Herbarium

What is Herbarium?

A herbarium is a carefully organized collection of preserved plant specimens, most often dried and pressed flat, then mounted on stiff white sheets. Each specimen is labeled with details such as where and when it was collected, its habitat, and who collected it. Some herbaria also keep bulky or delicate parts, like cones or fruits, in boxes or preserved in alcohol. The collection is stored in cabinets, sorted by plant family and species, and serves as a reference for scientists and students.

Where does Herbarium come from?

The practice of making herbaria dates back at least six centuries, with early roots in Italy. Luca Ghini, a physician and botanist in Bologna, revived the study of actual plants by pressing and drying them for study, rather than relying on old texts. Early herbaria were bound like books, but Carl Linnaeus later introduced the use of loose sheets for easier reordering. The oldest surviving herbarium is from around 1532. Over time, herbaria became central to the study of plants as a science, helping document plant life from distant places and across centuries.

How Herbarium is made

To create a herbarium specimen, a plant is collected in the field and arranged flat between sheets of absorbent paper, then pressed and dried. The specimen is later mounted on a sheet of stiff paper and labeled with important information. For plants that cannot be pressed, such as cones or large fruits, other methods like storage in boxes or preservation in alcohol are used. The sheets are then organized by species and family in folders and cabinets, with careful attention to labeling and protection from pests.

When and where Herbarium is used

Herbaria are used by botanists, ecologists, and other scientists to identify plants, study their distribution, and track changes in vegetation over time. They serve as a reference for naming and classifying plants, and can provide the only record of extinct or rare species. Herbaria are also valuable for genetic studies, as preserved specimens can yield DNA for research. Field guides and manuals often rely on herbarium collections to show the range and variation of plants.

Forms of Herbarium

Some herbaria specialize in certain types of plants, such as wood (xylarium) or fungi (fungarium). Others focus on horticultural plants and are called hortoria. The largest herbaria are found in cities like Paris, New York, Kew, St. Petersburg, and Geneva, each housing millions of specimens. Collections may include types, which are the original specimens used to describe a species, and exsiccata, which are published series of specimens.

What Herbarium means

Herbaria have played a key role in the development of botany as a science, shifting the focus from medicinal uses to plant classification and study. They are important for conservation, helping track plant extinction and environmental change. Some herbaria, like the Linnaean Herbarium in England, hold historic specimens collected by famous botanists. The organization and preservation of herbaria are recognized as essential for ongoing research and education.

Traditions that use it

Questions people ask about Herbarium

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• Index HerbariorumNew York Botanical Garden, Article

• Herbarium on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data