Herbaria: science and specimens

Science | Environment - Guest: Penny Sarchet | 02 Aug 10. At 389 years old, the Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria is one of the oldest positions in Oxford. Its current holder, Dr Stephen Harris, curates a vast collection of plant specimens, archived and housed in the Department of Plant Sciences. These specimens have been brought back to Oxford from all over the world since 1608. Stephen stresses, however, that old herbaria like these are of vital importance to 21st Century environmental research. In the face of climate change, plummeting biodiversity and habitat loss, historical plant collections have a lot to contribute when it comes to confronting today's environmental threats. The history represented within the Oxford Herbaria makes the collections a rich resource.