Western Australia has an exceptionally rich array of biota, ecosystems and habitats. Over 12,500 kinds of vascular plant have been discovered in the state's 2.5 million square kilometres and more than 60% of the species are endemic to WA. The south western part of the state is internationally recognised for its flowering plant diversity. This province alone is home to over 7,000 kinds of vascular plant.

The Western Australian Herbarium is a part of the Department of Environment and Conservation. It is responsible for the description and documentation of Western Australia's botanical species diversity.

The WA Herbarium and associated regional herbaria together form a unique, dynamic, state-wide team which gathers, manages, researches and communicates information on the geography, systematics and biology of our unique and precious flora on behalf of all members of the Western Australian community.

In doing so it plays a vital role in a national and international network of herbaria and allied biodiversity conservation agencies.

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Biodiversity Collections

Our collections document the biodiversity of native and alien plants of Western Australia. The collection of over 600,000 specimens includes vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, macro-fungi, marine and fresh water algae, as well as collections of micro-organisms of particular significance to conservation, agriculture and public health such as water moulds, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria.

Biosystematics

Biosystematics is the platform from which all biology advances. It provides the scientific basis for the understanding and ordering of taxonomic biodiversity by recognising species, classifying them into related groups and discerning their evolutionary history. The WA Herbarium includes a molecular genetics facility to extend its systematic research using the latest methods.

Current research elucidates the systematics of major plant groups, threatened species and those of economic importance as well as producing identification applications and manuals. The WA Herbarium also publishes the systematic journal Nuytsia and has produced a series of comprehensive regional floras.

By establishing the names and relationships of plants and understanding their genetic systems and population dynamics we can:

• analyse evolutionary patterns and the delimitation and characterisation of species
• identify species at risk as well as targets for guided general and biodiscovery collecting
• highlight potential weed threats

Biodiversity Informati