|
ILDIS
International Legume Database & Information Service Database |
| Introduction |
| Phase 1 |
| Phase 2 |
| Database Standards |
| Software |
The ILDIS World Database of Legumes currently contains records for over 19,000 taxa (species, subspecies and varieties). More statistics are available.
The data comprises fully referenced, accurate, factual information, which can be split into three categories:
- The World Species Checklist Data
- The World Geographical Distribution Data
- The World Botanical Information Data
This information, known as Type One Data, makes up the Phase 1 species reference system. From the start of ILDIS, in 1985, the species reference system was intended to be the backbone of the Phase 2 species diversity information system, which would include data relevant to applied botany organised by species.
Relationship Between Phase 1 and Phase 2
[ Back to top ]
Phase 1 involves the compilation of a baseline taxonomic database covering basic data on all legumes worldwide. The data is divided into the following categories:
The World Species Checklist Data
Provides a list of species, subspecies and botanical varieties, constructed and updated by a world-wide network of taxonomic experts. The accepted scientific name, indexed synonyms, common names, literature citations, and position in the classification are provided.
Checklist Data
Accepted name, authority and references
Synonyms, authorities and references
Legume tribe membership
Vernacular names with references
[ Back to top ]
The World Geographical Distribution Data
Records the status and world distribution of all species by continental region, by country and in some cases by state, maintained by a world-wide network of regional centres and supported with literature citations
Geographical Distribution Data
Occurrence by continent
Occurrence by country
Occurrence by area (certain countries only)
Introductory status in each country and references
[ Back to top ]
The World Botanical Information Data
Provides basic factual data on life-forms, uses, notes, plus literature citations to descriptions, illustration, photographs and maps.
Botanical Information Data
Vegetation type with reference (only available for Africa)
Life form:
- whether annual and/or perennial
- whether herb, shrub or tree
- whether climbing or not
Conservation status with references
Economic importance and uses with references
Notes about the taxon
References to published descriptions, illustrations and maps
[ Back to top ]
Phase 2 projects use the Phase 1 database, and particularly the World Species Checklist Data, as a framework for creating further species diversity data sets in more applied disciplines, for example germplasm sources and plant breeding data. As a whole these will constitute a full species diversity information system for the world's legumes. Examples of ILDIS Phase 2 projects are:
The Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae
The Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae, published in 1994, represents the first of the ILDIS Phase 2 projects.
Creating the dictionary was part of a co-operative project between ILDIS and Chapman & Hall (C & H). At the core are the 'phytochemical records', the known substances recorded from legume plants. These were abstracted over four years and built into a database. But the integrity and organisation of this data depends on the one hand on botanical nomenclature, synonymy and classification of the plants, and on the other on chemical nomenclature, synonymy and classification of substances. The ILDIS World Database of Legumes was used to tie plant records to a single preferred plant name and its position in the plant classification. Similarly the C & H Chemical Database (CHCD) was used to tie substance records to preferred substance names and their in the chemical classification.
Finally, it was decided that a far more useful Dictionary would be acheived if selected additional data were added from the parent databases: botanical data from ILDIS, chemical data from CHCD. The core phytochemical data was used to define the set of plants for which botanical data were imported from ILDIS, and the set of substances for which chemical data were extracted from CHCD.
Extract from 'The Phytochemical Dictionary of the Leguminosae'
Root Nodulation
ILDIS currently has two root nodulation projects.
Joe Kirkbride (USDA) is creating a database that records the presence or absence of root nodules.
Janet Sprent (University of Dundee) is compiling data, not only on nodulation, but on various nodule characters, such as structure, morphology, mode of infection and, where possible, type(s) of rhizobia.
Further information on root nodulation projects
[ Back to top ]
ILDIS uses the following Data Standards to ensure consistency of information:
Type One Data Fields
Hollis, S 1990. ILDIS Type One Data Fields: Detailed Specification. Version 10. ILDIS.
Authors
Meikle, R D 1984. Draft Index of Author Abbreviations. HMSO.
It is planned to move to the TDWG Standard, Brummitt, R K & Powell, C E, Eds. 1992. Authors of Plant Names. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, in the near future.
Taxonomic Database Working Group (TDWG) Standards Used By ILDIS
Geography
Hollis, S and Brummitt R K 1992. World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions. Plant Taxonomic Database Standards No 2. Pittsburgh: Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation.
[ Back to top ]
ILDIS uses the Alice (version 2.0) biodiversity database system for management of the World Database.
LegumeWeb
ILDIS
news
contact
help us
products
database
CDs
ImageBase
links
Leguminosae
Copyright © 2006 by ILDIS (International Legume Database & Information Service). All rights reserved. Web page created by Richard White on a server at Cardiff School of Computer Science.
