University of Colorado (University of Colorado Museum of Natural History)

The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History Herbarium will design interactive online databases for its holdings of the vascular flora and cryptograms (lichens and bryophytes) from the state of Colorado. Ninety five thousand vascular plants will be imaged and georeferenced, and the labels of approximately 20,000 Colorado lichens and bryophyte specimens will be transcribed into a digital format. The databases will consist of digital images, mapped locations, and label data of each specimen, and will be publicly available for taxonomists, ecologists, conservationists, naturalists, educators, students, artists, and anyone with an interest in the flora of Colorado. The electronic documentation of these records will help preserve the collection for future access and study, enhance the collective understanding and appreciation of Colorado flora, and strengthen the imperative to preserve biodiversity for future generations.