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BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
WSSA has initiated a project to develop and market a
compact disc of the Common Weeds of the U.S. and Canada. The CD will
contain an interactive identification system and the images of about 1400
common weeds. We have the images of approximately 1000 of these weeds, but
WSSA needs to collect the images for about 420 species and is requesting
your help.
We also are compiling weed biography information for any
of the species. The photographers and authors will be credited for their
contributions on the published image or information. This information will
not be copyrighted, so contributors will be asked to sign a release for
their contributions. WSSA plans to complete this project by the fall of
2004.
Anyone submitting approved images or weed biographies
for least 10 different species will receive a 50% discount on their choice
of either the Phase I or Phase II CD. Anyone submitting approved images or
weed biographies of 20 or more species will receive a 100% discount on
their choice of either Phase I or Phase II CD.
To make voluntary contributions of weed images or
interesting information about any of the weeds, you will first need to
read the Suggestions/Instructions for Collecting Images or
the Guidelines for Submitting Weed Biography Information
sections below. Secondly, you will need to open and
browse or download the lists from the links below.
(See links at bottom of this page)
The first file is a list of weeds alphabetically by
common name for which we need images.
The second file lists the weed reference books, i.e.
Weeds of the West, and the weeds in that reference for which we still
images. The reference text list should be used as a guideline for which
species are likely to occur in your area and also as a source of
descriptive information on the species you are seeking.
The third file lists the species with the weed reference
books where they appear.
The fourth file lists the weeds alphabetically by
scientific name.
The final two files lists weed name synonyms. The
Synonymy List links provide updated scientific names cross
referenced to the obsolete names.
Open any of the first four links, scroll through the
list to determine for which weed species you want to collect images, and
notify Alex Ogg
()
of your choices. Alex will be tracking the names of individuals working on
each weed and their name will appear in a separate column on the
right-hand side of the weed list. If more than one person is working on
the same species, the best quality images submitted will be selected by
WSSA. If there are already three names listed after a given species,
please select a different species for which to collect images.
You should work with a local taxonomist or weed
scientist to be sure the plant you are working with is the correct
species. Also, if you are unable to collect, in a timely manner, the
images of the species you have chosen to work on, please notify Alex Ogg
so that he can assign that species to others.
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SUGGESTIONS/INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND SUBMITTING DIGITAL IMAGES
Use a digital camera: 1200 X 1600 resolution (approx. 2
megapixels) is a reasonable compromise of image quality and size. (Lower
resolutions can produce good quality images if taking close up images of
plant structures, and higher resolutions can be reduced if the file size
is too large.)
Take lots of pictures, with no film and developing
costs, extra images are virtually free.
Several close-ups of plant characteristics (leaves, stem
flowers, fruit, etc...) will often provide more/better identification than
a shot of the whole plant, but a good shot of the whole plant can be
useful as well.
Holding the plant up to photograph gives you a choice of
backgrounds and isolated the plants from surrounding/competing vegetation.
This is often better than photographing the plant in situ. Avoid
using black backgrounds.
Always stand with the sun to your back.
Be sure to photograph any "key diagnostic" traits that
separate the species from others with which it might be confused.
Try to give some idea of scale in your images. Place a
ruler, pencil or coin along side plant or plant part.
A variety of lenses (wide-angle, macro, polarized etc.)
can be useful.
For small plants and significant structures of larger
plants (such as the seed heads of grasses) an excellent means of acquiring
high quality digital images is by using a flat bed scanner. The level of
detail that can be acquired in this manner often exceeds that of all but
the most expensive digital cameras.
A variety of growth stages can often be found within a
population (rosettes, flowering, fruiting, last years skeletons, etc.)
photograph all that are available. You may also want to photograph the
same species at different times to catch the key characters i.e.. spring
for flowers and fall for fruits.
Collect and label specimens of any plant that you
photograph where there may be any question of identification. It is always
easier to ascertain identification from an actual specimen than an image
and such specimens can be pressed and retained for "vouchers".
Label each weed image file with the scientific name,
your name and the file type, i.e. Amaranthus retroflexus-John Doe.jpg.
