CARUM is a computer database on caryotaxonomy of the plant family Umbelliferae. This database contains information about haploid and diploid chromosome numbers as well as references to the studies of caryotype morphology of the Umbelliferae species all over the world with indication of the geographic origin of the gatherings. A database program provides automatic synonymization of the caryologically investigated species. An automatic putting of caryological information within each species in chronological order is also performed in the database. File of generic names is from GNOM database.

A menu of querries of CARUM database allows to receive analytical answers on the different users' requests - about the distibutions of chromosome numbers within subfamilies, tribes, subtribes, and genera, about species investigated of some territory, about the species, the information of which is contained in this or that publication, or in appointed time.

Example

At present time (May, 1999) the database CARUM contains information (5990 units of "karyoinformation") about chromosome numbers and karyotypes of 1712 species of the world Umbelliferae, belonging to 337 genera. There are 975 references on karyological publications in the family since 1914. Thus this database is a "movable monograph" on caryosystematics of one of the most important and more taxonomically difficult families of the flowering plants.

Methods used in creating of CARUM database can be employed without modification in reviewing the chromosome numbers of any taxa of plants and animals, as well as in preparing regional caryotaxonomical reports.

Publication: Karyotaxonomical analysis in the Umbelliferae. By M.G.Pimenov, M.G.Vassilieva, Ju.V.Daushkevich & M.V.Leonov (submitted)

back to the article text