University of Melbourne Herbarium, Herbarium at University of Melbourne, Australia.
The University of Melbourne Herbarium is a research facility housed in the School of BioSciences that holds around 150,000 preserved plant specimens, along with fungi, lichens, bryophytes, and marine algae. The specimens are organized and maintained by staff who continue to add to the collection from botanical fieldwork and institutional exchanges.
The facility was founded in 1926 by bringing together collections from Burnley Horticultural College and the Victorian School of Forestry. This merger created a unified research center that combined the botanical expertise and specimen holdings of multiple local institutions.
The collection serves as a working research tool that scientists from around the world depend on for studying plant diversity and adaptation. Visitors can see how specimens are organized and classified, which shows the practical methods behind plant science.
The facility is open on weekdays and located in the biological sciences building on campus, which is accessible by public transportation. It is helpful to contact ahead if you want to view specific collections or work with research staff.
The collection holds plant specimens from isolated and protected locations such as Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island, which are difficult to access in person. These geographically diverse examples offer insight into the plant life of islands and reef systems scattered across the globe.
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