Botanical Resource Centre Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian National Botanic Gardens

Botanical Resource Centre

Public plant identification resources

The map shows the approximate area covered by specimens in the Public Reference Herbarium. The interactive computer keys are designed to work Australia-wide.

The Botanical Resource Centre is jointly managed by the ANBG, the Friends of the ANBG and the Australian National Herbarium and is open daily. It is located next to the Friends' Lounge on the Main Path in the ANBG.

It houses the Public Reference Herbarium specimens which represent the native and naturalised plants of the A.C.T., the Southern Tablelands, Australian Alps and the South Coast. This self-help collection is available for use by students, plant surveyors and people who just want to know more about plants. The plants are mounted in plastic sleeves in loose-leafed books to make them more robust for public use.

This facility also has microscopes, access to an extensive library of botanical books and two computers with interactive identification tools to some major plant groups.

Computer identification tools

• Families of Flowering Plants - key to the families
• Euclid - key to the eucalypts of Australia
• Wattle - key to the genus Acacia
• Australian Orchid Genera - key to the genera of Australian orchids
• Australian Tropical Rain Forest Trees and Shrubs - tropical rainforest plants

Trained 'Facilitators' are available to introduce the public to the facilities of the BRC, users should avail themselves of the experience of the facilitators before using the BRC for the first time.

There is usually a Facilitator present on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday afternoons.

Once you are familiar with the facilities, the BRC is open for use seven days a week, from 9:30am - 4:30pm.