The IFSR herbarium and its scientific and educational significance

Abstract

Herbaria are botanical collections that serve various functions, namely scientific and didactic. Dehydrated biological materials (exsiccates), and those conserved with other media, are testimony of the investigated areas flora. The present paper presents activities carried out at the Herbarium IFSR, located within the botany laboratory facilities at Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo, campus São Roque. Exsiccates at the herbarium comprise five groups, 71 botanical families, 153 genera and 178 species. Research work and didactic/educational application tasks were commented. The Herbarium IFSR and its complimentary collections (fungorium and carpotheque), besides the Botany Teaching Laboratory (associated with the herbarium) have reached the scientific and educational demands, despite its limitations of space and quantity. Spatial and activity amplification would enhance better use of its functions.