masthead graphic
ISM Botany
Introduction to Herbaria
About the ISM Herbarium
Illinois Prairie Plants
Illinois Trees
Herbarium Database
Activities
Credits
ISM System
The ISM Herbarium Collection Online

photograph of herbarium sheetHerbarium specimens spend most of their days shut away in climate-controlled cabinets for preservation and study. Because few people get to see these beautiful examples of plants, the Museum wants to share them through digital imaging. Each specimen contains visual information in the parts of the plant shown, and a written history in the lower right-hand corner from the person who collected it, with notes by those who have studied it. The specimens are from several years old to 160 years old. All of them were collected in Illinois.

This Web exhibit presents more than 350 herbarium specimens of trees and prairie plants found in Illinois. The accompanying databases contain entries for the 250 prairie plant herbarium sheets and the 50 tree herbarium sheets pictured in the Photo Gallery, as well as the other 111,000 specimens in the ISM Herbarium collection.

The Web exhibit features a Photo Gallery Archive containing large digital photographs of the herbarium specimen sheets and captions describing them in detail.

photograph of group in herbarium

An introduction to herbaria and description of the Museum's herbarium describe how specimens are preserved and used for study.

Viewers will also find hands-on activities for individuals and for the classroom. One can create a leaf collection and herbarium, identify and classify plants and leaves, analyze plant adaptations, create botanical paintings with traditional art media and with computer software, and search for flower symbolism in art.

This database and gallery expand the already rich botanical resources of ISM's MuseumLink Illinois Prairie module and Forests of Illinois module. (https://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink )

 

Copyright © 2012 Illinois State Museum Site Map | ISM Privacy Information | Kids Privacy | Web Accessibility | Webmaster| Illinois DNR