Botany — The Yale Herbarium

Current Research in the Division of Botany

Research projects in the Division of Botany include database development and rapid digital specimen image and data capture.

Research Project, Natural History Museum of Crete Collaboration Initiative
Phylogeography of the Campanulaceae, Dipsacaceae
and Valerianaceae in the Cretan Area

Database Development

Currently, Collections Manager Nico Cellinese is involved in the development of a relational database designed to store, retrieve, and manage data for plant systematics research. FileTaxon is a working prototype providing a solution for managing taxonomic, specimen, pollen and seed data, DNA sequences, SEM and digital images, original descriptions, and bibliographic information. Data integration across multiple tables optimizes overall data management, but is seamlessly transparent to the user. The system generates automated web links to various sites including the International Plant Name Index (IPNI), Tropicos, Index Nominum Genericorum (ING), Lifemapper, GenBank, and TreeBase. These web links retrieve only data relating to a currently selected taxon name. This innovative feature allows FileTaxon to be used as a research environment linking locally stored data and valuable information available on the Internet. An on-going effort with the Deep Time Project is aiming to bridge the gap between the Deep Time community and informatics.

Collaborator Reed Beaman

Curatorial Affiliates

Reed S. Beaman
Lauren Brown
John Jay Engel
Leslie J. Mehrhoff
Norton G. Miller
Barbara M. Thiers

The honorary titles of Faculty Affiliate and Curatorial Affiliate are given to Individuals who give some of their time and expertise to the Division. Affiliates are appointed by a vote of the Board of Curators and typically serve a 5-year renewable term.

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