We developed the Checklist of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens, and Lichenicolous Fungi of Alaska (i.e., “taxonomic standard”) by collating specimen records from the University of Alaska Museum Herbaria (ALA), University of Alaska Anchorage Herbarium (UAAH), Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria (CPNWH), Consortium of North American Bryophyte Herbaria (CNABH), and Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH). The compiled specimen data provided a list of names that have been applied in Alaska and adjacent Canada. We then reconciled the initial list of names in the state to recently published reference works and peer-reviewed literature (listed below) to determine accepted names, misapplied names, and synonyms. We limited the accepted taxa to those that are represented by at least one voucher specimen in the AKVEG Map domain. For non-native taxa, the taxonomic standard includes only those documented (i.e., by a voucher specimen) growing in a natural setting.
In cases where the literature suggested that an accepted taxon should not be considered to occur in Alaska despite usage of the name in Alaska, we indicate a “name misapplied” relationship to an appropriate accepted name. Where ambiguity prevents a one-to-one relationship between a name used in the region and an appropriate accepted name, then we do not include that name in the taxonomic standard. For example, Dryas octopetala L. does not occur in the taxonomic standard because the name has been misapplied in the region for multiple Dryas taxa (Dryas octopetala ssp. octopetala L., however, does occur in the taxonomic standard as a misapplied name). Although order of priority for taxonomic sources varied by group, we generally gave priority to monographic work by taxonomic specialists and reference works. Citations are ordered alphabetically, rather than by priority, in the table below. We provide the taxonomic standard to enable users to explicitly reconcile vegetation and floristic data at the lowest possible taxonomic level for ecological analyses across Alaska and adjacent Canada.
Please cite the Checklist of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens, and Lichenicolous Fungi of Alaska as follows:
Nawrocki, T.W., C.L. Parker, J.K. Walton, P.C. Villumsen, B. Bennett, M.L. Carlson, J. DeLapp, J.R. Fulkerson, M.A. Hutten, B.J. Heitz, S.M. Ickert-Bond, M.C. Stensvold, and C.O. Webb. 2024. Checklist of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, Lichens, and Lichenicolous Fungi of Alaska. Alaska Vegetation (AKVEG) Database. Available: https://akveg.uaa.alaska.edu/comprehensive-checklist/
Note: If only referencing names for vascular plants of Alaska, please cite the Flora of Alaska instead.