Plant Collections and Plant Collecting

Let Us Voucher Your Specimens

The Intermountain Herbarium’s core mission is to house, curate, and disseminate plant biodiversity data, i.e., plant specimens and their associated collection information. By doing so we document that diversity (for example, we can accession specimens that underlie specific research projects or that demonstrate the occurrence of particular species in particular places) and provide an invaluable bank of data for future research and conservation activities. See our Contributors’ Guide [link to file currently at: UTC_admin_shared\UTC webpage\images_etc_toLinkTo\How to templates and images\UTC_specimenCollectionAndDonationProtocol.pdf] for more information.

Plant Collecting

collection

Well-made plant collections last for hundreds of years when curated in collections like the Intermountain Herbarium and form an invaluable bank of data for future research, education and conservation activities. By accessioning specimens with us, you’ll not only provide support for your own work, you’ll also be contributing to this important resource that now comprises nearly 300 thousand specimens—your specimens have the potential to contribute to botanical study, education, and conservation in ways that are impossible to imagine in the present. 

In addition, collecting plant specimens is a powerful way to learn more about botanical diversity, providing individuals with the opportunity to closely examine individual plants and to compare among different varieties.

However, not all specimens are created equal and specimen curation is a time-consuming activity. It is important to ensure that your specimens are of the highest quality in order to maximize their utility.

Resources for Plant Collecting