Overview
University and biodiversity institute collections house pressed plant specimens, referred to as herbaria. These collections, some dating back centuries, comprise plants that have undergone flattening, drying, and mounting on specialized cardboard sheets. They contain data on the geographical distribution of species and historical transformations of ecosystems.
Research Context
The imperative for digitizing these African herbarium collections is framed against the ongoing threat of biodiversity loss. The stored specimens hold historical information essential for understanding and potentially mitigating such loss.
Findings
Herbaria function as repositories of scientific information. Specifically, they provide details on where particular plant species naturally occur. Furthermore, these collections offer insights into how ecosystems have changed over extended periods.
Why This Matters
The information contained within Africa's herbarium collections is described as a scientific treasure. The act of digitizing these collections is presented as a necessary step to prevent the loss of this information, particularly in the context of continued biodiversity decline.