Botany collections

Dr Mark Carine

The algae collection is one of the largest in the world, with more than a quarter of a million specimens from around the globe.

Examination of this material has revealed new taxonomic and distributional data, with more yet to be discovered.

Almost every known British and Irish native species and established non-native taxon is represented.

One of the world’s largest diatom collections accumulated from the early nineteenth century to the present day.

One of the most important collections of ferns and other seed-free vascular plants in the world, with around 280,000 specimens.

The two million General Herbarium specimens represent a unique global resource for studying global seed plant diversity.

The Historical Collections Room houses some of our most historic items, including botanical objects collected over 400 years ago.

The lichen collection is one of the largest in the world, consisting of at least 10,000 type specimens, and is an important resource for research.

The collection has a global scope and was the foundation for the book Monograph of the Myzetozoa by A and G Lister.

Find out how to arrange a visit to the collections and access specimens for research.

Find out how we fulfil our duty to provide a safe and secure environment for the collections in our care.

Discover how we are preparing for the UK’s largest collections move and which collections will have limited access.