A NEW CONIFER HERBARIUM

Abstract

At the Institute of Forest Genetics, Placerville, California 1), we have recently organized a specialized herbarium of pines (Pinus) and firs (Abies). Incorporated in it are the many specimens that have accumulated since the Institute was established in 1925. Like the Eddy Arboretum, the herbarium is an integral part of our research program, which is concerned with the genetic improvement of conifers native to the western United States. Interspecific hybridization and geographic variability are important parts of the program, and the herbarium is particulary useful in documenting this research. Because we deal exclusively with coniferous materials, our techniques have been adapted to their bulky nature. For mounting specimens, we use herbarium plastic and sheets of high-grade cardboard cut to the standard size of herbarium paper. Most cones, bark, and other unmounted materials are stored in heavy-duty (0.004-inch thick) polyethylene bags. Fir cones are prevented from disintegrating by several interconnected straps of thickened herbarium plastic. Our general pine collection includes cones, foliage, seeds, and seedlings of most of the 95 to 100 species in this genus about 3,000 specimens in all. The regions best represented are the western United States, Mexico and Central America, and east and southeast Asia. The extensive collection of Mexican pines includes specimens collected by E. L. Little, Jr., M. Martinez, N. T. Mirov, and the 1962 North Carolina State College expedition to Mexico (publ. 1963). The newer general collection of Abies includes about 500 specimens; only the western North American firs are adequately represented in it. Collections by J. L. Hamrick, O. V. Matthews, G. B. Parker, and K. J. Roller are included. Most of the specimens in these general collections were obtained from single trees, but many recent additions are small (5to 10-tree) mass collections from single stands. The other genera of conifers have only token representation in the herbarium.