University of Melbourne Herbarium

Full description

The University of Melbourne Herbarium started in 1926 with earliest specimens dating from 1770. Total collection size of some 100,000 specimens includes approximately 20,000 vascular plants, 35,000 algae, 20,000 mosses/liverworts/hornworts, 3,500 lichens, and 3,000 fungi. Includes approximately 200 type specimens. Focus of the collection is primarily Victorian but broader Australian collections exist for groups that have been research strengths in department over the years. Some international specimens in the collection, for example, material from Macquarie Island (algae), and UK and New Zealand (bryophytes). Collection does not aim to be comprehensive set of Victorian flora, rather representative and for teaching and research purposes. Repository for voucher specimens for research, including, Scanning Electron Microscopy and genetic/DNA sequencing.

Collection items findable through card catalogues, database (limited) and other finding aids. Several discrete collections are also housed in the Herbarium