The Kew Herbarium, located within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, England, serves as a global scientific resource for botanical and mycological knowledge. It houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of preserved plant and fungal specimens. Its comprehensive holdings provide a reference for researchers studying the planet’s flora and fungi, supporting biodiversity understanding and conservation efforts worldwide.
Origins and Development
The Kew Herbarium began its establishment in the 1850s. Sir William Hooker, director of Kew from 1841, made his personal herbarium collection available, laying an early foundation. Initially, collections were stored within Hunter House. Holdings expanded through expeditions and the acquisition of tropical and colonial plant collections. By the 1870s, the collection grew, leading to the construction of the first purpose-built wing in 1877.
The Vast Collection
The Kew Herbarium holds approximately seven million preserved vascular plant specimens and 1.25 million fungal specimens. These are typically pressed and dried, though some are preserved in spirit. The collection includes specimens dating back to the early 18th century, representing over 260 years of botanical exploration.
About 330,000 “type specimens” are included, which are particularly significant. These serve as definitive reference points for species identification and classification globally, representing the original material used to describe a new species. The herbarium’s holdings represent approximately 95% of known vascular plant genera.
Global Research and Conservation
The extensive collection at the Kew Herbarium is utilized for scientific research. Researchers use specimens for botanical taxonomy, which involves plant classification and naming, and for evolutionary studies. The collections also underpin global biodiversity assessments, helping scientists understand plant distribution and abundance worldwide.
The herbarium contributes to plant conservation by aiding in endangered species identification and mapping their geographical distributions. This information informs targeted conservation strategies for vulnerable plant populations. Specimens offer insights into plant morphology, environmental niches, and phenology, the study of flowering and fruiting times, providing valuable data for understanding global environmental changes. Genetic material can be extracted for DNA studies.
Digitization and Future Initiatives
Efforts are underway to digitize the physical collection at the Kew Herbarium. This involves scanning specimens to create high-resolution images and developing digital databases with information from collection labels. A £29 million digitization project began in 2022, targeting completion by 2026.
Digitization enhances global accessibility for researchers worldwide. It also facilitates scientific collaboration and enables advanced data analysis, opening new avenues for botanical discovery. Modern infrastructure and ongoing expansions support these advancements, ensuring the herbarium remains at the forefront of botanical research and information dissemination.