Herbarium

The Northern Illinois University Herbarium (DEK) is an internationally recognized systematic collection supporting research in plant systematics, biodiversity and conservation. Established in the 1960s and expanded significantly during the 1970s and beyond, the herbarium is designated by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and listed in Index Herbariorum.

The collection includes approximately 19,000 vascular plant specimens and 8,000 bryophytes. About 6,000 bryophyte specimens are on long-term loan to the Missouri Botanical Garden. While the herbarium emphasizes the flora of Illinois and the upper Midwest, its holdings represent plant diversity from around the world.

The herbarium supports faculty and student research, regional biodiversity studies and hands-on training in plant identification and classification.

Collection Strengths

• Dahlia: A definitive collection containing holotypes, isotypes and thoroughly documented hybrids derived from authenticated wild species.
• Arbutus: Includes significant type material.
• Agrimonia: More comprehensively documented at DEK than at any other herbarium worldwide.
• Bryophytes: Strong representation from Illinois and adjacent areas of the upper Midwest.

Exchange and Collaboration

DEK maintains exchange relationships with more than 26 domestic and six international herbaria. Exchange materials emphasize vascular plants of the upper Midwestern United States, and the herbarium welcomes specimens from worldwide sources to strengthen its global representation.

Organization of the Collection

Within the major plant groups, including pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, specimens are arranged alphabetically by family, genus and species to facilitate research and retrieval.