Send collected images as an e-mail attachment to Rich Old at
,
post them to a web site and notify Rich where to download the images, or
place them on a compact disc or 3.5 floppy and mail to Rich Old at XID Services, Inc.,
P.O. Box 272, Pullman, WA 99163.
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GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING WEED BIOGRAPHY INFORMATION
XID Services, Inc. has created a number of computer-based random access
weed identification keys that allow the user to input any available plant
characteristic to help identify a weed specimen . The Weed Science Society
of America (WSSA) has entered into an agreement with XID Services to
produce a key of over 1400 weed species that are commonly found across
North America. As part of this effort, WSSA and XID Services would like to
include as much information on these weeds as possible. Since gathering
this amount of information is well beyond the task of any one person, we
will attempt to involve students in the weed science courses being taught
at universities across the United States and Canada to accomplish this
task. We encourage as many weed science classes as possible to participate
in the Weed Biography exercise. Each participating student will select a
weed of their choice on a “first come – first serve” basis and prepare a
written paper as described below. Any non copyrighted electronic images of
the species are also welcome, but not required.
Weed Biography Format
Each weed biography should include:
1. Plant family, Latin name (Genus & specific epithet) with a brief
explanation of the Latin roots, and any common names.
2. Botanical description. This section should include life cycle, growth
habit and development, notable variation within the species, and life
history traits including mode(s) of reproduction, floral biology, seed
production and dispersal, seed germination requirements, and seed
dormancy. This section should also include a brief discussion of similar
weed species and how they are distinguished (ex. field and hedge bindweed,
smooth and redroot pigweed, etc.).
3. Habitat and climate requirements, and associated plant communities.
4. Weed origin, geographical distribution and the history of the
distribution.
5. Economic importance (detrimental and/or beneficial).
6. Response to management, including herbicide sensitivity, herbicide
resistance, and response to disturbance.
7. Ethnobotanical characteristics or other interesting facts or folk lore
about the weed. These could include any food, fiber, medicinal, or other
uses, toxicity of the plant material or reproductive structures, any
beneficial role the weed might play in an ecosystem (i.e. refuge or food
source for insects or other animals, or detrimental non-direct attribute,
such as harboring insect pests or pathogens. In addition, information on
the legal status of the weed (i.e. is it listed as a noxious weed in any
states) or herbicide resistance status would also be very useful.
8. Bibliography of sources. Please use the format Science.
The Weed Biographies should be written in the student’s own words, and be
thorough but concise. Up to 5 pages, double spaced (12 pt. font, 1"
margins) is appropriate, although longer (well written) papers will also
be accepted.
How to Sign Up?
All the weed species available for the Weed Biography exercise will be
posted at (
http://weedecology.net/xid)
August 25, 2003 (8:00 am Pacific time). Students will be able to pick
their weed species on a first come – first serve basis directly on the
website. Only one student per species will be allowed.
Student and Instructor Responsibilities
Students and instructors are to work together to produce well-written Weed
Biographies with high quality and accurate information. Sub-standard Weed
Biographies will not be included in the XID database. The Weed Biography
Subcommittee chairman (Rob Gallagher) will oversee the final editorial
process, but it is fully expected that the individual instructors ensure
that only high quality materials are being submitted for review. Any
questions regarding this activity should be directed to Rob Gallagher at
or 509-335-2858.
What’s in it for the Student and Instructor?
The student and their respective instructor(s) will receive authorship for
each Weed Biography that is included in the XID database. The WSSA and XID
Services have agreed that any instructor submitting Weed Biographies for
at least 10 different species would receive a 50% discount on the XID
database of their choice. Any instructor submitting Weed Biographies for
20 or more different species will receive a 100% discount on the XID
database of their choice.
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REFERENCE LINKS
Images needed by common name (RTF format)
Images needed by reference (RTF format)
Images needed by scientific name with references (RTF format)
Images needed by scientific name (RTF format)
Synonymy alpha by new name (RTF format)
Synonymy alpha by old name (RTF format)
