Herbaria.

    Herbarium (Dry Garden)

• It is defined as "a store house of collected plant specimens that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets."
• These sheets are arranged in the sequence of an accepted classification system.
• These specimens, along with their description on herbarium sheets, become a store house or repository for future use. The herbarium sheet contains a label on the right-hand side at lower corner.
• Label provides information about date and place of collection, English, local and botanical names, family, collector's name etc.
• Herbaria also serve as quick referral systems in taxonomical studies.

Herbarium Sheet

Functions of a Herbarium

The two primary functions of herbarium are accurate identification and alpha taxonomic research (based on gross morphology).

The secondary functions include closer interaction between the student of general systematics and the herbarium.

Other important functions of a herbarium are –

  1.To preserve plant wealth including type material and palaeobotanical collections.

  2.To carry out exchange and loan of preserved plant material for research, exhibitions etc.

A list of important herbaria of the world is given below along with their standard abbreviations and the approximate number of specimens they hold

TYPE SPECIMEN (HERBARIUM SHEET)

Type specimen (Herbarium Sheet) of newly discovered plant should be place in herbarium (Dry garden). Standered size of herbarium sheet is 11.5 × 16.5 inches.

Holotype - Herbarium sheet on which the first description of plant is based.

Isotype - Duplicate of holotype - In presence of holotype a second herbarium sheet prepared from the original plant is called isotype.

Paratype - Additional herbarium sheet used in the first description of plant is called paratype. It is prepared from some other plant of same species having some variations.

Lectotype - In case of holotype is lost, second herbarium sheet prepared from the original plant is called lectotype.

Neotype - In case of holotype and original plant is lost, then herbarium sheet prepared from some other plant of same species is called neotype.

Syntype - In case of holotype and original plant is lost then many herbarium sheet prepared from many plants of same species is called syntype.

Note : Nomenclature is invalid in absence of Herbarium sheet.