A herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens and their associated data, functioning as a library of botanical information for scientific study. These collections are important for understanding plant diversity and relationships. The National Herbarium of France, part of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, is one of the world’s largest, representing a global repository of plant life holding centuries of botanical exploration and knowledge.
History and Development of the Herbarium
The institution’s origins trace back to 1635 with the founding of the Jardin royal des plantes médicinales by King Louis XIII. This Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants was established to study plants for their healing properties, forming the basis of the early collections. The garden and its research laid the groundwork for a national institution.
Following the French Revolution, the former royal garden was transformed into the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in 1793. This reorganization broadened its scope from medicinal plants to the comprehensive study of natural history. During this period, the herbarium expanded under influential botanists, who structured the collection and established its scientific importance.
The de Jussieu family of botanists was important to the herbarium’s development. Antoine, Bernard, and particularly Antoine-Laurent de Jussieu implemented a classification system based on the natural characteristics of plants, a departure from previous artificial systems.
The Scale of the Specimen Collection
The Paris Herbarium is among the largest in the world, housing an estimated 8 million plant specimens. This vast collection serves as a physical record of plant biodiversity from across the globe, gathered over more than three centuries of scientific study. The volume of material makes it a significant resource for researchers.
While the majority of the collection consists of vascular plants, the herbarium also maintains important holdings of non-vascular plants and fungi. These include extensive collections of algae, lichens, mosses, and fungi. This breadth supports a wide range of scientific inquiries.
Among its holdings are numerous historical collections. The herbarium preserves the personal collections of Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck and René Louiche Desfontaines. It also contains the specimens gathered by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland during their expedition to the Americas, as well as plants from the voyages of James Cook. These collections provide insights into global biodiversity from centuries ago.
Contemporary Scientific and Conservation Role
The herbarium is a center for modern scientific research, where researchers use the collection to address contemporary biological questions. DNA can be extracted from historical specimens, some centuries old, allowing for molecular and genetic studies that can resolve evolutionary relationships and track genetic changes over time.
Historical plant specimens are also tools for studying environmental change. By comparing the geographic locations of historical specimens with current plant distributions, scientists can model how species have responded to climate change and shifting landscapes. This data provides a long-term perspective that informs conservation strategies.
The collection is a resource for identifying new species and informing conservation efforts. Botanists consult the specimens to describe species that are new to science or to clarify taxonomic uncertainties. Data from the herbarium is digitized and shared through platforms like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), which contributes to worldwide biodiversity assessments and helps prioritize conservation for threatened species.
Public and Researcher Access
Access to the Paris Herbarium is managed to balance scientific use with the long-term preservation of its specimens. The main collection areas are not open to the general public for casual visits. This policy protects the delicate specimens from damage.
The public can engage with the herbarium’s work through the broader Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Related exhibits are on display within the Jardin des Plantes and its galleries, including the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution. These public spaces showcase botanical science and biodiversity, using knowledge from the herbarium’s collections.
For scientific use, the herbarium is accessible to accredited researchers, botanists, and students by appointment. A formal request is required to study the physical specimens on-site. The herbarium has also undertaken a large digitization effort, making millions of high-resolution images of its specimens and their data available online for virtual study.