Summary The BRAHMS software has been designed to manage both large herbaria, including those with several million collections, and individual researcher databases, for example, for monographs.
Whether BRAHMS is viewed as a database for species or collections management , or both, depends more on the nature of the project that the software itself. Where herbarium ... management is the priority, inevitably, the emphasis of work will be with collections. In these cases, the level of 'species' data stored may never graduate beyond the basic name and author. However, in many cases, as databases mature, opportunities usually arise to enrich the database with nomenclature and other facts about the species, expanding output potential. Other projects are solely concerned with assembling species names and facts about these species. In summary, BRAHMS enables you to:
- Add data efficiently either by typing in new data or by importing data from existing files, perhaps downloaded from a web site. - Edit, refine and develop these data using standard edit functions and special tools for working with botanical data. - Analyse your data using calculate functions and custom summaries. - Search your database using standard BRAHMS data extract functions or your own custom queries. - Prepare outputs using data gathered from all corners of your database, either to print directly or export to other software including spreadsheets and word processors. - Publish your data on the internet.
Sample databases - Comprehensive sample monographic data sets are available for the genera Inga, Leucaena and Pinus for Latin America. These data include full nomenclature and detailed specimen data with mapping references. Further samples to be added.
-The Inga database (T. D. Pennington, RBG Kew) contains approximately 10000 collection records which were assembled during 5 years spent preparing a complete monographic treatment of the genus. These specimens are partly the result of 2 years fieldwork and partly derived from visits to all the major herbaria of the USA and Europe, plus numerous collections seen at local herbaria in Central and South America. The records contain information on common names, uses, phenology as well as latitude/longitude data. The species names are also linked to the protologue, with information on basionyms, synonyms, etc.
- The Leucaena database (C. E. Hughes, Plant Sciences, Oxford) includes data on more than 2800 specimens lodged in 26 herbaria (A, AAU, BISH, BM, CAS, CR, EAP, F, FHO, G, HAL, HEH, K, LAGU, M, MEXU, MO, NY, OXF, PMA, QAME, TEFH, TEX, UC, US and W). Detailed field notes, common names, phenology and wild/cultivated codes, and duplicate records are included and the majority of specimens (2393) have accurate geographical data (Lat/Long). Full nomenclature including name status (accepted, basionym, heterotypic synonym, excluded etc.), synonymy and protologues are included in the database and TYPE collections are linked to names. Associated research material (nodules, wood, photos, bruchids, seed, dried leaves etc.) is cited. The database also includes a comprehensive bibliography.
The Pinus database (A. Farjon, RBG Kew) covers the pines of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (47 species). It includes data on 7043 specimens lodged in 54 herbaria (A, B, BAB, BANS, BM, CAS, CGE, CHAP, CHAPA, CIIDIR, COLO, CREG, CU, DS, E, EAP, ENCB, F, FHO, FI, GH, GOET, GUADAL, HAJB, HAL, HEH, IBUG, IFGP, INIF, JE, K, LAGU, LL, M, MEXU, MICH, MO, NCSC, NY, P, PRF, S, SD, SYR, TCD, TEFH, TEX, U, UC, US, W, WIS, WU, ZAL). Detailed field notes are included with locality data for most specimens, 1546 of these have verified latitude/longitude data used to produce dot distribution maps. Duplicate and determination records are also included. The nomenclature is complete for all species with accepted names, synonyms, types and protologues; excluded and uncertain names are added for the sake of completeness up to the closing date, i.e. the date of publication of the Flora Neotropica Monograph (21 November 1997)
Service Citation
Originators:
University of Oxford, Department of Plant Sciences
Title:
BRAHMS - Botanical Research and Herbarium Management System
Release_Date:
March 23, 2004
Provider:
University of Oxford, Department of Plant Sciences
Edition:
Version 5.54
URL:
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/home/
Name:
DENNIS
FILER
Phone:
+44 (0)1865 275129
Fax:
+44 (0)1865 275074
Email:
denis.filer at plants.oxford.ac.uk
Contact Address:
University of Oxford
Department of Plant Sciences City:
OXFORD
Postal Code:
OX1 3RB
Country:
UNITED KINGDOM
Personnel
DENNIS
FILER Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
+44 (0)1865 275129
Fax:
+44 (0)1865 275074
Email:
denis.filer at plants.oxford.ac.uk
Contact Address:
University of Oxford
Department of Plant Sciences City:
OXFORD
Postal Code:
OX1 3RB
Country:
UNITED KINGDOM
BRAHMS INFORMATION Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
+44 (0)1865 275129
Fax:
+44 (0)1865 275074
Email:
info at brahms.co.uk
Contact Address:
The BRAHMS Project
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Oxford
OXFORD
OX1 3RB
UK
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
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