Gardneria nutans

What are type specimens?

Biological type specimens and voucher specimens are important for taxonomy and applied biological studies. They are the basis used for the assessment and categorizing of species and their identification. This makes them of vital importance for taxonomic studies. They are also the reference for the recognition and description of new species. Great potential loss would result and make the proper identification of Taiwanese indigenous species very difficult in the absence of a comprehensive type specimen collection. Such a collection and its proper data categorization is especially important.