Herbarium specimens are a valuable shared resource for the future
We encourage National Collection holders to contribute specimens to the RHS Herbarium for their own records, and so others can benefit from this important record.
Nymphaea herbarium sheet
Why contribute to a herbarium?
A photograph can give you a good impression of a plant, but may not show key identification characteristics. A botanical drawing can include a more detailed look at plants for identification purposes. But a herbarium sheet is the best way to keep an accurate record of a plant for the future.
These herbarium sheets are available as a resource to researchers, historians and National Collection holders for generations to come. They are a visual reference, and also preserve the plant's DNA. The RHS, Kew, Natural History Museum and some universities have some of the earliest recorded specimens, which are still used for plant research today.
Herbarium sheet from Darwin's voyage on the Beagle
June James
Using herbarium sheets for research
Herbarium specimens digitised from hundreds of institutions around the world can be viewed by anyone here. If you need a high resolution version of the images contact us for more information.
The RHS Herbarium
The RHS Herbarium (in the Hilltop Centre at the RHS Garden in Wisley) is the largest herbarium for ornamental plants in the UK and aims to have a specimen from every garden plant in the UK. It is already home to many plants collected from National Plant Collections. It is essential that specimens of plants in the herbarium are correctly identified. Collection holders are well placed to do this for their chosen plant group.
Find out how to contribute to the RHS herbarium here. Read more about how to make herbarium specimens here. We organise regular workshops with the RHS for Collection holders who want to learn or improve their skills in herbarium specimen making - check the events page to see if one is happening soon. The colour of specimens needs to be recorded before they fade in the drying process using the RHS Colour chart. We have one of these in our central office and may be able to lend it to you.
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