U of G Herbarium
The University of Guelph Herbarium Collection (OAC) is a unique facility, underpinning historical and contemporary studies in plant biodiversity at the university. It was founded in 1880 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) 84 years before the University of Guelph was founded (in 1964). As a working repository of plant specimens, it supports plant biodiversity research across campus and globally, provides hands-on training for undergraduates and graduate students, and is a central hub for knowledge translation and engagement with industry and the public.
The collection itself contains ~110,000 specimens of vascular plants and ~36,000 bryophytes and lichens from ~60 countries, with a focus on the plant diversity from the mixed woods plains ecozone of Canada (wildlands and agricultural) and the Carolinian zone. The herbarium is strong in its representation of ferns, thanks to the work of Dr. D.M. Britton (16,000 voucher specimens for “The Ferns of Canada”), as well as agricultural weeds through the work of Dr. J.F. Alex (8,000 voucher specimens for “Weeds of Ontario”). We also have notable historical collections from botanical pioneers such Col. Prof J. Macoun and Alice Hollingsworth (first female botanist in Ontario). The herbarium also contains collections associated with the seminal advances in plant barcoding methods, undertaken via the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBOL Working Group 2009).
The data in the collection has been partially digitized, with some 65,500 images available online via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. We are currently actively annotating the metadata associated with the images, and publishing the results on the Consortium of Northeastern Herbaria. Learn about ongoing efforts and how you can volunteer or participate in making this data available for research and the public.
Visitors seeking to use these collections for research, teaching or outreach activities should contact Dr. Edeline Gagnon or Carole Ann Lacroix to arrange for access to the specimens and herbarium facilities. We are happy to discuss the possibility of offering plant identification workshops or assisting with plant identification.
Contact Us
Dr. Edeline Gagnon, Assistant Professor, Integrative Biology
edeline.gagnon@uoguelph.ca
519-824-4120 x52860
Carole Ann Lacroix, Collections Manager
botcal@uoguelph.ca
519-824-4120 x56444
About
The College of Biological Science is a globally recognized academic faculty with a mission to expand the understanding of life, from DNA to cells to complex ecosystems. It produces intrepid and interdisciplinary research in a student-centred learning environment that encourages and promotes comprehensive understanding of the systems that govern life.