The Herbarium

The Arboretum herbarium houses more than 162,000 dried plant specimens and 20,000 lichens, many from Illinois and Missouri. The herbarium's strongest collections are its (1) active and nearly comprehensive contemporary collection of the flora of the 24-county Chicago region and (2) broad collection of woody plants of the northern Temperate zone, both cultivated and spontaneous. Our Chicago region collections are available online through vPlants, and we are currently seeking funding to make an online portal for the remaining collections. Other important collections include:

Herbarium opportunities

The herbarium depends on our more than 30 active volunteers, who collect plants, mount specimens, file and accession, make labels, enter data, develop databases and aid in nomenclatural research, and assist in many other tasks. The herbarium is a lively and enjoyable place to work. If you are interested in volunteering with us, you can contact Andrew Hipp, Plant Systematist and Herbarium Curator, or Jason Sturner, Herbarium Assistant, to discuss possibilities.

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