The University of Florida Herbarium welcomes visitors with a legitimate research interest to consult the collections.

The herbarium holds a vast storehouse of information in its library and with museum specimens of historic importance dating back into the mid-1800s. The specimens are fragile and are organized in a specialized system. Our goal is to balance the use of the collection with its preservation.

Please read our Collection Use Protocols before planning your visit to the Herbarium.

Arranging a Visit

Visitors wishing to use a collection are requested to contact a designated staff member of the appropriate collection in order to arrange a visit. This will allow us to schedule the visit, have staff available to assist, and make sure the collection will be available for use so that the goals of the visitor may be accomplished. Contact and location information is available on each of the collection pages.

Please see our Plan Your Visit page for hours, directions and parking information.

Collection Access

Incoming Specimen Pest Control Policy

All specimens arriving to the herbarium must be decontaminated to reduce the possibility of introducing insect pests. Typically, incoming material is frozen 14 days and then stored in tightly sealed herbarium cabinets. Alternatively, material may be fumigated at the University of Florida Pest Control facility (this usually takes only a day or two). Contact the herbarium staff to make arrangements. Please note, if you plan to be here for only a few days, then you must mail your specimens to be frozen in advance of your visit.

Loans

No specimens may be removed from the herbarium collection without proper loan authorization and forms. Loans are made in accordance with the University of Florida Herbarium loan policies. Visitors, after consultation with herbarium staff, may select specimens for loan. Specimens generally need repair before they are loaned and it is likely they will be shipped later. A formal written request for the loan must be received from the administrator of your herbarium before the material will be sent.

Internet Access and Computing Facilities

UF provides guest wireless access. Staff logins are required to utilize museum computers connected to the internet via ethernet. Staff are not permitted to let others use their account.