Biological Sciences Herbarium (CHSC)

The Chico State Herbarium, located in Holt Hall room 129, is the most complete repository of plant specimens from northeastern California. The emphasis is on the northern California flora, and includes a great number of rare, threatened, and endangered plant species. Established with specimens donated by the late Professor Vesta Holt in the 1950's, the herbarium now contains more than 98,000 dried and mounted plant specimens. The majority of samples are flowering plants, conifers, and ferns, but bryophytes, lichens, and especially slime molds, are also well represented. The herbarium is used extensively for identification of sensitive and other plant species by various agencies and individuals. Loans of herbarium specimens are made to any higher academic institutions who request them.

Facilities available to visitors to the herbarium include the use of high-quality dissecting scopes, a compound microscope, an extensive reference library, an internet-connected computer, an internet connection for personal computers, and, with suitable training, access to the collection of specimens.

Users of the herbarium facilities and collection are encouraged to make plant collections during their field excursions and donate them to the herbarium. This is how the collection grows and increases its utility and importance to the whole botanical community.

Herbarium Hours through May 23:
Thursday .................. 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday ...................... 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
known exceptions:
May 23 -- closed

Herbarium Hours after May 23:
Thursday .................. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday ...................... 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
known exceptions:
none

-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------

last updated 5/8/2008
by Lawrence Janeway

| Biology Department | College of Natural Sciences |University