Herbarism

/ˈhɜːrbərɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The practice, philosophy, or study of herbaria; the systematic collection and preservation of plant specimens for scientific purposes.

Etymology

From 'herbarium' plus '-ism' (a system or practice). This term specifically refers to the organized approach of creating and maintaining botanical reference collections.

Kelly Says

Herbarism as a practice revolutionized biology because it allowed scientists to compare plants from different times and places, creating the evidence base for evolution and ecology as sciences.

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