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The Hodgdon Herbarium constitutes a constantly
growing primary data base for
biodiversity research,
systematic and evolutionary investigations, and
endangered
species research. It also
serves as a valued resource for related work in the
areas of ecology, morphology, and anatomy.
Furthermore, it provides an important
source for
positive identification of plant specimens
(including poisonous plants and weed
specimens), contains a
wealth of biogeographical and ecological habitat
data and serves
as a repository for voucher specimens documenting
research. It is an
essential basic resource
to provide training in plant
systematics.
The Hodgdon Herbarium
consists of about 194,000 specimens: 116,000
vascular plants, 75,000 marine
algae, 550, bryophytes, and 2525 seed specimens.
Additionally, there is a large backlog of specimens
from earlier and current research to be processed.
A small fungal teaching collection is maintained
separately by the mycology/plant pathology
program.
Vascular Plant
Collections Manager and Curator - Dr. Janet R. Sullivan
(janets@unh.edu)
Size: 116,000
sheets.
Types: The
collection includes a significant number of
nomenclatural
type
specimens from which new species were described: 7
holotypes, 7 isotypes, 13 syntypes, 6 paratypes,
and 1 cotype.
The vascular plant
collection reflects a strong regional flavor, being
especially strong in northern New England. The
collection is especially rich in New Hampshire and
Maine holdings. Additionally, the research of the
previous curators, Albion R. Hodgdon and Radcliffe
B. Pike, added considerable specimens from the Gulf
of Maine and Bay of Fundy regions. Field work by Garrett Crow and his
students have added numerous specimens from New
England,
Newfoundland, Quebec, Nova
Scotia, Russia, Costa Rica, and
Bolivia
Marine Algal Curator - Dr. Arthur C. Mathieson
(arthur@hopper.unh.edu)
Size: 75,000
sheets.
Types: 2
nomenclatural
isotypes.
The marine algal
collection was recently evaluated by an USDA CSRS
Review Team and described as an outstanding
collection with strong points including the
contemporary nature of the collection and its
richness as documentation of the ecology of the
Great Bay Estuary. A majority of the collection
represents the geographic region of Newfoundland to
Long Island Sound. Additionally there are
significant holdings representing the Caribbean and
Florida region, the Pacific Northwest. the British
Isles, and North
Africa.
As a result of
research by Dr.
Mathieson
and his students, the New England marine algal
specimens represent some of the most "exhaustive"
documentation of coastal and estuarine habitats
throughout the world. The specimens from the
estuarine habitats have been very important in the
delineation of specific environmental impacts of
nuclear power plants, biogeographic and
phenological patterns of individual taxa, and
floristic
composition
UNH has long been
noted as attractive institution because of the
strength of the freshwater and marine biology
program. Thus, it is significant that the Herbarium
exhibits an important strength in its richness of
aquatic and wetland collections, both of the
freshwater and the marine environments.
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