Smithsonian Institution

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  • Name

    Smithsonian Institution

  • Herbarium Code

    US

  • Current Status

    Active

  • Correspondents

    Eric Schuettpelz, Curator of the Herbarium, schuettpelze@si.edu

  • Contact

    [1] 202 633 0914

  • Address

    United States National Herbarium
    Department of Botany
    National Museum of Natural History
    Smithsonian Institution
    MRC 166 PO Box 37012
    Washington, District of Columbia 20013
    U.S.A.
    http://botany.si.edu/

  • CITES

    US 005

  • Specialty

    Taxonomic Coverage: All groups (except non-lichenized fungi)

    Geography: Worldwide with emphasis on neotropics, North America, Pacific Islands, Philippines, and Indian subcontinent

  • Notes

    At this time, the United States National Herbarium is unable to accept the unsolicited donation or exchange of specimens. Should you be interested in donating or exchanging specimens, please contact the Curator of the Herbarium (SchuettpelzE@si.edu) prior to initiating shipment. Specimens received without prior authorization may be retained, returned, or disposed of, at our sole discretion. US fungi (except lichens) were transferred to BPI. US has collections from the United States South Pacific Exploring Expedition (1838-1842), the United States North Pacific Exploring Expedition (1853-1856), LaPlata Expedition (1853-1856), Mexican Boundary Survey (1854-1855), California Geological Survey (1860-1867), International Boundary Commission of United States and Mexico (1892-1894), Colombia Cinchona missions (1940-1945), Bureau of Science (Philippines), Harriman Alaskan Expedition, and Regnell Expeditions (Brazil). The core herbarium is 100% digitized and searchable online (https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/botany/).

  • Feedback

    Send comment or correction to the Editor of Index Herbariorum

  • Number of Specimens

    5100000

  •   Num. of Specimens Num. Databased Num. Imaged
    Algae 244262 244000 45660
    Bryophytes 5476 8821 2085
    Fungi/Lichens 117358 106427 16269
    Pteridophytes 269359 280000 266443
    Seed Plants 2202411 2242328 1407799
  • Date Founded

    1848

  • Updated

    25/03/2025

  • Incorporated Herbaria

    Beaudette Foundation Marine Herbarium;
    cryptogams of Goucher College;
    LGO;
    lichens of MO;
    Mouillefarine Herbarium;
    part of Biltmore Herbarium;
    part of GMS (types and G. J. Hollenberg collections);
    Part of LCU (Cyperaceae);
    part of NTS;
    types of USFS;
    USNC (28000 specimens)

  • Important Collectors

    W. L. Abbott, A. Alfaro, H. A. Allard, Fr. G. Arsène, C. G. Baenitz, M. Bang, R. O. Belcher, B. Berlin, S. F. Blake, L. J. Brass, E. L. Braun, W. E. Broadway, O. Buchtien, W. M. Canby, A. W. Chapman, A. Chase, M. Clemens, O. F. Cook, F. V. Coville, J. Cuatrecasas, A. H. Curtiss, E. Y. Dawson, F. E. Drouet, A. Ducke, W. W. Eggleston, A. D. E. Elmer, A. W. Evans, W. D. Fleming, G. Forrest, F. R. Fosberg, M. H. Foslie, J. C. Frémont, H. G. Galeotti, A. F. M. Glaziou, E. A. Goldman, D. Griffiths, M. E. Hale, O. Haught, A. A. Heller, G. B. Hinton, A. S. Hitchcock, G. J. Hollenberg, A. Jahn, Jr., M. E. Jones, W. A. Kellerman, E. P. Killip, G. Klug, W. N. Koelz, F. Lamson-Scribner, A. B. Langlois, J. B. Leiberg, E. C. Leonard, A. Mann, W. R. Maxon, F. A. McClure, E. A. Mearns, E. D. Merrill, J. T. Moggridge, C. T. Mohr, T. Morong, C. V. Morton, J. C. B. Mutis y Bosio, E. W. Nelson, C. R. Orcutt, E. C. A. Purpus, J. F. Rock, J. N. Rose, H. H. Rusby, P. A. Rydberg, W. E. Safford, J. H. Sandberg, F. R. R. Schlechter, R. E. Schultes, A. F. Skutch, A. C. Smith, H. H. Smith, J. D. Smith, L. B. Smith, L. A. Spetzman, P. C. Standley, E. S. Steele, W. N. Suksdorf, J. R. Swallen, W. R. Taylor, I. F. Tidestrom, A. Tonduz, G. R. Vasey, H. von Türckheim, E. H. Walker, L. F. Ward, S. Watson, I. L. Wiggins, H. Willey, T. A. Williams, E. O. Wooton, C. Wright