The Flora North America Project

Abstract

The development and organization of the Flora North America Project since its inception in 1967 is reviewed. Evolution of the Project from a straightforward production of a diagnostic manual of the vascular plants found in North America north of Mexico has been modified to use the Flora as a core program for the design and development of an integrated botanical data bank. The author indicates that a two-channel approach to the program is being used by the Editorial Committee. The first priority is production of a diagnostic Flora whereas the second relates to design and development of a botanical data bank to provide support for the FNA research effort and to provide a general data base for botanical research.