The Little Drawer of Horrors

[Chuck]

I have one drawer that I absolutely hate to pull out. It's a mess- because for several reasons it's a taxonomic trainwreck. I really hate looking at it.

It's labeled "canadensis" but most are not.

I can live with the fact that it's a bit of a dumping ground including Pennsylvania MST (right column) and glaucus (3 w/ black female.)



But the worst part is the "canadensis". Yes, there are canadensis in there. But it's also where I put anything I've received that were identified as canadensis. I can readily tell you, some are not. And some are Spring Form glaucus. But the worst is that there are some "I dunnos" and I do NOT want to tackle that project; they're not canadensis, they're not MST, and they're not glaucus.

So I just slide it back in whence it came, and try to forget about it.

[Trehopr1]

I like seeing the drawers that you do post (here and there) Chuck. You seem to have quite a few nice specimens there and still and all you are still very much aware of the differences of MOST of what you have there.

I'm certain you could very easily just utilize another drawer and place the truly questionable specimens in it with a header that might say "unidentified status" OR "questionable species". This way should someone run across the unit tray in the future they would know you were unsure of the identity of those said specimens....

That way, you could still leave the Canadensis which you ARE certain of in the drawer you are now showing.

I'm sure other enthusiasts who are specialists at one thing or another will tell you that they too have unidentified material which they likely relegate to an END drawer in some cabinet. That way it's all together and it does not spoil the general appeal of their identified. specimens.

Anyway, show us some of your other specimen drawers (from time to time) as I still find it enjoyable to see collections that others have painstakingly brought together !

[eurytides]

Chuck, tell us more about the ones that are not MST, canadensis, or glaucus?

[Chuck]

Chuck, tell us more about the ones that are not MST, canadensis, or glaucus?

Hybrids. But of what, and to what proportion, I don't know. That's why it's such a nightmare. Not anything exciting like a new taxon.

On the latter topic though, both canadensis and glaucus trees each show two distinct clades; I'm pretty sure without looking that I know where those glaucus are...might be a future project.

[Chuck]

very easily just utilize another drawer

Do I look like Dr. Hyatt to you? Noooo, sir. I am out of space for drawers. My drawers are full. I have more drawers than I promised myself I'd have. I just counted, I'm 17 drawers past cabinet capacity. Thanks though! (if anyone suggests another cabinet, I'll kill 'em.)

[jhyatt]

very easily just utilize another drawer

Do I look like Dr. Hyatt to you? Noooo, sir. I am out of space for drawers. My drawers are full. I have more drawers than I promised myself I'd have. I just counted, I'm 17 drawers past cabinet capacity. Thanks though! (if anyone suggests another cabinet, I'll kill 'em.)

The trick is to borrow a spare Tardis from Dr. Who for collection storage. Bigger on the inside than the outside.

jh