Herbarium Overview

It is a reference collection or library of plant specimens preserved for long-term study. Most plant samples are dried and pressed, labelled, and mounted on light card for safer storage and handling. They usually include leaves and a range of flowers, fruit or cones, seed and bark, as these are important features for identification.

Herbarium specimens are used for many purposes including:

• Comparison of specimens when identifying plant samples;
• Research into the relationships of plants (taxonomy);
• Preserving vouchers of a plant species or group from a particular location, to compile the distribution range of that species or group.