Specimens
400,000
Lichen collections
The lichen Xanthoria aureola
Type specimens
10,000
Our lichen collection is one of the world's largest and an important research resource.
Strengths
The collection consists of about 400,000 specimens and at least 10,000 type specimens.
It contains important historical collections, such as material collected by:
- E Acharius
- J M Crombie
- W A Leighton
- J Stirton
The Museum no longer keeps collections of non-lichenised ascomycetes or basidiomycetes. This material was transferred to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on permanent loan.
Major collections
These include:
- British and Irish Lichen Herbarium
- General Lichen Herbarium
- Non-incorporated collections
- Acharius Herbarium (Erik Acharius)
- English Botany (Smith and Sowerby collection)
- Fungal Model Collection (J Sowerby)
Important historical collections
E Acharius
J M Crombie
W A Leighton
J Stirton
J Sowerby
Specimens of the lichen Neuropogon aurantiaco-atra collected by Charles Darwin
Erik Acharius who is known as the father of lichenology
Mounted Xanthoria parietina lichen specimens held in the Museum's crypt herbarium
Country of origin
The collections contain lichens and lichenicolous fungi from around the world including Britain, Ireland, Antarctic areas, Australia and New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India, and Thailand.
Looking for a specimen?
The collection is being digitised
Any questions?
If you would like to use any specimens for research, please get in touch.
Senior curator
Collections on the move
Access to some collections will be affected as we prepare for the move to our new collections, science and digitisation centre.
Accessing the collections
Scientists and collections management specialists can visit the collections and borrow specimens for research.
Collections management
Our duty is to provide a safe and secure environment for all of our collections.