Xiang Chen
S.G. Aiken
M.J. Dallwitz
This package is generated from a DELTA database (Dallwitz 1980; Dallwitz, Paine, and Zurcher 1993). It comprises an interactive identification and information retrieval system using the program Intkey (running under MS-Windows), descriptions (as WWW pages and RTF documents), illustrations, references, and other subsidiary material.
By translating the character list from English to Chinese, the information has been made partly available in both languages in a newer format. The database produced would be useful as a tool available for plant identification, information retrieval, and exchanging information internationally, on the Festuca species that occur in China and North America.
The database describes Festuca taxa of China. The information recorded includes: common names, the place of valid publication of the name, the location of type specimens, when known, and whether we have examined them, synonymy, data on morphology, anatomy, habitat and distribution information, subgeneric classification, and taxonomic notes.
The information is based in part on ‘Festuca of China’(Shenlian Lu, manuscript, 1998? ) , ‘Fescue Grasses of Canada’ (Aiken and Darbyshire 1990), The vascular plants of British Columbia, G.W. Douglas (1991), and on the treatment of Festuca in the Jepson Manual Higher plants of California, (Hickman, J.C. 1993). References to plates and figures among the characters are to those published in Aiken and Darbyshire (1990). Some characters were taken from World Grass Species (Clayton V5.1) 1999.
The database is illustrated with more than 200 images including photographs of plants, photographs of habitats where species occur, photographs of type specimens or specimens of interest, line drawings of plants and leaf cross sections of species with narrow leaves, distribution maps, and illustrations of many characters.
Intkey and other DELTA programs have been used to assess biodiversity and have supported recognition of the taxa listed as species. The authors invite comments and information that would allow them to make corrections and additions to the database.
Cite this publication as: ‘Xiang Chen, S.G. Aiken, and M.J. Dallwitz (2002 onwards). Festuca of China and North America: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 4th February 2003. http://cdelta.ibcas.ac.cn.’