Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 66. (Budapest 1974)

Szujkó-Lacza, J.: Possibilities and problems of the electronic data process of flowering plant herbarium specimens

There is a need of taxonomists using cytogenetical or numerical methods in the preparation of genus monographs or in the solution of evolutionary problems to have specimens in the same stage collected from populations in the same habitat of the taxon for purposes of statistical analysis of data (conf. HOEÁNSZKY I.e.). In other fields of science (see the above mentioned ones) there is an ever-growing need to examine and reexamine the same species in different developmental stadiums — and within these in the phenophases. This latter condition is fulfilled f. i. by the herbarium material on 13 species collected from the same habitat, same population, in the sequence of developmental stadiums and phenophases, which is available in the Herbarium of the Hungarian Museum of Natural Sciences. Our information will materially increase if

— by keeping to the above conditions — we collect the specimens of a particular taxon from more than one habitat. Collecting of more or — in an optimal case •— all species of a community for ecology and synbotany — by keeping to identical habitat and time sequence —can meet various needs, in particular such ones for which the collections have not yet been prepared by the collection conceptions valid so far. Similarly, it renders possible for the taxonomist the detection or preclusiveness of the different developmental stadiums and effects of ecological conditions and on this basis, by means of objective methods the clearing up of the values of species, subspecies etc. On the other hand on the herbarium sheets of collected species the morphogeneticist, ecologist (sensu lato) finds excellent representatives for determinig the genetical potential of the species on the basis of the quantitative examination of the specimens which originate from different habitats of the species, but are in the same stadium, in case of questions raised by arealgeography or production biology. An example for its usability in synphenology is to be found in the paper by SZUJKÓLACZA & FEKETE (I.e.) We have every right to hope that with the examination of the specific and abiotic factors •— in case the collections are carried out in a system of identical view-points — the herbarium might in help the elucidation of questions about cause and effect. Summary — According to author the electric data process (EDP) offers numerous information possibilities for the various fields of science. 25 data are indicated, which are to be found on the plant mounted on the herbarium sheet and label. A conception of collection is proposed which meets besides the needs of numeric taxonomy also those of ecology and related fields. According to this conception specimens must be collected in amounts to be analized also statistically in identical time points, in every developmental stadium and phenophasis of the species. Some combinations of this collection method are also mentioned. In this way time factor has become an essential aspect in this mode of collection, which renders a follow up of the development and growth of the plant possible. References BECKER,, K. M. (1973): A comparison of Angiosperm classification system. — Taxon, 22: 19-55. BORHIDI, A. & ISEPY, I. (1966): Statistical studies on Potentilla species. — Acta Bot. Acad. Sei. Hung. 12: 221 - 239. CADBURY, D. A., HAWKES, J. G. & READETT, R. G. (1971): A computer-mapped flora. — London — New-York, Academic Press, p. 1 — 768.