XVI International Botanical Congess

An Herbarium Collection is one of the most precious assets a plant biologist may have. Pressed and preserved plant materials provide morphological, chemical, and ecological data for many types of research. Without these types of collections, it would be impossible to see specimens from certain regions of the world. When a plant is preserved in a collection, it becomes available to study for many years. Such collections are invaluable to the scientific community, but despite their value, may remain undiscovered or underused. The Cornell University Bryophyte Herbarium is an underused collection. With over 63,000 specimens, the collection has much to offer. This collection is unique in many ways, which adds to its value and importance. An interesting history surrounds the collection, and it has particularly strong holdings of certain bryophyte groups and various geographical regions. Additionally, the bryophyte specimens are complemented by the exquisite original moss illustrations of Georg Roth.