Status of Kentucky Herbaria in 2006* Ronald L. Jones Eastern Kentucky University Ralph L. Thompson Berea College *Based on: Jones, R.L. & R.L. Thompson. 2006. Index Herbariorum Kentuckiensis IV. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 71 (4). In press.
A 2006 survey of herbaria at 12 Kentucky university/college facilities revealed: Total collections 338,100 vascular and nonvascular specimens. An increase of 92,000 in the last 10 years. A total of 324,700 are vascular plant specimens and 13,400 are nonvascular plant specimens.
Collections at the five regional universities totaled 231,500 (68% of the Kentucky total), Collections at private institutions numbered 26,300 (8%) with the majority at Berea College. Collections at the two herbaria at the University of Kentucky totaled 80,300 (24%). Of the 13,400 nonvascular plant collections, 9,400 are at Morehead State University
Berea College Herbarium, Department of Biology, CPO Box 2121, Berea, KY 40404 859-985-3378 859-985-3303 Ralph L. Thompson 20,000 VP, 0 NP, 0 DB
Eastern Kentucky University Herbarium, Eastern Kentucky University, Department of Biological Sciences, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, KY 40475 http://people.eku.edu/jonesron 859-622-6257 859-622-1399 Ronald L. Jones 70,000 VP, 500 NP, 27,000 DB
Morehead State University Herbarium, Morehead State Univeristy, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY 40351 606-783-2587 606-783-5002 Allen C. Risk 17,318 VP, 9,400 NP, 0 DB
Murray State University Herbarium, Murray State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071 www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cos/hbs/herbariu m.htm 270-809-4896 270-809-2788 Dayle Saar 40,500 VP, 2,000 NP, 24,447 DB
Northern Kentucky University John W. Thieret Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, DWH Natural Science Center 204D, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099 859-572-1411 859-572-5639 Maggie Whitson 35,000+ VP, 0 NP, 100 DB
University of Kentucky Herbarium, The University of Kentucky, 217b TP Cooper, Dept. of Forestry, Herbarium: Insectory/Conservatory Building, Washington Avenue, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546 http://www.ca.uky.edu/forestry/herbarium.php 859-257-3094 859-257-7611 Robert Paratley 57,800 VP, 1,500 NP, 0 DB
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Herbarium, College of Agriculture, Department of Plant and Soil Science, 117 Plant Science Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 859-257-4898 J.D. Green 21,000 VP, 0 NP, 0 DB
Western Kentucky University Herbarium, Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology, 1906 College Heights Blvd. #11080, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1080 http://biodiversity.wku.edu/search/plants.asp 270-745-8864 270-745-6856 Lawrence A. Alice 55,646* VP, 0 NP, 21,644 DB *includes specimens to be transferred from University of Louisville
Other small collections (under 20,000) at: Asbury College, Georgetown College, Campbellsville College, and The University of the Cumberlands, totaling about 6,000 specimens. Other collections at Hancock Biological Station, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, totaling about 2,500.
Databased (Index Kentuckiensis in most) Collections at: Eastern Kentucky University 27,000 out of 70,000 Murray State University---25,000 out of 41,000 Western Kentucky University---22,000 out of 56,000 The University of the Cumberlands 2,700 out of 3,500 Northern Kentucky University---100 out of 35,000 Hancock Biological Station nearly all 1,200 specimens Total databased specimens in KY about 76,000
E-Floras On-line checklist of the state s vascular plant species is available through herbarium website at Eastern Kentucky University. On-line searchable databases/websites are available for herbaria at Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, Murray State University, and Hancock Biological Station.
Literature Status Professional Literature---2006 survey conducted by R.Jones, R. Thompson, and R. Clark on the literature of KY field botany from 1985 2006, to be published in JKAS in 2007. Unpublished Literature---databases of gray literature available from C. Lapham; large collection of unpublished and published literature donated by Max Medley, and is housed and indexed at EKU.
Status of the Flora Much work to be done specimen total of 338,000 only about ½ the totals of collections in Tennessee and 1/5 that of Ohio. About 50 new state records discovered in last 5 years. About 25 species new to science have been found in KY in last 25 years. State losing 130 acres per day to development
New State Flora available Plant Life of Kentucky, An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora, published in 2005, by R.L. Jones, the first state flora in southeastern U.S. in over 30 years (outside of Florida), treating about 2,800 taxa in the region.
Financial Institutional Support for Kentucky Herbaria Of the 7 major collections, one has no regular financial support from the department, 4 have $100-$500 a year, and 2 have about $1,000 a year. Student Workers Of the 7 major collections, one has no regular student worker available, 4 usually have 1 worker, 1 has 2 workers, and 1 has 3-4 workers available per year.
Facility Changes in last decade University of Louisville herbarium has been closed down, and specimens (about 30,000) scheduled to be transferred to Western Kentucky University) Northern Kentucky University--Herbarium recently moved into new science building). University of Kentucky---collection moved in 2006 to a different building in the Department of Forestry
Planned Changes Murray State University the herbarium is scheduled to be moved to a new Biology Building in 2008; also, congratulations to Dayle Saar, who has recently received a $167,000 grant from NSF for the herbarium. Eastern Kentucky University new science building planned, including a Natural History Museum, in which the herbarium will occupy a prominent position, with displays, dedicated processing rooms, research lab, high density storage with compactors, and climate controls; target date of 2011.
Future Prospects? Major Institutions (University of Kentucky and University of Louisville) no longer have academic floristic programs (retired professors not replaced)---but UK continues to maintain its collection and is moderately active in adding new specimens) Most floristic research and activity in Kentucky now at the regional universities and private colleges, but retirements looming at two major collections (Berea and EKU). Collection at EKU is well-supported and apparently secure, but future prospects less certain for Berea Herbarium. Collections at other regional universities have varying degrees of administrative support (from unsupported to well supported), but have relatively young curators and active programs, and face no immediate danger.