500 years
187 countries
30,000 collectors
1.56 million specimens
The National Herbarium of Victoria is home to the State Botanical Collection, a rich resource of preserved plant, fungi and algae specimens that provide invaluable information to scientists, land managers and historians. Valued at over $154 million, the Global Collection needs to be curated and databased to enable the scientific community to access this unique research repository. This work protects the collection from deterioration and ensures it will be available for future generations.
Each specimen documents the presence of an organism at a particular place and time. Together, they provide baseline data on species diversity and distributions, allowing us to track how plants, algae and fungi support life on Earth and to analyse extinction risk.
From microscopic plankton to giant kelp, algae are diverse plants that can be used in everything from food to fuel to pollution control.
A crucial food source, this family claims many fruits, including apples, berries, and plums – loved by humans and wildlife alike. Unlocking Rosaceae in our collection could fast-track research into better agricultural productivity for these economically and nutritionally important plants.
Brassicaceae is a family of extremes: a mix of important food plants like cabbage and broccoli and agricultural weeds. Our collection’s Brassicaceae data could help to assess extinction risk and support food security, as well as be used to prevent the spread of invasive species.
These herbs and shrubs are found worldwide and can be used ornamentally, as medicine and in ecological restoration. Our collection’s data on Resedaceae could be impactful in current research into bio-remediation of contaminated soils and phytomining in which these plants are used to extract metals from the soil.
Founded in 1853, the National Herbarium of Victoria is the oldest scientific institution in Victoria. The herbarium was established to house the State Botanical Collection, one of Australia's most valuable biological research repositories.
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