Come visit our new Herbarium Team at our new location (Zoo Annex 1) at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO)!

Check out BIO Bridge, our new program that will serve as the bridge between the University and those elements of society-at-large that have a need for biodiversity information.

We would like to acknowledge and thank those of you whom have supported our Biodiversity collections and research. You can get involved by supporting 1) botanical apprenticeships, 2) projects such as the Flora Ontario, or the detection of invasive species, 3) research in biodiversity and ethnobotany, or 4) community projects. Please contact Dr. Steven Newmaster for details if you wish to join our research team by supporting one of our biodiversity projects.

This site presents data to the public from the OAC Herbarium, BIO, CBS, University of Guelph; Fully searchable/browse to: Latin, Synonym and Common name. OAC Herbarium will also offer plant identification (either molecular or morphological level) services for the public and industry at a minimal cost. For more detail contact Dr. Newmaster, Director.

Current Flora Ontario – FOIBIS includes about 5,039 species, including vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, that grow in the province of Ontario. It includes native species as well as some ornamentals, weeds, invasive alien plants, arctic disjuncts and agricultural plants. Information about phytogeography, rarity, a vegetation alpha code system, and botanical nomenclature is presented. For each species the following information is provided: family, genus, and species names; scientific synonyms; up to 2 common names; a French name if available; vegetation code; Bayer code; rarity status; numeric life form code; and a life cycle code; available web-pictures link and related information.

Future Flora Ontario – FOIBIS will be updated regularly based on the most recent scientific literature. Detailed ecological information such as ecosystem and microhabitat type, distribution maps, invasive plant species, ethnobotanical information , DNA barcoding and cryopreservation data will be added. A multi-access key (Polyclavis), is currently being developed for the Flora Ontario, and will be available on this web site as an identification tool. The needs of today’s researchers, botanist, foresters, ecologist, biologist, naturalists and others will determine the types of information included in future versions. Donations / Sponsorship for MSc and Doctoral program to the OAC Herbarium, is open to any organisation, project or individuals interested in advancing Biodiversity research.

We would like to acknowledge and extend our sincere thanks to Lehela, A., Uhlig, P.W.C., Oldham, M. J. and S. McMurray for their time and expertise in developing the OPL. It is to be noted that OPL has become the base material for Flora Ontario - FOIBIS. We also extend a sincere thank you to people who were directly or indirectly involved with this project.

Click here for staff of the OAC Herbarium and a list of their research Contributions. For any questions concerning FOIBIS, including nomenclature updates, please contact Dr. Newmaster or Dr. Ragupathy.