Herbarium of the University of Halle: Moving brings new digital options!

Von WOM

The city of Halle is a witness of a remarkable event in the world of science. The Herbarium of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg has changed its location and has now moved to a new building of the Institute of Biology and Geobotany. This not only represents a simple move, but also a significant expansion and modernization of the impressed collection of over 450,000 plant samples.

The new facility not only offers more space, but also advanced opportunities for digitization that enables scientists to access the samples worldwide. Marcus Lehnert, the head of Herbarium, reported that previously 19,000 documents have been digitized, which makes access to these valuable information easier. Thanks to this changeover, the collection is now being prepared according to the latest standards.

Details about the move and its meaning

The extensive Herbaria collection is created by systematic processing and assembly of numerous plant samples that are carefully documented. This Behind-the-Scenes work takes a lot of time and dedication to ensure that the samples are preserved accordingly. Lehnert explained that the collection is not only kept simply, but that it can continue to grow. There are still many unchecked bundle that could potentially contain another 150,000 copies, which makes the Herbarium one of the most rich collections in Germany.

A particularly interesting aspect is the historical inventory, which contains, for example, document plants by the famous natural scientist Alexander von Humboldt. This discovery not only extends the historical importance of herbarium, but also attracts the interest of experts and institutions worldwide, which provide inquiries about the unique evidence.

In order to properly present the plants and fungi, they must be fixed on A4 pages, with adhesive strips, needles and threads be used. This precise work is carried out by experienced preparers who ensure that each sample corresponds to the scientific standards.

a piece of science history

The Herbarium has a long and impressive story that goes back over 200 years when it was founded with a valuable collection by the botanist Christian Schkuhr. Since then, this original collection has gained significantly in size, not least through the purchase of further valuable collections, such as that of the botanist Schlechendal, which contributed to expansion by over 70,000 species. Today the Herbarium comprises many different plant species from all over the world, especially from Europe, Australia and Central to South America.

Overall, the move of herbarium to a modern building is an excellent example of the continuous further development of scientific research. In addition to improving the storage conditions, this step also enables a broader accessibility for researchers and interested parties who are interested in the diversity of the flora.

The Herbarium will therefore not only serve as a place of storage for plant samples, but also as an important resource for the global scientific community, which can benefit from these extensive and well -documented collections according to information from www.n-tv.de .