Herbarium

The Morton Arboretum Herbarium (MOR) is one of roughly 3,100 herbaria worldwide, collectively housing an estimated 390 million botanical specimens. The Morton Arboretum Herbarium stands out in the strengths of its collections. At over 205,000 specimens, it contains the best record of the rich flora of the Chicago Region, including woody and herbaceous plants, lichens and mosses. The herbarium has led an NSF-funded initiative to mobilize invasive species specimen data and images for educators and ecological practitioners. We are at the center of international collaborations into the evolutionary history of the world’s oaks and sedges, as well as the effects of recent evolution and gene flow in oaks on the structure and diversity of our forests. The herbarium also serves local forest preserves and collectors by acting as the central repository for the flora of the region, collaborates with local schools in biodiversity outreach and education, and provides expertise and opportunities for self-study in plant biodiversity for the greater Chicago Region community.

The mission and vision of The Morton Arboretum Herbarium (MOR):

The Morton Arboretum Herbarium is a collaborative, authoritative, growing, and permanent repository of the plants and biota of the northern temperate zone, with special focus on plants of The Morton Arboretum, the Chicago Region, and Arboretum research. The Herbarium provides equitable access to plants and associated plant data. The Herbarium serves global audiences of scientists, horticulturists, students, and the public as a research and education collection for studying and contributing to biodiversity conservation.

The Arboretum herbarium comprises five core collections:

  • Vascular plants (curator: Andrew Hipp, Director of the Herbarium). More than 192,000 specimens, with a strong focus on the (1) flora of the Western Great Lakes region and (2) the woody plants of the temperate zone; additional collections in areas of research (e.g., oaks, sedges, elms, maples, Tilia) or collections strength (e.g., cultivated grasses, Rosaceae needed, hawthorns, lindens) are developed as a secondary focus; detailed in Herbarium Collection Policy. Access our data via GBIF or vPlants.
  • Lichens (curator: Gerould Wilhelm, Research Affiliate). More than 17,000 specimens, emphasizing the lichen flora of Illinois and Missouri. Access our data via Consortium of Lichen Herbaria.
  • Bryophytes (curator: Wayne Lampa, Research Affiliate). More than 1,500 specimens, strongly emphasizing mosses of DuPage County. Access our data via Consortium of Bryophyte Herbaria.
  • Fungi (curator: Todd Widhelm, Research Affiliate). ca. 500 fungi, currently not databased.
  • Wood (curator: Christine Rollinson, Forest Ecologist, The Morton Arboretum). Our newest collection, and still in development. 100 accessioned, hundreds in the backlog.

Herbarium opportunities

The herbarium depends on our more than 30 active volunteers, who collect plants, mount specimens, file and accession, make labels, enter data, image specimens, develop databases and aid in nomenclatural research, and assist in many other tasks. The herbarium is a lively and enjoyable place to work. If you are interested in volunteering with us, you can contact Andrew Hipp, Herbarium Director and Senior Scientist in Plant Systematics, Marlene Hahn, Systematics Research Program Manager, or Lindsey Worcester, Herbarium Coordinator, to discuss possibilities.