit, the equipment needed to prepare good voucher specimens will be made available on loan.

2) Specimens that document the flora of the Intermountain Region and adjacent areas.

3) Specimens of grasses. This priority reflects a continuation of the emphasis that was initiated by Arthur H. Holmgren, the second Curator of the Intermountain Herbarium. This priority is continued to present, as the herbarium is the headquarters for the Manual of Grasses of North America and the two grass volumes of Flora North America.

4) Specimens of ferns and fungi. This priority reflects the interests of Drs. Wolf and Kropp, respectively.

5) Other specimens.

Collectors of specimens from public lands are encouraged to provide a copy of their collecting permit or to cite the permit number on their labels.

Teaching collections: The Intermountain Herbarium maintains small, special purpose, teaching collections. Specimens in these collections are kept in separate cabinets from the main collection and are not accessioned.

Deaccessioning

Duplicate specimens are normally deaccessioned. Exceptions are made, if requested, for specimens that are the subject of research. The disposition of deaccessioned specimens is recorded in the Herbarium database.

ACCESSIONS POLICY (LIBRARY)

The function of the Herbarium's library is to support the research and service function of the Herbarium, including use of the Herbarium by members of the University. It is not intended to duplicate the resources of the University's main library. The following priorities guide purchases for the Herbarium library:

1) Floras and floristic atlases for North America.

2) Technical references, such as those obtained through institutional membership in the International Association of Plant Taxonomists and volumes of the Index to Plant Chromosome Numbers.

3) Systematic Botany; Systematic Botany Monographs, Western North American Naturalist, and Phytologia.

4) Reference works on weedy, poisonous, and edible plants that will assist in responding to public inquiries.

5) Floristic works on grasses and ferns for regions outside North America.

6) Popular books for identifying plants in the Intermountain Region.

Acquisition of reprints is also determined by these priorities. Donations of taxonomically related materials to the Herbarium library are welcomed. Most of the libraries growth is through donations.

ACCESSIONS POLICY (SEEDS)

Additions to the seed collection will be restricted to vouchered material. The accession number of the voucher, primary collector's name, and collection number will be printed on the seed label.

ACCESSIONS POLICY (PHOTOGRAPHIC SLIDES)

Only slides of reliably identified plants are added to the Herbarium's collection. Deposition of voucher specimens is encouraged but not required. Addition of slides to the collection must be approved by the Director.