Herbarium PO - “Museum and School of Botany”
The Herbarium MHNCUP-PO collection (registered in the Index Herbariorum with the international acronym "PO”) includes synoptic reference collections of Portuguese Floras, historic Exsiccatae, in an estimated total of 120,000 herbarium specimens (vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi and algae), and about 300 nomenclatural Types.
The main nuclei of the collection are from mainland Portugal, as well as Spain, Macaronesia, Europe and African territories. The origin of this Herbarium dates back to the 19th century and adds to the collections and vouchers published in the 21st century. The main names associated with the collections are Isaac Newton, Gonçalo Sampaio, Américo Pires de Lima and Arnaldo Rozeira. More recently, and as a result of incorporations by the MHNC-UP, collections of specimens gathered in ecological surveys carried out in the context of research or university training have emerged.
The main lines of work associated to this collection include taxonomy, biogeographic studies, maintenance, and conservation of collections and the history of science.
The collection is dehydrated and herbalized in herbarium folders/files and packages, or lyophilized in tubes. The most recent specimens are disinfected by anoxia and remain useful for molecular studies. Part of the collection has also been digitized and georeferenced. The rest of it is cataloged and accessible in physical files or on digital databases available for consultation upon request.
The main nuclei of the collection are from mainland Portugal, as well as Spain, Macaronesia, Europe and African territories. The origin of this Herbarium dates back to the 19th century and adds to the collections and vouchers published in the 21st century. The main names associated with the collections are Isaac Newton, Gonçalo Sampaio, Américo Pires de Lima and Arnaldo Rozeira. More recently, and as a result of incorporations by the MHNC-UP, collections of specimens gathered in ecological surveys carried out in the context of research or university training have emerged.
The main lines of work associated to this collection include taxonomy, biogeographic studies, maintenance, and conservation of collections and the history of science.
The collection is dehydrated and herbalized in herbarium folders/files and packages, or lyophilized in tubes. The most recent specimens are disinfected by anoxia and remain useful for molecular studies. Part of the collection has also been digitized and georeferenced. The rest of it is cataloged and accessible in physical files or on digital databases available for consultation upon request.
