Herbarium: Plant Specimen Collection

• A herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens and associated data used for scientific study
• Vital resource for botanists, ecologists, and conservationists
• Herbaria serve as historical records of plant diversity, distribution, and morphology
• Specimens are typically dried, pressed, and mounted on archival paper for long-term storage
• The associated data includes collection locality, date, habitat, collector's name, and any other relevant observations

Functions of a Herbarium

• Serves as a repository of plant specimens for taxonomic research and species identification
• Documents plant distributions and helps track changes in vegetation over time
• Provides material for anatomical, cytological, chemical, and molecular studies
• Acts as a reference collection for students, researchers, and the general public
• Supports conservation efforts by providing information on rare and endangered plant species
• Aids in identifying invasive species and monitoring their spread
• Facilitates the study of plant evolution, ecology, and ethnobotany
• Serves as a valuable resource for identifying poisonous or medicinal plants

Significance of Herbaria

• Essential for accurate plant identification and classification
• Provides baseline data for monitoring environmental change
• Supports research in plant systematics, evolution, and ecology
• Plays a role in biodiversity conservation and management
• Contributes to education and public awareness about plants
• Aids in drug discovery and development
• Supports forensic botany and other applications

Global Herbaria

• The world's herbaria house an estimated 350 million specimens
• Index Herbariorum is a global directory of herbaria, providing information on their collections, staff, and contact details
• Major herbaria include:
  • Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France)
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Richmond, UK)
  • New York Botanical Garden (Bronx, USA)
  • Harvard University Herbaria (Cambridge, USA)
  • Komarov Botanical Institute (Saint Petersburg, Russia)

Important Herbaria Collections

• Linnaean Herbarium - Contains specimens used by Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy
• Gray Herbarium - Focuses on plants of the New World
• National Herbarium of the Netherlands - Contains a significant collection of Indonesian plants
• Berlin-Dahlem Herbarium - A large collection with a global scope, although some specimens were lost during World War II

Indian Herbaria

• The Central National Herbarium (CAL) in Kolkata is the largest and oldest herbarium in India
• It was established in 1793 and houses over 2 million specimens
• Other important Indian herbaria include:
  • Herbarium of the Forest Research Institute (DD) in Dehradun
  • Madras Herbarium (MH) in Coimbatore
  • Blatter Herbarium (BLAT) in Mumbai
  • Herbarium of the National Botanical Research Institute (LWG) in Lucknow

Central National Herbarium (CAL)

• Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
• Established in 1793, making it one of the oldest and largest herbaria in Asia
• Holds a vast collection of plant specimens, representing the flora of India and neighboring regions
• Serves as a major center for taxonomic research and plant identification in India
• Plays a crucial role in documenting and conserving India's plant diversity
• Associated with the Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

Forest Research Institute Herbarium (DD)

• Located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Focuses on the flora of the Himalayan region and other parts of India
• Significant collection of forest plant species
• Supports forestry research and education

Madras Herbarium (MH)

• Located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
• Focuses on the flora of Southern India
• Important collection of plant specimens from the Western Ghats and other biodiversity hotspots
• Contributes to the study and conservation of the region's plant diversity

Blatter Herbarium (BLAT)

• Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Established by Fr. Ethelbert Blatter
• Significant collection of plants from Western India, including the Western Ghats
• Associated with St. Xavier's College

Herbarium of the National Botanical Research Institute (LWG)

• Located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Focuses on the flora of Uttar Pradesh and surrounding regions
• Important collection of economically important plants and ornamentals
• Supports research in plant breeding, biotechnology, and ethnobotany

Herbarium Specimen Preparation

• Plant specimens are collected in the field, noting habitat and location data
• Specimens are pressed and dried to remove moisture and prevent decay
• The dried specimens are mounted on archival-quality paper
• A label is attached to the sheet with collection data
• Specimens are stored in pest-free cabinets, organized taxonomically
• Digitalization by imaging of specimens for online access

Herbarium Data Management

• Herbaria are increasingly using electronic databases to manage specimen data
• Digital images of specimens are often made available online
• Georeferencing specimen localities allows for mapping plant distributions
• Data sharing and collaboration among herbaria are becoming more common using online portals

Modern Uses of Herbaria

• DNA extraction and analysis for molecular systematics
• Studying plant responses to climate change
• Identifying sources of new medicines
• Investigating the impacts of invasive species
• Forensic botany applications
• Teaching and outreach programs

Challenges Facing Herbaria

• Limited funding for staff, equipment, and maintenance
• Increasing space limitations for new acquisitions
• Threats from pests, fire, and natural disasters
• Need for improved data management and digitization
• Loss of expertise in plant taxonomy

Learn about herbaria, collections of preserved plant specimens used for scientific study. These collections are vital for botany, ecology, and conservation, serving as historical records of plant diversity and distribution. Specimens are dried, pressed, and mounted with associated data for reference and research.