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HERBARIUM
The Herbarium is a collection of
pressed and dried specimens usually arranged according to a
classification system. A modern herbarium includes diverse collection of
flowering plants, gymnosperms, fern, mosses, lichens and fungi, algae
and fossils. To brief, the herbarium of today is research, training and
service institution that serve as a reference centre, documentation
facility and data storehouse. Brief regarding its utilities as follows:
HERBARIUM AS A DATA STORE
HOUSE:
The available collection in the
herbarium is used by genetics searching for new sources of DNA material;
chemists study alkaloids, Pharmacists and other researchers
systematically seeking new anti-tumor compounds, and individuals looking
for new natural food and energy sources. Data for determining the
environmental impact assessment of various industrial installations and
different land uses also represented through plant collected specimens.
Herbaria are regarded as a major source of information on habitat,
ecology, distribution, and taxonomy of rare species. It is also natural
data resource for comparative morphology and phylogenetic studies; a
warehouse of material for working out ranges and ecological
distributions; and a primary source of information on humanity’s
explorations and observations of flora and vegetation.
HERBARIUM AS AN EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCE:
It is routine job to develop and
maintain collections for courses in local flora, horticulture, general
taxonomy, advanced systematics and special groups of plants such as
aquatics, fungi, grasses and trees. Collections serve as a standard
resource for graduate students, working on problem selection and
feasibility in advanced degree programme. Many professional staff
members actively participating in undergraduate and graduate teaching.
Occasionally, herbaria sponsor short professional and public interest
courses such as spring flora, trees in winter and culinary herbs. The
herbarium collections provide a foundation for training in plant
diversity and conservation.
HERBARIUM AS A LIBRARY:
The collections constitute a
vast reservoir of facts about plants. Some of the collections are rare
and no longer replaceable. Many valid requests for advice concerning
plants related questions and problems come from public School students,
teachers and individuals working for NGOs’.
Government agencies and
environmental forums. Herbaria also receive a wide variety of queries
about plants from scientists, administrators, corporate personnel,
doctors, lawyers writers and amateur as well as professional
naturalists. Knowledgeable staff members make an effort to respond to
reasonable requests for information on plants and plant materials
associated with herbaria.
HERBARIUM AS A LABORATORY FOR
SYSTEMATIC RESEARCH:
The plant collections are basic
to the scholarly research taxonomists and the training of students in
systematics. The curatorial staffs provide a significant service to the
public on botanical questions and problems. The collections and staff
expertise found in herbaria through the world form an international
plant resources system of irreplaceable and inestimable valve to science
and humanity.
HERBARIUM AS A REFERENCE
CENTRE:
It is a fundamental resource for
identification of plants practicing taxonomists, filed ecologists,
workers with endangered and threatened species, natural heritage
employees, conservationists, naturalists and environmentalists.
The plant collection, reprints
exsiccate and manuscripts. In this it serves as fundamental references
for basic and applied research in Botany, biology, agriculture,
medicine, pharmacy and genetics.
HERBARIUM AS DOCUMENTATION:
It is the repository for
collections of historic significance such as type of new taxa,
representatives of new discoveries, economically important introductions
and geographical disjuncts; sets of specimens providing the bases of
floristic, reversionary and monographic studies.
At “EARTH SUMMIT” in Rio de
Janeiro, June, 1992, UN Biodiversity Convention highlights the growing
and widespread interest in biodiversity. Like foresters, gardeners,
ecologists, conservationists and nature lovers are also increasingly
appreciating the vital role that herbaria play in underpinning such
projects aiming at their interests. The growing importance of herbaria
and the information they contain cannot be overestimated. In order to
meet future need, therefore, it is essential that adequate human and
financial resources be provided for their development and maintenance. |
