Format: ORAL

Al Segovia-Rivas, Mark. E. Olson2, Marcelo Pace

¹MEXUw-Xylarium, Institute of Biology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico. ² Institute of Biology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.

Traditionally, xylaria or wood collections were conceived from a forestry perspective, primarily with the objective of serving as a reference for wood identification for commercial purposes. In the dynamic landscape of botanical collections, the UNAM Xylarium (MEXUw) in Mexico distinguishes itself by transcending traditional boundaries. Our collections encompass a diverse array of samples, organized into four subcollections: traditional wood blocks, entire stem fragments with wood and bark preserved in alcohol for all major orders of gymnosperms and angiosperms, wood anatomical slides, and cores and disks sampled for dendrochronological purposes. A pivotal aspect of our innovation lies in recognizing the unique preservation needs for quantitative wood anatomical studies. In response, the UNAM Xylarium houses an alcohol-preserved collection, a pioneering initiative that retains wood and bark characteristics often lost in conventionally treated wooden blocks subjected to drying, heat and cold. This approach ensures the protection of delicate features essential for comprehensive stem and root analyses. As part of these efforts, collections of wood slides are essential, but the digitalization of these assets remain a neglected frontier. Few institutions have ventured into digitizing their slide collections, and fewer still have made these digital archives publicly accessible, a frontier we are poised to address with the digital resources available at UNAM. Beyond physical and digital preservation, the UNAM Xylarium acknowledges the imperative to modernize organizational frameworks. Weve updated all our collections to the APG-IV system, reflecting the most current nomenclature of plant families. The manual effort involved in this process is substantial and time-consuming, emphasizing the need for automation as collections grow and nomenclature evolves. Our presentation aims to highlight not only our advancements in specimen preservation but also our commitment to staying at the forefront of organizational practices as we advocate for increase the donations and trades with other wood collections worldwide.