Herbaria: what are they?

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Herbaria what are they?
Carefully organized collections of preserved,
documented plant specimens PLUS Associated
resources PLUS People to help answer your
questions
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The Intermountain Herbarium

• Is a major regional herbarium with
• gt 234,000 specimens, of which more than 63,000
  have been databased
• A library of more than 5,000 catalogued items
• A slide collection of more than 2000 slides
• Helpful staff members

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Herbarium Specimens
Most of the Intermountain Herbariums specimens
are vascular plants, but the fungal and bryophyte
collections are becoming more active.
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Specimens have two parts
The plant material and
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and the label
The label is critical. The identity of the
specimen can be checked the label cannot be.
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Our specimens come from
These are just georeferenced specimens. We have
many others.
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Some useful cabinets to know
Range Class
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The library .
The herbariums reference library has more than
5000 items. They are listed in the main library
catalog.
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Some references are for professionals
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Others for non-professionals
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and some are for children .
Books for children useful for those in
education
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The herbariums other resources include a slide
collection
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Demonstration specimens
Demonstration mounts
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Resources for preparing specimens
The Intermountain Herbarium will loan plant
presses and allow you to use its plant dryer and
label making program.
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Some tools the herbarium does not provide
Field notebook Clippers and digger Tags Pencil(s)
Bags GPS, altimeter Field press
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Identifying plants
The herbarium provides space, microscopes, and
reference works for use in identifying plants
(Floras are on shelves adjacent to this space).
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Do not know how to identify plants?

• Take a class
• Ask the herbarium staff to give you some pointers
  and then just do it (you do need to be prepared
  to learn about plants)
• Pay us (50 per hour for good specimens, 75 per
  hour for poor specimens).

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Who can use the herbarium?

• Anyone students, staff, faculty of USU and
  members of the public
• The herbarium is open 8 am 5 pm, Monday through
  Friday
• Please call if you would like a tour
  (435-797-0061 or 435-797-1584)
• It is a great resource use it!