DIGITAL FLORA La Selva Biological Station Website: Supported by:

Florula Team PIs –Donald E. Stone –Charlotte M. Taylor EDITORS –Charlotte M. Taylor –Luis D. Gómez RESEARCH TEAM –Enrique Castro –José González –Mike Grayum –Nelson Zamora –Orlando Vargas –Rossilynn Valverde –MBG Imaging Group

Description This project will create a system to store, manage and disseminate botanical information that can be used to facilitate plant identification and improve botanical research. Compared to traditional printed botanical texts, this tool allows: easy updates in order to improve the quality of the data and searches to facilitate the access to the information.

History In the late 90’s the students and researchers demonstrated the need for an easy tool to identify plants. In 1999 La Selva staff started the project. From proposals were submitted with no success NSF and CR-USA approved two complementary proposals; marking the official start of the Flora project in collaboration with MBG.

Objectives To create a database of nomenclature, synonymy, taxonomic descriptions, digital images and natural history for each 1,972 plant species(2006 vs. 1,834 spp. in Aug. 03). To develop an interface formed by four main components: –Species Web pages –Interactive electronic keys –Image gallery –Search engine on image gallery and taxonomy and plant descriptions. To complete La Selva’s herbarium

La Selva Plant Composition Ferns & AlliesGymnospermsAngiospermsTotal Families 9 ( 6.1%)3 ( 2.0%) 136 ( 91.9%)148 Genera56 ( 6.9%)3 ( 0.4%)757 (92.7%)816 Species186 ( 9.4%)3 (0.2%)1783 ( 90.4%)1972 Data update: Oct 06 Family # of SpeciesCommon NameGenera example Polypodiaceae137Polypod FernsThelypteris 21 spp. Orchidaceae126OrchidsPleurothallis 16 spp. Fabaceae113LegumesInga 22 spp. Rubiaceae109CoffeePsychotria 31 spp. Araceae104ArumsPhilodendrum 32 spp. Melastomataceae76MelastomesMiconia 28 spp. Poaceae71GrassesPanicum 11 spp. Piperaceae65PepperPiper 46 spp.

Products Up to Date 116 Family treatments (61 edited), + 19 family summaries of the 148 families: taxonomy, morphology and descriptions are illustrated with images. 16,791 images representing 1,217 species, equivalent to 64% of total species, 83% of all genera and 98% of all families. An electronic key to families of angiosperms and gymnosperms of La Selva. Around 1,750 new botanical samples. 21,232 records with data available in TROPICOS of the 22,000 plant specimens collected at La Selva species represented by digitalized herbarium specimens, also available in TROPICOS

Let’s practice on the web !!! Florula website hits, since Nov04 – Oct06 (23 months): 107 hits per day, total visitors from 64 different countries. CRC, MEX, BRA, COL, USA.