The UC Jepson Herbaria is an aggregation of two large collections of archived plants housed together under one roof. Together the Herbaria holds close to 2,200,000 specimens, one of the largest in North America.
What is an herbarium? Why are they useful?
An herbarium [plural herbaria] is a collection of preserved plant specimens. The specimens undergo preservation processes as drying by heat or cold which eradicates pests and maintains the current status of the plant. The specimens are mounted and contained with archival materials. These specimens, once accessioned into a collection, are housed in air-locked cabinets [organization varies by institution].
The collections provide a tool for basic research in systematics, ecology, phytogeography, and evolution. They are actively used in teaching, as a resource for anatomical and biochemical investigations, as well as for identification of paleobotanical specimens. They provide population localities for studies ranging from biological control to rare plants.
The University Herbarium : established 1895, holds collections from around the world.
The Jepson Herbarium : established 1950, specializes in vascular plants of California.
