L.C. Erickson Weed Diagnostic and
Invasive Plant Mapping Laboratory

Purpose:

• Service to Extension Educators, Weed Superintendents, Master Gardeners and others.
• Early identification and location of new exotic plant species.
• Teaching/Education/Extension.
• Springboard for new research on invasive weed species.

Accomplishments:

• Over 1600 plant specimens and over 1400 weed seed specimens are in the plant collection.
• More than 5000 plant specimens have been identified since 1984.
• Current rates of submission for identification are 230 each year.
• New species have been identified and their potential for spread determined.

History:

• 1940's: Plant collection begun by L.C. Erickson and continued in conjunction with C. I Seely after 1947

• 1950's - 1970's: Cabinets purchased, additional plant specimens collected by Erickson, Seely, Al Slinkard, P. J. Torell and others. Specimens are used as teaching aids for University students, 4-H and FFA members.

• 1980's: Plant identification service formalized by R. H. Callihan. Weed Diagnostic Laboratory plant collection established at current location. Collection expanded by D. Pavek, F. E. Northum, R. R. Old, and others. Weed identification software developed as an identification aide to botanist and non-botanist alike.

• 1990's: Weed Diagnostic Laboratory plant collection continues to expand and S. L. Carsen and T. W. Miller are hired to continue the identification service.  W. S. Belles served as curator of the plant collection in the late 1990's. The L.C. Erickson Weed Diagnostic Laboratory was dedicated in 1999.

• 2000's L.W. Lass served as curator of the collection until 2002. Sandra Robins served as the curator of the plant collection and taxonomist until spring of 2008. The Weed Diagnostic Laboratory continued to be administered by T. Prather and L. W. Lass as curator and taxonomist.

• 2010's  L.W. Lass remained as curator and R.R. Old returned to identify plants in 2010.  We also started to except scanned images from a flatbed scanner for identification.  

Instructions for Sending Plants

1. Fresh samples are preferred.  Place in a plastic bag with a dry paper towel and seal bag.  Fill out University of Idaho Written ID Request Form and tape to the bag.  Put in a box or padded envelope to mail.  Do not add moisture to the paper towel because the plant will turn to mush.  Dry paper towel is the best.

2. Collect roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits if possible and collect a couple of representative specimens.

3. Sending pressed and dried plants is technically correct, but the process often changes flower color and plant shape.  Fresh is the best. Mail to: Erickson Weed Diagnostic Lab University of Idaho Box 442339 Moscow, ID 83844-2339 Instructions for Scanning Plants (Save Postage and donate to the Erickson Weed Lab)   1.  Fill out University of Idaho Written ID Request Form and scan to a jpg file with flat bed scanner. 2. Put plant on glass plate of scanner add a ruler to note scale.  Scan in color and high resolution (+300 dpi).  Several images may be needed to show all plant features.  JPG format works the best. 3. Email files as an attachment to Ericksonweedid@uidaho.edu 4. Mail donations to: Erickson Weed Diagnostic Lab University of Idaho Box 442339 Moscow, ID 83844-2339 Plants may be hand delivered to room 316 of the Agricultural Science Building on Campus.  We will scan them and email to our taxonomist.

Email address is ERICKSONWEEDID@uidaho.edu and phone is 208-885-7831.  Email works best when contacting the laboratory.

MAKE OUR DAY and donate to the Erickson Weed Diagnostic Lab.
Funds are used in support of staff and purchase new resources for plant identification.

Related Links

CA Digital Library
Invaders Database
The New York Botanical Garden
Poisonous Plant List
WSSA
WSWS