I think Nicolas was right when he said virtual herbaria that we see on the net are often darker/ discolored//
which is true and that's the nature of the thing... its older specimen which do get dried up and oxidized ( and many other reactions and damages occur)... the virtual herbaria are made so that the structure can still be seen centuries later ( if humanity will have the same technology available centuries later ) but the digital herbaria are very useful for the far flung humanity to compare their current collection with what has been already classified by authorities such as at the Kew or MOBot or at NYBG etc ... AND TAPASDA is absolutely correct that those herbarium specimen are a priceless resource, digitization and presenting the sheets to the world though does not reduce its/their importance one iota. The real speciemn herbarium is a repository, the motherload, and the digitized herbarium an adjunct. I want to add that the older the better... because we can compare the DNA /RNA changes that may be induced /found in newer specimen can be easily studied by studying the new with the old... for that very minimum amount of specimen can be used... also if herbaria from different localities are compared ... regional changes can also be studied and documented ... and we can get ideas about local climate, soil conditions fertilizers and weed killer effects and insecticidal spray effects etc and if herbaria from across the timeline of history are compared (ie modern herbarium specimen with those older specimen) when such climactic change or chemical intrusion was not so prevalent very interesting and important data can be had. FOR ME: THIS SCANNING OF FRESH SPECIMEN ADDS ONE MORE FACET TO A LONG TIME HONORED TRADITION OF ENDEAVOR OF BOTANISTS TO PRESERVE SPECIMEN FOR CLASSIFICATION, AND FUTURE REFERENCE AND STUDY. No one should claim that their new method is superior.... newer methods are a welcome addition, an adjunct, however colorful they look... . just like in any science... an addition only... just as our own digital photographs many of which way way superior and very welcome addition to that same endeavor of collecting and preserving specimen. In time honored journalism tradition to balance a review, i must also say that many herbarium specimen sheets may individually not be up to par, but neither are many academic papers and the digital photographs we see here and other internet sites are often fuzzy, out of focus, incomplete, single and without any data about collection site and pertinent information of habit and habitat. To me such submissions are only of partial use or often just to be relegated to junk. But overall the superior quality (( of specimen be they real living ones, digital photographs (like we have here), herbarium sheets or their digitized images or digital herbarium by scanning live specimen right away after collecting )) of specimen makes life in science worthwhile and helps forget the throw away stuff or relegate them to sidelines.. In summary, this fresh specimen scanning in style of herbarium sheets is a welcome addition to the study of plants . I hope Nicolas will keep sending us his fresh specimen scanning pictures just like our other members do send in identified specimen. Nicolas there is not a per day limit to sending in already identified specimen. On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 9:45 AM, Ushadi Micromini <[email protected] > wrote: > Nicolas > i have one more question > > what are you using for the scanning and how are you achieving the 3D > effect > how do you preserve the 3 D integrity of specimen esp flowers and fruits > without squashing them flat while scanning > > if you will tell me /us with good details it would help me/us tremendously. > > thank you for your help. > > usha di > > On Sat, Oct 31, 2015 at 9:09 AM, Ushadi Micromini < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear Nicolas: >> >> What i saw inspires me.I think its wonderful effort and may be very >> useful for the future for it would show the real colors of the specimen. >> >> I see you have included a scale but that must also have the millimeters >> showing not just white and black blocks. I am sure the american suppliers >> of herbarium maintenance supplies can/must have them. >> >> I am glad you have the color chart in the each of the pictures i perused. >> >> >> But I have the following concerns and comments that must be addressed if >> this is to be of use.. real use... >> >> 1: the specimen scanned must also be preserved in the true herbarium >> style and procedure including whatever newer techniques botanists employ to >> make their herbarium. For posterity, like any other classical herbaria >> around the world and in Botanical survey of India. >> >> 2: those herbarium sheets should be also digitized where the dates log >> numbers etc are clearly showing so that they can be easily traced and >> accessed later by the researchers, yourselves and outside world easily. >> And they must be stored separately . >> >> ============ >> When I googled for your organization i found this page : >> http://www.pitchandikulamforest.org/cms/content/view/99/227/ >> >> which says your organization has publications, but the links provided >> only takes me to the two journals' home pages,,,,, how is one to determine >> which are your papers... let alone access them??? >> >> i suggest you make a list like a bibliography that shows up in any >> scientists' resume and list it there in that page i just mentioned and >> send us ... all members of efloraindia/indiatreepix have been sending in >> their list of publication with full citation or bibliography. That will >> really be nice. >> >> == >> >> I also am encouraged by this endeavor: >> http://www.pitchandikulamforest.org/cms/content/view/95/218/ >> >> my question... >> is your work (with this herbarium project) related to this work... since >> 1973 ??? >> >> Thank you >> >> usha di >> >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 9:38 PM, Nicolas Lagarrigue <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Dear