The Herbarium in the Botany Department houses a research collection of nearly 275,000 specimens of native and naturalized plants of the southwestern United States (especially southern California) and northwestern Mexico (especially Baja California). The collection consists primarily of vascular plants, with significant holdings of marine algae, mostly of the eastern North Pacific. There are about 600 type specimens with hi-resolution scans available to search.
We are actively collecting in San Diego County and Baja California and have numerous resources available including photos and mapping of the recent and historic collections in these areas.
The collection is in the care of Jon P. Rebman, Ph.D., Curator, who is a specialist in the systematics of the Cactaceae (particularly the genus Cylindropuntia) and in the floristics of the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico, and San Diego and Imperial counties. The curatorship of the botany department is endowed as the Mary and Dallas Clark Chair of Botany.
The herbarium is available by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. Appointments may be requested by calling 619.255.0229, or sending an email to botany@sdnhm.org. See our policies and protocols for additional information.
