ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 5630
Session = 21.4.3


WORLD ECONOMIC PLANTS FROM USDA'S GRIN DATABASE.


John H. Wiersema and Blanca León, USDA-ARS. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Room 304, Bldg. 011A, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 USA


The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) and a new publication by CRC Press (World Economic Plants: a standard reference") provide essential reference data for vascular plants important in the global economy. These data cover 9,500 accepted scientific names, with 2,500 synonyms, 19,200 multilingual common names, 13,500 economic uses, and geographical distributions. Plants treated are used for food, spice, forage, fiber, timber, medicine, ornament, erosion control, gene sources, and many other beneficial uses. Also treated are plants having negative economic impact, such as weeds or poisonous plants. More than two decades of economic plant nomenclature research has yielded these data, with review by selected specialists to achieve the most current and accurate information. All are accessible via flexible, form-based queries on the World Wide Web .


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