Projects

 

Invasive Exotic Plants in Florida Conservation Areas

The Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium is collaborating with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council in maintaining and building a relational database of sight records for occurrences of more than 125 invasive exotic plant species found in federal, state, and local public conservation lands in Florida. Information includes density of populations and habitats infested. A searchable version of the database (updated quarterly) is available on the web.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection funded the georeferencing of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council database from 2005-7. The resulting shapefile is available for download here.

 

Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium Online Database

In Spring 2004, we began entering label data, specimen descriptors (e.g., flowering vs. fruiting vs. vegetative), improved geo-reference data, and digital images into a MySQL relational database. At present, we are focusing on groups of exceptional importance to educators, researchers, and the citizens of Florida (e.g., potentially poisonous plants of Florida). Links to the species in each project are given below under Database Projects.  Searching and browsing interfaces for the database went online in Fall 2004. The online resources will make it easier for remote users to identify plants, discover new species, and access the detailed data on herbarium labels (e.g., locality data, habitat descriptions). However, the database cannot replace the physical specimens. The physical specimens remain necessary for many activities, including micro-morphological and anatomical observations and DNA extractions.
Additional Projects

Beaksedges (Rhynchospora) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae). In progress.   

Carex of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Carex (Cyperaceae). In progress.   

Carnivorous Plants of Florida   
The Florida Panhandle and adjacent regions are a diversity hotspot for carnivorous plants. We currently recognize 32 species of carnivorous plants and their close relatives in Florida. These include 5 species of sundew (Drosera), 6 species of butterwort (Pinguicula), 7 species of pitcher plants (Sarracenia), and 14 species of bladderwort (Utricularia).   

Citrus of Florida   
Florida specimens of the family Rutaceae.   

Conifers of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of conifers (division Pinophyta). This group includes members of the pine (Pinaceae), yew (Taxaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), and yellow-wood(Podocarpaceae) families. In progress.   

Crotons of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Croton.   

Early Diverging Angiosperms of North Florida   
Species not classified as Monocots or Eudicots. In progress.   

Evening primroses (Oenothera) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Oenothera (Onagraceae). In progress.   

Flora of Florida Dunes   
Our Florida specimens from representative genera of Dunes.   

Hedgehyssop (Gratiola) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of Gratiola (Scrophulariaceae). In progress.   

High Pine of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from selected genera found in High Pine.   

Invasive Plants of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of plants considered invasive, or potentially so, by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. This project was funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Invasive Plant Management.   

Justicia of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of Justicia (Acanthaceae). The genus includes the waterwillows, shrimpplant, and mexican honeysuckle. In progress.   

Lyonia of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Lyonia (Ericaceae). The genus includes staggerbush, fetterbush, and maleberry.   

Medicinal, Food, Fiber and Dye Plants of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of plants used in the past for medicine, food, fiber, and/or dye.   

Medicinal, Food, Fiber and Dye Plants of the United States   
Specimens of plants used in the past for medicine, food, fiber and/or dye that are found in the United States.    

Milkweeds (Asclepias) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Asclepias (Apocynaceae).   

Native Agalinis of the Central Florida Panhandle   
This project is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Native Andropogon of Leon County (FL)   
This project is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Native Cyperus of Leon County (FL)   
This work is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Native Lobelia of the Central Florida Panhandle   
This project is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Native Polygonum of the Central Florida Panhandle   
This work is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Native Spiranthes of the Central Florida Panhandle   
This project is in progress during the Fall 2007 semester.   

Oaks (Quercus) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from the genus Quercus (Fagaceae). The genus includes live oak, turkey oak, scrub oak, and others. In progress.   

Pine Flatwoods of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from representative genera of Pine Flatwoods.   

Potentially Poisonous Plants of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of plants considered potentially poisonous.   

Potentially Poisonous Plants of the United States   
Specimens of plants considered potentially poisonous found in the United States.   

Rare and Endangered Plant Species of the United States   
Our specimens of plants declared rare and endangered by the Federal government. In progress.   

Rhexia of Florida   
Our specimens of the genus Rhexia (Melastomataceae). The genus includes handsome harry, maid marian, and the meadowbeauties.   

Roses (Family Rosaceae) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from the plant family Rosaceae. The family includes mayhaw, roses, raspberries, and blackberries.   

Skullcaps (Scutellaria) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of Scutellaria (Lamiaceae). In progress.   

Solanaceae of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from the plant family Solanaceae. The family includes eggplant, the groundcherries, jimsonweed, the nightshades, tobacco tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. In progress.   

Swamp & Salt Marsh Plants of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from representative genera of the Swamp and Salt Marsh. In progress.   

Temperate Hardwoods of Florida   
Our Florida specimens from representative genera found in Temperate Hardwoods.   

Violets (Viola) of Florida   
Our Florida specimens of the genus Viola. The genus includes johnny jump-up, field pansy, and the violets. In progress.