Herbarium

* Dubautia kalalauensis, a New Species of the Hawaiian Silversword Alliance (Compositae, Madiinae) from Northwestern Kaua‘i

Fungi | Reef Algae | Lichens | Ferns | Vascular Plants | Native Plants | DNA
Seaweeds of Hawaii

About

Founded in 1907, the University of Hawaii's herbaria incorporates the Lyon Arboretum collection, together with some of the leading researchers in the Pacific basin and collections continue to expand. For almost 100 years, the teaching collections held in the University of Hawai'i herbaria have been a focal point for teaching, training and education on the flora of Hawai'i and the Pacific. The University of Hawai'i Herbarium (St. John 401) collects, houses and maintains voucher specimens of plants that reflect the teaching, research and project efforts of faculty, staff and students at UH Manoa. There are two primary collections, namely the University teaching and research collection (HAW) and the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum collection (HLA). More than 42,000 voucher specimens from are held in the herbarium. The HLA collection includes more than 8000 specimens of plants cultivated at Lyon Arboretum; plants collected for screening by National Institutes of Health and native Hawaiian flora. For more information about the collection or exchange contact herbaria@hawaii.edu

The Herbarium is a member of the Pacific Neighborhood Consortium, the Society of Herbarium Curators, International Association of Plant Taxonomists, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Natural Science Collections Alliance, Hawaiian Botanical Society, and the Hawaii Museum Association.

Special Collections
Several special collections are being developed to assist in the development of undergraduate courses. These include Alien Plants, Campus Plants, Invasive Plants, Ferns, Psychoactive Drug Plants, Poisonous Plants, Wood, Hawaiian Ethnobotany (Canoe Plants), Economic Botany, Seagrasses, Native Hawaiian Plants, Threatened or Endangered species, and Forensic Botany (Palynology). Other collections include the Flora of Samoa, Flora of Tonga, DNA banking, wood and wet alga collections. Specimens also include the personal collections of some of Hawaii's most noted scientists and explorers including Harold St. John, Harold L. Lyons, Joseph Rock, Charles Lamaroux, and contemporary botanists such as Dr. Clifford Smith, and Dr. Art Whistler are just a few whose collections can be studied in the herbaria.

Visitors on Arrival
Visitors should contact the Collection Manager prior to arriving at the Herbarium. Visits are by appointment only during normal working hours - Monday through Friday, 1:00 pm to 5 pm. Special arrangements may be made for consultation of specimens and library resources at other times for visiting scholars. On arrival to campus, come to the Botany Department reception area on the 1st floor of St. John Hall to sign-in and register with the Secretary. A brief orientation will be made be the curator to the facilities and collections at that time.

Loan Policy | Usage Policy | Destructive Sampling Policy

To arrange for the consultation or loan of specimens, contact the collection manager. Normal working hours are Monday through Friday, 1:00 pm to 5 pm. Special arrangements may be made for consultation of specimens and library resources for visiting scholars and students.

Specimen Drying and Mounting Facility
A heated plant drier and mounting area is located in St. John 404. This room is available to students who are conducting research or completing assignments for taxonomic courses.