The Museum's botany collection holds an estimated six million specimens of bryophytes, ferns, seed plants and slime moulds from all over the world.
The botanical collection spans a period from the 17th century to the present and includes a number of historically important collections such as those of:
- Sir Hans Sloane
- Sir Joseph Banks
- Charles Darwin
Looking for a specimen?
The botany collection is being digitised
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.
Collections on the move
We have set out on an ambitious programme to develop a new science and digitisation centre. As we prepare for the move, access to some collections will be affected.
Find out more and sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on changes to collections access, relevant news and opportunities to get involved.