The vascular plant collection of Boris Achtarov Herbarium (BNHM)

Study Extent

Bulgaria, and adjacent countries

Sampling

Most specimens were collected during floristic field studies of the corresponding collectors. Some floristic studies, e.g. those of prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, were done as part of the tasks associated with Environmental Impact Assessments.
Some specimens were collected for identification vegetation surveys using phytosociological plots (relevés). Such are plots are coded as AAYY## (where AA stands for the abbreviation of the author, YY is the year of sampling, and ## is the successive plot number) and size is 16 to 100 sq.m. For example, SP1801 stands for the first plots sampled in 2018 by Salza Palpurina. Some specimens come from a project for sampling kurgans (burial mounds) in Bulgaria, which has used nested sampling. In such cases, the code is as follows: kurgan_[ID][exposition: N, E, S, W][size:1, 25], or kurgan_ID_all, which means that the plan was surveyed out of the nested plots.

Quality Control

(1) Checking regularly the database in Specify using specifically designed queries for detecting missing or unusual values. (2) Reviewing flags and issues after publishing in GBIF.

Method steps

1. Specimens received their first-ever catalogue number upon entering the information on their labels into the database, as the collection had not been catalogued prior to digitization. For the vascular plant collection, we adhere to a standardized format: BG-NMNHS-BOT-############. Some specimens received an additional alternative catalogue number which contains the same number but in a different format: BNHM-############ to match numbers in the corresponding publication.
2. The information found on the labels, such as taxon name, locality, date of collection, and the names of collectors and determiners, was transcribed and translated into English before being entered into the database. Names of localities were transliterated using the Bulgarian Law for Transliteration. Names of administrative regions follow the EKATTEs.
3. For the transcription of labels, we used two successive approaches: (1) In 2023, specimens were first imaged using mobile phone cameras (initial low-quality images), then information from the images was transcribed and entered, and the initial low-quality images were temporarily linked to their corresponding database records for quality assurance purposes and for matching the newly printed labels. (2) Since Jan 2024, we have adopted the following approach: first, creating a new record in the database to obtain a unique catalogue number, then writing this catalogue number on the specimen's voucher, and finally, transcribing information directly from the specimen into the database.
4. The transcribed information, along with the assigned catalogue number, was subsequently used to generate new labels. If the specimen was revised in the meantime, the label would reflect the updated determination. Then labels are printed and mounted, and the voucher is imaged with all attributes (printed labels, color checker and a scale).

Vascular plants

1. Celastrales
   rank: order
2. Ephedrales
   rank: order
3. Geraniales
   rank: order
4. Dipsacales
   rank: order
5. Cucurbitales
   rank: order
6. Dioscoreales
   rank: order
7. Asterales
   rank: order
8. Aquifoliales
   rank: order
9. Ericales
   rank: order
10. Solanales
    rank: order
11. Polypodiopsida
    rank: class
12. Poales
    rank: order
13. Malpighiales
    rank: order
14. Liliopsida
    rank: class
15. Boraginales
    rank: order
16. Lamiales
    rank: order
17. Caryophyllales
    rank: order
18. Buxales
    rank: order
19. Lycopodiales
    rank: order
20. Zygophyllales
    rank: order
21. Rosales
    rank: order
22. Piperales
    rank: order
23. Lycopodiopsida
    rank: class
24. Commelinales
    rank: order
25. Brassicales
    rank: order
26. Sapindales
    rank: order
27. Gentianales
    rank: order
28. Pinales
    rank: order
29. Ophioglossales
    rank: order
30. Santalales
    rank: order
31. Cupressales
    rank: order
32. Crossosomatales
    rank: order
33. Tracheophyta
    rank: phylum
34. Pinopsida
    rank: class
35. Plantae
    rank: kingdom
36. Alismatales
    rank: order
37. Selaginellales
    rank: order
38. Magnoliopsida
    rank: class
39. Fagales
    rank: order
40. Ranunculales
    rank: order
41. Gnetopsida
    rank: class
42. Ceratophyllales
    rank: order
43. Asparagales
    rank: order
44. Myrtales
    rank: order
45. Polypodiales
    rank: order
46. Malvales
    rank: order
47. Nymphaeales
    rank: order
48. Proteales
    rank: order
49. Liliales
    rank: order
50. Osmundales
    rank: order
51. Equisetales
    rank: order
52. Fabales
    rank: order
53. Saxifragales
    rank: order
54. Cornales
    rank: order
55. Isoetales
    rank: order
56. Oxalidales
    rank: order
57. Apiales
    rank: order
58. Salviniales
    rank: order

Bulgaria, the Balkan peninsula