BARKWORTH, MARY E.*, KATHLEEN M. CAPELS, AND LINDA A. VOROBIK,. Intermountain Herbarium, Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5305; Intermountain Herbarium, Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5305; University Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-2465 and Department of Botany, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5325. - The Manual of Grasses for North America: Progress Report.
The Manual of Grasses for North America will be an identification
manual for North America’s grasses. Its geographic coverage comprises
the continental U.S., Canada, and Greenland, plus the French islands
of St. Pierre and Miquelon. It includes many ornamental and
experimental species in addition to the species that are native to or
established in the region. The original goal for the Manual project
was publication of a book similar in concept to that of Hitchcock’s
Manual of Grasses of the United States. This is still our first goal,
one that we can realistically hope to meet in 2003, if we obtain
adequate funding. There is, however, increasing interest in having the
Manual made available over the Internet. It is relatively simple, but
time-consuming, to make the text, illustrations, and maps available as
static files over the Internet, and we have begun to do so, the major
limitation being funding. The files would, however, have greater
value if they were used as the foundation of a Web site designed to
maintain the currency of the information they contain in a manner that
enourages participation by all qualified individuals. We are
exploring means for accomplishing this goal while keeping our focus on
attainment of the primary goal, completion of the print version. The
poster will summarize the status and funding of the project as of July
1, 2000.
Key words: Floras, Grasses, North America, Taxonomy