General Information

The LSU Herbaria are overseen by the Department of Biological Sciences within the College of Basic Sciences. We also collaborate with the LSU Museum of Natural History .

Mission Statement:

We study biodiversity--green plants, lichens, and fungi-- from the state of Louisiana and around the world. We maintain a permanent reference collection within our herbarium that documents the historical distribution and composition of the local flora. We provide botanical information to researchers and the general public via specimen and web-based interfaces. We specialize in research on native and introduced plants and fungi, their ecology, and evolution.

Additional Information:

     - Hours
     - Services
     - Loan Requests
     - Exchanges
     - Location/Map Directions
     - Parking

Herbarium Hours

The herbarium is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, excluding university holidays. Please be sure to call ahead to make sure someone is there to assist you. After hours visits may be accommodated with advanced warning. Contact Lowell Urbatsch to arrange a visit.

Services

Plant identification and consulting services are available from herbarium staff members. Under most circumstances a fee is required (see our policy). All proceeds go toward the operating costs of the herbarium and the plant molecular systematic's lab. For more information, please contact Lowell Urbatsch Requests for collection of live material can occasionally be honored, given that the recipient pays shipping and expenses.

Loan Requests

We will send out loans to any institution recognized by the Index Herbariorum. If you would like to request a loan, please have your herbarium director/curator send a written request to Dr. Lowell Urbatsch (contact form). You may want to check the availability of specimens by searching the database of our Louisiana collections.

Exchanges

We are seeking active exchange for new material, especially from Louisiana and the southeastern U.S. We can offer material from Louisiana and surrounding areas.

Location

The LSU Herbarium is located in the Life Sciences Annex Building, Room A257, on the corner of Highland Ave. and S. Campus Dr., in Baton Rouge. We are across the street from the LSU Union in the center of campus. To visit the herbarium, call or email ahead so that someone can assist.

Map Directions

From I-10:

Route 1: Exit at Nicholson Dr./Highland Rd. (Exit 155A). Take Highland Rd. to Dalrymple Dr. (about 1.4 miles).

Route 2: Exit at Dalrymple Dr. (Exit 156B). Both eastbound and westbound traffic will take a right onto Dalrymple Dr. from the off-ramp. Take Dalrymple Dr. to Highland Rd. (about 0.5 mile).

Route 3: Exit at Acadian Thruway (Exit 157B). If exiting from the eastbound off-ramp you will take a right onto Acadian Thruway; if exiting from the westbound off-ramp you will take a left onto Acadian Thruway. Take Acadian Thruway (which turns into Stanford Avenue and then into LSU Avenue) to Highland Rd. Take a right onto Highland Rd. Take Highland Rd. to Dalrymple Dr. (about 1.8 miles).

Parking

Herbarium visitors can acquire valid parking permits at the LSU Visitor's Center on the corner of Highland Road and Dalrymple Drive near the LSU Law Center. They will assist you with where you can park legally. Please do not park on campus without a permit or you could be cited and/or towed.