The Herbarium

The herbarium was established in 1968 (1388 AH) with a small collection of plants from the Riyadh region. Most of the botanical collections during the early stages of the herbarium's establishment were gathered by teaching assistants and students from the Botany Department during field trips. Although the majority of these collections in those years were from the Riyadh region, a significant number of samples from other regions of the Kingdom were added in the following years. The Department of Botany and Microbiology’s herbarium now houses approximately 4,000 dried plant specimens from Saudi Arabia, identified by their scientific names and classified into families and locations. These specimens, which have been collected over the years, include around 1,555 plant species. The herbarium serves as a valuable reference and record for the Kingdom's flora, in addition to being featured in the flora book authored by faculty members.

Objectives

• Preserve the comprehensive collection of wild and exotic plant specimens according to international standards to ensure their conservation and classification.

• Provide guidance to researchers, students, and interested parties by accurately naming plant species.

• Prepare identification guides, such as field guides for plant collections.

• Collaborate with other universities in the Kingdom and abroad, as well as the National Wildlife Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration, and all organizations concerned with plants and wildlife.

• Conduct field trips across Saudi Arabia to collect and study wild plants, along with documenting their distribution and habitats.

• Offer botanical services to government agencies, non-governmental organizations, students, researchers, and the general public.

• Exchange and donate plant specimens with recognized herbariums worldwide.

Activities

The Herbarium at King Saud University, within the Department of Botany and Microbiology, serves as a vital center for scientific research on wild plants in Saudi Arabia. It provides scientific guidance and consultation aimed at the sustainable conservation of plant biodiversity in the Kingdom. These services are offered free of charge to students, researchers, and the general public. The herbarium is now an official reference institution for students and researchers at King Saud University and other organizations, both within and outside the Kingdom. Herbarium specimens can also be used as a source of DNA material for studies and molecular analyses, providing scientific data on the structure, growth, distribution, and reproduction of plants.

Additionally, the herbarium plays a significant role in conducting numerous field trips throughout the Kingdom, discovering and describing new species, and preparing detailed maps and documents that highlight the distribution and habitats of rare and endangered plant species.

The Herbarium in the Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science (1-2)

The Herbarium in the Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science (2-2)