Data File Explanation
This file explains the data layout and codes used in The Sonoran Plant Atlas database. A small number of records have typographical errors or unlisted codes. These incidences are rare, and in many cases the correct value can be deduced (for example, a year entered 095 is probably 995).
Please note that the latitude was modified for a limited number of entries in order to facilitate plotting the data on a map inset. Such values are typically 60 degrees or larger. Unfortunately the true latitude is not available for these entries.
| Sonoran Plant Atlas Data Fields and Codes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Column Position | Length | Field Name | Description |
| 1 | 3 | Year | Last 3 digits of year |
| 4 | 2 | Month | Number of month, 0-12 |
| 6 | 1 | Observation Type | Letter code: C - Collector's note on voucher of species generally found in area F - Herbarium photo of type specimen H - Herbarium voucher L - List of associated species on herbarium voucher P - Publication U - Unpublished (see source in next field) |
| 7 | 1 | Source Code | Letter code: If letter code in column 6 is C, F, H or L: A - University of Arizona, Tucson B - University Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley C - Botany Dept., California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco D - Dudley Herbarium of Stanford University, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco F - Walter B. McDougall Herbarium, Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff G - Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Massachusetts H - Annetta Carter collection, probably incorporated into University of California, Berkeley J - Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley M - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor N - New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York O - California State Polytechnic University, Pomona P - Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Q - Any herbarium R - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont S - San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego T - University of Texas, Austin U - U.S. National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. V - Arizona State University, Tempe X - University of California, Riverside Z - Tumamoc Hill Desert Laboratory, Tucson If letter code in column 6 is U: B - Bingham D - Darrow or Ducote F - Felger G - Gentry J - Henrickson H - Annetta Carter or James R. Hastings M - Moran O - Oral report; initials of observer are in columns 44-46 P - A. M. Phillips T - Turner and Hastings U - D. E. Brown, N. P. Carmony, and R. M. Turner V - T. R. Van Devender W - Wiggins X - Observer in columns 44-46 Z - Fred Wiseman |
| 8 | 4 | Elevation | Elevation in meters rounded to nearest five |
| 12 | 3 | Latitude | North latitude to nearest tenth degree, no decimal |
| 15 | 4 | Longitude | West longitude to nearest tenth degree, no decimal |
| 19 | 4 | Distance to Water | Distance east of water in meters (obsolete) |
| 23 | 2 | Vegetation Type | Letter code: DA - Arizona Upland DC - Central Gulf Coast DF - Foothills of Sonora DL - Lower Colorado Valley DM - Magdalena Region DN - Mojave Desert DP - Plains of Sonora DQ - Indeterminate desert scrub DV - Vizcaino Region FT - Transition, DF to NT NC - Chaparral ND - Deteriorated grassland NE - Upper Encinal NF - Cape Forest NG - Grassland NO - Oak Woodlands-Savannah NP - Piñon-Juniper NQ - Transition, NT to NS, or indeterminate NR - Riparian NS - Short-Tree forest NT - Thorn forest TD - Transition, desert to non-desert |
| 25 | 2 | Regression Region | Obsolete |
| 27 | 1 | Deposition | Origin of soil and mode of deposition - letter code: A- Alluvium B - Beach deposits C - Colluvium D - Dunes G - Gypsum L - Lacustrine M - Marine V - Volcanic ash X - Internal database code Y - Internal database code |
| 28 | 1 | Rock Type | Dominant rock type of soil origin - letter code: A - Caliche or calcareous B - Basalt C - Conglomerate D - Andesite E - Lava G - Granite H - Shale L - Limestone M - Metamorphic (schist, gneiss) N - Mudstone or siltstone R - Rhyolite S - Sandstone T - Tuff V - Unspecified volcanic |
| 29 | 1 | Permeability | Surface permeability of soil (obsolete) |
| 30 | 1 | Fineness | Soil texture - letter code: C - Clayey (clay loam through clay) L - Loamy (loamy sands, sandy loams, loam, silt) S - Sandy (all sand, coarse through fine) |
| 31 | 1 | Stoniness | Stoniness of soil - letter code: G - Gravelly N - Not stony P - Pebbly, or desert pavement R - Rocky S - Stony |
| 32 | 1 | Terrain | Soil slope classes of Soil Survey Manual - letter code: A - Level or nearly level areas B - Gently undulating, undulating, or gently sloping surface C - Gently rolling, rolling, or moderately sloping D - Strongly sloping or hilly E - Very hilly or mountainous |
| 33 | 1 | Physiography | Letter code: A - Wash borders B - Bajada C - Coastal plain, including beach D - Sand dunes E - Sand dunes and coastal plain F - Undrained basin, playa, bolson G - H - Hillside or hills I - J - Roadside K - L - Cliffs M - Mountainside or mountain N - Mesa P - Plains Q - Riparian, permanent or semipermanent R - Ridge, divide S - Saline flat, either marine or inland T - Terrace U - Valley or wash, together with adjacent hills V - Valley W - Canyon or wash X - River floodplain Y - Salt marsh, including mangroves, tidally inundated Z - |
| 34 | 1 | Community Cover | Visual estimate or perennial plant cover in 10% intervals - numeric code: 0 - 0-10% 1 - 10-20% 2 - 20-30% 3 - 30-40% 4 - 40-50% 5 - 50-60% 6 - 60-70% 7 - 70-80% 8 - 80-90% 9 - 90-100% |
| 35 | 4 | Species | Four-letter code comprised of the first two letters each of the plant's genus and species |
| 39 | 1 | Evidence | Evidence for data - letter code: V - Voucher S - Sighting L - List: unknown whether voucher or sighting (use for Darrow and publications). |
| 40 | 1 | Abundance | Letter code: A - Abundant C - Common O - Occasional R - Rare |
| 41 | 1 | Flowering | Letter code: Y - Yes N - No O - Old |
| 42 | 1 | Fruit | Letter code: Y - Yes N - No O - Old |
| 43 | 1 | Leaves | Letter code: Y - Yes N - No O - Old |
| 44 | 3 | Collector | Initials of collector |
| 47 | 5 | Collection Number | Five-digit code |
| 52 | 23 | Vacant | No data |
| 75 | 1 | Type Stop | Letter code: C - Conglomerate: species seen between T stops, at more than one site, but grouped together as one list S - Supplementary: incomplete species list from a single site T - True: all species noted, existing together X - Stake: followed by stake number in 76-79, no longer used |
| 76 | 4 | Mileage | To closest tenth, without decimal point, or alphanumeric code to identify stand |
