Archive Contents
 

Digital Archives of Indigenous Plants of Taiwan

Project Leader¡GChing-I Peng

Executing organization: Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica

Archives Description¡G

The herbarium of the Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei (HAST) currently houses more than 120,000 specimens. The purpose of this project is mainly to produce a Taiwanese botanical database, which consists of (1) label information and specimen images of Taiwanese plant specimens housed at HAST; (2) taxonomic literature; (3) images of wild plants; and (4) WebGIS-based plant distribution maps. We will continue databasing label information of HAST specimens, images of herbarium specimens as well as photographs of indigenous plants taken from the wild, and titles of relevant literature. The curatorial management of HAST herbarium is also effectively executed through this system. Invaluable images of herbarium specimens and plant photos taken in the wild are preserved permanently.

Websites:

We have completed the data management system and bilingual query system for the website "Database of Native Plants in Taiwan" since 2003. Thus far, more than 66,000 records of specimens, 2,285 records of taxonomic literature, 50,000 images of specimens, and 7,000 photographs of wild plants (mainly of pteridophytes, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Commelinaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Liliaceae, Onagraceae, Orchidaceae, Polygonaceae and Primulaceae) from Taiwan are available on the web. In addition, the WebGIS-based plant distribution maps are also ready to be used. This database serves as a tool for understanding our indigenous flora and their distribution. It also provides a useful reference to the utilization and conservation of the plant resources of Taiwan.

http://taiwanflora.sinica.edu.tw

Accomplished Archives¡G

We have completed management system and bilingual query system for the website "Database of Native Plants in Taiwan" since 2003. The herbarium of the Research Center For Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Taipei (HAST) currently houses about 115,000 specimens. We will keep databasing label information of HAST specimens, images of herbarium specimens as well as photographs of indigenous plants taken from the wild, and titles of relevant literature. Thus far, more than 50,000 records of specimens, 1,900 records of taxonomic literature and 30,000 images of specimens, 4,000 photographs of wild plants (mainly of pteridophytes, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Commelinaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Liliaceae, Onagraceae, Orchidaceae, Polygonaceae and Primulaceae) from Taiwan are available on the web. And WebGIS-based plant distribution maps are also ready to use. (Author: Ching-I Peng)

Begonia chitoensis T. S. Liu & M. J. Lai
Begonia is the sixth largest plant genus in the world, comprising 1,600 species that occur throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa and America. Most of them are highly ornamental, displaying an amazing variety of shapes, colors, patterns and textures in their foliages and flowers. Begonia chitoensis is one of the about 20 species that grow naturally in Taiwan. It occurs on moist, semi-shady slopes at 300 to 2,300 m altitude on the island. In early stages there is a creeping rhizome; and as the plant matures, the erect branching stems as tall as 1 meter appear. It produces pink flowers from early summer to autumn. The male flowers have four tepals and the female flowers have five tepals. The ovary is three-winged and the back wing is much protruded, as shown in this lovely photograph.

Egenolfia appendiculata (Willd.) J. Sm.
The fern genus Egenolfia comprises about 10 species worldwide, ranging from India eastward to Taiwan and Java. They are terrestrial plants with dimorphic (sterile and fertile) fronds. Three species are known in Taiwan. The Egenolfia appendiculata, widely distributed in southern and southeastern Asia, is found on rocks along mountain creeks on the island of Taiwan. It has creeping rhizomes and acrostichoid sori, meaning sand-like sori spreading throughout the fertile fronds. The bipinnate sterile fronds usually have an asexual bud at the apex, which renders Egenolfia appendiculata readily recognizable.

contacts

Email: listera@gate.sinica.edu.tw

 
 
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