World Collections

Most of the World section is arranged according to Bentham and Hooker’s Genera Plantarum (1862-1883), a carryover from the late 19th Century when the entire herbarium was organised this way by then curator Isaac Henry Burkill (1870-1965). These collections have been little studied - some may not have been looked at since they arrived here nearly 200 years ago. They likely house the bulk of our undesignated type specimens and we frequently identify types while exploring these collections to fulfill enquiries or carry out research.

Because many of our World specimens were collected during the height of British and European colonial activity, they are also valuable historical resources. They can provide information about cultures and species that were casualties of aggressive colonial policies and shed light on the political and social dynamics of the period.