Herbaria: Meaning, History and Functions

Introduction

Many sciences are dependent on plant taxonomy, which in turn is dependent on them all. Because the taxonomist is responsible for identifying and classifying plants, providing information about their flora, names and identification methods, all fields of plant science are dependent on them; their activities are fundamental. Other disciplines such as ecology, plant breeding and phytosociology are also crucial in plant taxonomy. It is important to understand how plants are distributed to solve taxonomic issues. The established and proven principles of taxonomy have helped establish the species of thousands of plants we know today.

Herbarium or Herbaria:

A herbarium or herbaria of biology is where dried, and mounted specimens are kept according to recognized classification systems and are readily available for reference. People sometimes call it herbaria biology. It is also considered “a repository of information about plant diversity.” The herbarium stores collected plant specimens, which were dried, pressed and preserved on sheets before. These sheets are also arranged in accordance with a widely accepted system of classification. These specimens are stored together with their descriptions on a herbarium sheet to become a repository or storehouse for future use.

A label is also included on the herbarium sheets. It provides information such as the date and location of collection, English, local, and botanical names, family, collector, and so forth. The herbarium serves as a quick reference system in taxonomic research.

Every research institution and educational institution that teaches science has its own collection of plant species specimens. Many specimens may be collected from different regions to document the flora. These collections are kept in special cupboards that can be easily retrieved when necessary. E.g., herbarium file biology or biology herbarium file.

History:

In Italy, the concept of herbaria was first developed in the 16th century. At that time, dried plants were gathered on paper. The herbarium was invented by Luca Ghini (1480 – 1556). His students spread this art throughout Europe. Many specimens were mounted on paper sheets and bound into volumes. It was possible to transport the herbarium specimens from one place to another. This allowed physicians to use these specimens for reference material when making medicines from plants. Linnaeus popularised the practice of mounting specimens on single sheets and stacking them. Herbaria are permanent repositories for plant specimens. They also provide information about plants.

Herbarium Functions:

  1. The majority of taxonomic research programs in both fundamental and applied nature use preserved plant specimens from herbaria.
  2. The main source of information on plant diversity and vegetation is the preserved specimens of plants.
  3. After consultation with a herbarium, a list of plant species may be prepared that includes their medicinal and other ethnobotanical value. A herbarium is a repository of national plant wealth.
  4. The herbarium may contain a representation of all the species in a genus or all the genera in a family.
  5. Herbarium specimens are the basis of classifications of the world’s flora.
  6. Only after the analysis of herbarium specimens can monographs be prepared of genera and families.
  7. After consultation with herbariums, a list of endangered species in any given region can be prepared.
  8. Herbaria can identify only a few collections.
  9. The big herbaria offer training courses to the young generation, which can lead to job opportunities for them.
  10. Herbarium material can be used to study anatomy, palynology and chemical properties of desired plants.
  11. A herbarium provides information about the distribution and occurrences of certain plant species.
  12. Herbaria provides scientific information about the plants to the public.
  13. Herbaria lends specimens to other institutions for study purposes.

Some important herbaria for the information:

  1. Central National Herbarium (Herbarium Indian Botanic Gardens, formerly Calcutta Herbarium), Howrah (India).
  2. Herbarium, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (New Delhi, India).
  3. Herbarium, National Botanical Research Institute Lucknow, India.
  4. Herbarium of Forest Research Institute Dehradun (India).
  5. Eastern Circle Herbarium of BSI Shillong (also known as the Assam Herbarium), Meghalaya, India.
  6. Southern Circle Herbarium of BSI (previously called the Madras Herbarium), Coimbatore.
  7. Western Circle Herbarium of BSI Pune, India (Poona).
  8. Herbarium at Royal Botanic Garden, Kew Richmond, Surrey, UK.
  9. Herbarium of British Museum of Natural History London, UK.
  10. Herbarium at New York Botanical Garden New York, U.S.A.
  11. Herbarium of Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis, U.S.A.
  12. Herbarium at Museum National d’ Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France.
  13. Herbarium at Komarov Botanical Institution, St. Petersburg (Russia).

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