Herbarium, Trinity College, Dublin
Dublin
Ireland
Professor John Parnell
Email: jparnell@tcd.ie
The Trinity College Herbarium was established in 1840. Its nucleus was the personal collection of Thomas Coulter, the first curator. However, the Herbarium is truely the creation of William Henry Harvey; curator from 1844 until his death in 1866. Harvey, the leading phycologist of his day, was an incredibly hard-working man. His ability to make and keep friends, together with his own extensive exploration of Australia, North America, and South Africa, led to the accumulation of 100 000 specimens by the mid-19th century—many of which are types. Under Professor D. A. Webb, the Herbarium became one of the focal points of Flora Europaea, a five-volume set on the flora of Europe. Currently, under Professor J. Parnell, the focus of research has broadened to include Southeast Asia, thereby building on collections made by A. F. G. Kerr, a medical graduate of Trinity College who was the first plant collector to work in Thailand.
The Herbarium has the largest international collection in Ireland (including the oldest Irish material in existence, dating from 1722). It is particularly rich in material from Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, Australia, North and South America, and Europe. The collection contains approximately 300 000 specimens, is of international importance, and is type rich.
Collections of Special Interest
- J. G. Agardh
- P. M. R. Aucher-Eloy
- J. Ball
- M. E. Barber
- L. H. Boivin
- E. Bourgeau
- M. E. Bowker
- G. Clifton
- T. Cooper
- T. Coulter
- H. Cuming
- C. Darwin
- J. F. Drège
- J. Drummond
- T. Drummond
- B. S. Ecklon
- A. Fendler
- R. C. Gunn
- W. H. Harvey
- W. M. Hind
- W. Jameson
- J. D. Hooker
- G. S. Karelin
- A. F. G. Kerr
- I. P. Kirilow
- K. Kotschy
- A. F. Le Jolis
- D. Lyall
- D. McArdle
- J. P. F. C. Montagne
- F. J. H. von Mueller
- C. W. L. Pappe
- J. A. L. Preiss
- J. Sanderson
- G. H. W. Schimper
- R. H. Schomburgk
- R. Spruce
- R. Strachey
- G. H. K. Thwaites
- G. M. A. de Tommasini
- D. A. Webb
- F. M. J. Welwitsch
- J. E. Winterbottom
- C. Wright
- P. Zeyer
- Part of CRK and DUBN