Instructions for Using the Oregon Plant Atlas

Selecting Taxa to Map

• Click on either "scientific" or "common" names to view lists of plants to select from. Typing with the cursor in a list will 'jump' you to that place in the alphabet.
• Entering text in the "Quick Search" box will search all scientific and common name lists for matches to the characters in the order typed. This includes instances when the characters are embedded in a word.
• Multiple entries can be selected by pressing the keyboard <CTRL> key while clicking.
• To view all records for a family, genus, or species, click on the name in the appropriate drop-down list.
• To view the resulting map, press "Create Map".
• Begin a new search by simply selecting new plants to map. Existing search results will be erased and the map redrawn. Any options selected (see "Other Options" section below) will be kept until they are cleared.
• The "Add to existing results" checkbox will have subsequent search results added to the dots displayed on an existing map.
• Example: To map Abies amabilis and all occurrences of the genus Zostera, (1) create a map by selecting "Abies" and "amabilis"; (2) check the "Add to existing results" box; (3) perform a new search by selecting "Zostera" from the genus list and press "Create map".

Viewing Map Results

• The criteria of the search are displayed by toggling the "Show search criteria" link above the map.
• The map legend is displayed or hidden by toggling the "Show marker legend" link above the map.
• The base map can be changed at any time by selecting the desired map type in the upper right-hand corner of the map view. Clicking the "counties" checkbox displays county lines.
• To zoom in or out, use the +/- scroll bar to the left of the map.
• To navigate within the map view, either use the cluster of arrow buttons in the upper left corner (the center button will center the map), or use the hand cursor with your mouse to click and drag the map to the desired view.
• The locations of voucher specimens are represented by round dots, and unvouchered observations are represented by diamonds. Colors are assigned when multiple taxa are selected, and are listed in the "marker legend".
• The larger dots represent multiple records at a site. Clicking on a "cluster dot" will open a pop-up listing all records attributed to that site. Increasing the map resolution by zooming in will resolve the multiple records into individual dots as the accuracy of the records allows.
• Mouse click on any dot to select it. The dot will change to green, and the map will adjust to center that location in the map view. Details about that record will be displayed to the right of the map.
• To hide the details (or the map), click on the double arrowhead symbol above the appropriate panel.

Viewing Data Results

• The details of all records generated by the search are available in the Details panel; use the arrow buttons at the top of the panel to navigate through the results.
• The dot on the map which corresponds to the displayed record is highlighted in green.
• If the source of the record is a species list, the complete list of taxa can be accessed via a link at the bottom of the details panel.
• If the source is a herbarium specimen, clicking on the "label view" option displays details in the format of a herbarium label. All vouchered records will use this display format until it is toggled back to "field view".
• If the source is a photograph, or if a vouchered specimen has a corresponding image, a thumbnail of the image appears above the details pane. Clicking on it will open a new tab with a full-sized image.

Other Selections

• Use the checkboxes above the "Create Map" button to limit searches to vouchered herbarium specimens, observations, or both.
• Include synonyms in all lists of scientific names by checking the "Show synonyms" box above the scientific name drop-down lists.
• Click the "Other Options" button to place various filters on your search to limit the results that are mapped.

To limit results to a given county(ies), click in the "Select counties" drop-down, uncheck the "Select all" box, and check the desired county(ies).

One or more collectors/observers can be selected from the drop-down list. As in the other drop-down lists, typing with the cursor in the list will "jump" you to that place in the alphabet, and pressing the keyboard <CTRL> key while clicking will select multiple names.

Results can be filtered for a time span by typing in the desired year. Deleting a date in either the beginning or the ending year box will return that value to its default (1860 for beginning year; the current year for ending).

Example: To map Asteraceae records collected by Kenton Chambers in Benton County, (1) select "Asteraceae" from the family list; (2) press the "Other Options" button"; (3) select "Chambers, K." from the Collectors/Observers list; (4) on the county list, uncheck the "select all" box and check Benton County.

Printing a Map

• The output generated by clicking on "Print Map" (found on the upper right border of the map) is single page printed to your printer with an image of the map as it is appears on the computer screen, the legend, and the search criteria.
• To increase the area of map printed, hide the details panel using the double arrowhead symbol in the upper right corner of that section.
• The placement of the map to be printed can be manipulated by clicking on the centering button in the cluster of arrow buttons, or by dragging the map with the cursor.
• Use the internet browser's "Print Preview" button (typically found under the "File" button of the toolbar) to preview the output, and use the browser's "Print" feature to direct the page to a printer.

Downloading Data Results

• A spreadsheet containing all the records in a search can be downloaded by clicking on "Download results" (found on the upper right border of the map).
• The number of records in a search is given on the upper left border of the map; it is also visible at the top of the details pane.
• Records are organized in increasing order of latitude, (i.e., southern Oregon records appear first).

Known Issues

• When mapping more taxa than there are colored symbols, those without an assigned color will not be visible on the map, though the data are present. Refine your search to include fewer taxa.

We are working to resolve these problems; thank you for your patience.