Summary
The National Plant Germplasm System of the Agricultural
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture maintains a computer
database, the Germplasm Resources Information Network, GRIN-Global, for the
management of and as a source of information on its 57,940 germplasm
accessions. The taxonomic portion of GRIN-Global provides the classification and
nomenclature for these genetic resources and many other economic plants on
a worldwide basis. Included in GRIN-Global Taxonomy are
scientific names for 28,037 genera (14,712 accepted), 1,422
infragenera (1,350 accepted), and 123,953 species or infraspecies
(67,705 accepted) with common names, geographical distributions,
literature references, and economic importance. Generally recognized
standards for abbreviating authors' names and botanical literature have
been adopted in GRIN-Global. The scientific names are verified, in accordance
with the international rules of botanical nomenclature, by taxonomists of
the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory using available taxonomic
literature and consultations with taxonomic specialists. Included in GRIN-Global
Taxonomy are federal- and state-regulated noxious
weeds and federally and internationally listed threatened and endangered
plants. Since 1994,
GRIN-Global taxonomic data have been searchable on the Internet.