Sir, >>> Sorry but I had not and I will never criticize the work did and done >>> today in the herbaria. Herbarium specimens are for me the jewels of the >>> botany. >>> Sincerely, >>> Nicolas >>> >>> [email protected] >>> (+91) 76 39 226 236 >>> Pitchandikulam Forest >>> Auroville >>> 605101 Tamil Nadu >>> India >>> Le 29 oct. 2015 7:58 PM, "Tapas Chakrabarty" <[email protected]> a >>> écrit : >>> >>>> Dear Sir, >>>> Thank you very much for this great endeavour using latest techniques >>>> which will certainly be helpful for the purpose of documentation and >>>> identification. >>>> However, I do not agree with the following comments: >>>> "Unlike many other virtual herbaria, which use pictures of their >>>> existing collections, samples of which can be decades old, often >>>> discoloured and degraded....." >>>> >>>> Yes, samples may not only be decades old, but may also be centuries >>>> old and the major herbaria of the World are conserving these specimens with >>>> meticulous care as they form the base of angiosperm taxonomy. A herbarium >>>> specimens is bound to be degraded and discoloured with age and that is why >>>> a professional collector notes down various field data including habit and >>>> habitat and features such as colour of various parts in fresh condition >>>> which are likely to be lost on return from field. The same is then noted >>>> down on the herbarium label. With limited available techniques, the >>>> taxonomists of the past did wonders. >>>> There is nothing wrong in digitizing these precious collections and >>>> presenting virtual herbaria. >>>> Nothing more for the present. >>>> Wish you all success. >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 4:47 PM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Thanks, Nicolas ji. >>>>> Certainly a appreciable beginning. >>>>> Hope you go along way to enchant us. >>>>> >>>>> On 29 October 2015 at 15:23, Nicolas Lagarrigue <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Dear members of eflora of India group, >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> We would like to share with you our new virtual herbarium, an online >>>>>> catalogue of plants from our region, including local, vulnerable and >>>>>> sometimes endangered species from the native evergreen forests of the >>>>>> Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, as well as other widespread species of >>>>>> the >>>>>> Indian subcontinent. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Unlike many other virtual herbaria, which use pictures of their >>>>>> existing collections, samples of which can be decades old, often >>>>>> discoloured and degraded, Pitchandikulam Forest Virtual Herbarium uses >>>>>> fresh specimens, briefly flattened and then scanned immediately in high >>>>>> definition, in order to conserve their natural colours and texture. This >>>>>> creates exquisite, vivid images which allow us to fully appreciate the >>>>>> intricate beauty of plants and to discover them more intimately. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> For each species, detailed botanical information is provided, >>>>>> including nomenclature, description, phenology, reproduction and >>>>>> dispersal, >>>>>> as well details of plant ecology, distribution, conservation status and >>>>>> propagation and planting advice. >>>>>> >>>>>> In addition to the detailed scientific data, it offers additional >>>>>> ethnobotanical information (human uses of plants for food, crafts, >>>>>> medicines or rituals…). >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Pitchandikulam Forest Virtual Herbarium is a work in progress. So far >>>>>> 50 plant species are available to view and learn about, with new species >>>>>> added continuously. >>>>>> >>>>>> If you are interested, we encourage you to join our mailing list to >>>>>> get the latest updates. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Pitchandikulam Forest Virtual Herbarium can be found here: >>>>>> >>>>>> www.pitchandikulam-herbarium.org >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Enjoy your visit and share it with all the plant lovers you know… >>>>>> >>>>>> Thank you. >>>>>> >>>>>> Irène and Nico >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> <http://www.pitchandikulam-herbarium.org/img/mail_signature.jpg> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> <http://www.pitchandikulam-herbarium.org/img/pitchandikulam_herbarium.jpg> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> With regards, >>>>> J.M.Garg >>>>> >>>>> 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' >>>>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1> >>>>> The whole world uses my Image Resource >>>>> <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg> of more than a >>>>> thousand species & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants >>>>> etc. >>>>> (arranged alphabetically & place-wise). You can also use them for free as >>>>> per Creative Commons license attached with each image. >>>>> >>>>> For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian >>>>> Flora, please visit/ join our Efloraofindia Google e-group >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/indiantreepix> (largest in >>>>> the world- more than 2500 members & 2,25,000 messages on 18.6.15) or >>>>> Efloraofindia >>>>> website <https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/> (with a >>>>> species database of more than 11,000 species & 2,00,000 images). Winner >>>>> of Wipro-NFS Sparrow Awards 2014 for efloraofindia >>>>> <https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/award-for-efloraofindia> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> Also author of 'A Photoguide to the Birds of Kolkata & Common Birds of >>>>> India'. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "efloraofindia" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Usha di >> =========== >> > > > > -- > Usha di > =========== > -- Usha di =========== ============================== usha di -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
