# Maryland Plant Atlas

> website on the distribution of every species of vascular plant, bryophyte, and algae that is native or naturalized in Maryland

**Wikidata**: [Q113634518](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113634518)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maryland-plant-atlas

## Summary
The Maryland Plant Atlas is a comprehensive digital phytogeographic map and website documenting the distribution of every native and naturalized plant species in Maryland. It provides detailed data on vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae found within the state. Created by the Maryland Plant Atlas Work Group, the resource serves as the definitive "Digital Atlas of the Maryland Flora."

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 2021
- **Creator:** Maryland Plant Atlas Work Group
- **Instance Of:** Website, atlas, and phytogeographic map
- **Main Subjects:** Phytogeography and flora of Maryland
- **Scope:** Includes vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae
- **Species Status:** Covers both native and naturalized species
- **Country of Origin:** United States
- **Official Website:** https://www.marylandplantatlas.org/index.php
- **Main Wikidata Property:** P11083

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Maryland Plant Atlas?
A: The Maryland Plant Atlas is designed to map the distribution of every species of vascular plant, bryophyte, and algae in Maryland. It tracks species that are either native to the state or have become naturalized there.

### Q: Who manages the Maryland Plant Atlas?
A: The website and its data are managed by the Maryland Plant Atlas Work Group. The project is also known by the alias "Digital Atlas of the Maryland Flora."

### Q: What types of plants are included in the atlas?
A: The atlas includes all vascular plants, as well as non-vascular groups such as bryophytes and algae. It is a comprehensive record of the state's botanical diversity.

## Why It Matters
The Maryland Plant Atlas is a vital resource for understanding the botanical landscape of Maryland. By providing a centralized, digital distribution map for all native and naturalized flora, it solves the challenge of tracking biodiversity across the state's diverse ecosystems. It is significant for its inclusion of not only vascular plants but also bryophytes and algae, offering a more complete picture of the state's phytogeography than traditional plant lists. This resource serves as an essential tool for researchers, conservationists, and educators, documenting the environmental heritage of the United States at a granular, state-specific level.

## Notable For
- **Comprehensive Taxonomic Scope:** Unlike many regional atlases that focus solely on vascular plants, this resource includes bryophytes and algae.
- **Geographic Specificity:** Provides a dedicated phytogeographic map specifically for the distribution of flora within Maryland.
- **Digital Accessibility:** Serves as a modern "Digital Atlas," making complex botanical distribution data available via a single web domain.
- **Standardized Identification:** Recognized in structured data systems via the specific Wikidata property P11083.

## Body

### Overview and Inception
The Maryland Plant Atlas was established in 2021 as a digital repository for the state's botanical data. It is classified as a phytogeographic map and an atlas, focusing specifically on the flora of Maryland, United States. The project is also referred to by its alias, the Digital Atlas of the Maryland Flora.

### Administration and Development
The entity was created by the Maryland Plant Atlas Work Group. It operates as a website served from a single web domain (marylandplantatlas.org). The primary language of the resource is English, and it is documented in international databases under the Japanese alias メアリーランド・フローラ・アトラス.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The main subjects of the atlas are the flora and phytogeography of Maryland. The database is designed to include:
- **Vascular Plants:** All native and naturalized species.
- **Bryophytes:** Comprehensive distribution data for mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
- **Algae:** Documentation of native and naturalized algal species within the state.

The atlas distinguishes between species that are indigenous (native) to the region and those that have been introduced and established (naturalized) over time. This dual focus allows for a complete mapping of the current botanical distribution across Maryland's geography.