Seed of south-western Victoria database
Introduction
Tara Lewis
April 2009
‘Seeds of South-western Victoria’ provides a database of 156 plant species with descriptions of their seeds, species information and seed images. The database is a digital resource aimed to facilitate the use of plant macrofossils in Quaternary reconstructions in Victoria, Australia. As well as aiding macrofossil identifications within the Quaternary fossil record, those studying archaeological remains, the gut or faeces content of animals, or live plant material (for identification), may also find it useful. The term seed is used loosely, with the current database covering the most persistent part of the disseminule or numerous parts (i.e. both mericarp and seed, or carpel and seed, for one species).
Species covered in the database include commonly occurring wetland and terrestrial species of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, as well as common weed species from key wetland sites that have been examined for palaeoecological analysis. The database is a work in progress and constitutes the Honours and PhD work of the author. The input of data, additional species and images is ongoing.
Plant nomenclature follows Ross and Walsh (2003). An asterisk before a botanical name denotes the species is introduced. Measurements of length and width have been, where possible, taken from the Flora of Victoria (Walsh and Entwisle, 1994, 1996, 1999) to give a better representation of within species variation. Otherwise measurements were taken from the available reference samples. The ‘Additional Layers’ field refers to parts other than the seed which may also be preserved, for example, carpels, mericarps or utricles.
The database uses Microsoft Access and allows a search to be conducted on an unknown seed based on its characters (including size, shape, colour, texture etc.). The text from the Seeds of south-western Victoria database is available here in html format; for a searchable copy of CD-ROM with images contact the author Tara.Lewis@arts.monash.edu.au.
For definitions relating to seed descriptions, a ‘Botanical Glossary’ is also included on the CD-ROM. A step-by step guide to exploring and retrieving data, ‘Searching Access’, is also provided. Specific references are included for some species in the records where available. These include taxonomic revisions, ecology of the species or further images of its seed. While some of the references cited in the database are for Northern Hemisphere seed manuals and species, they can still be useful as guides to genera and even families, where general and overall characteristics become apparent.
The database can be cited as Lewis, T. M. (2009) Seeds of south-western Victoria, version 1.1. Monash University, Clayton.
Ross, J. H. and Walsh, N. G. (2003) A Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria (seventh edition). National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens, South Yarra.
Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. (1994) Flora of Victoria volume 2. Ferns and allied plants, conifers and monocotyledons. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. (1996) Flora of Victoria volume 3. Dicotyledons, Winteraceae to Myrtaceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. (1999) Flora of Victoria volume 4. Dicotyledons, Cornaceae to Asteraceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
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