WELCOME to the Robert Bebb Herbarium
of the University of Oklahoma

 

The Robert Bebb Herbarium houses the largest collection of Oklahoma plants in the state and supports active collections-based and laboratory-based research programs. The Herbarium contains historical records and specimens and of virtually every vascular plant species in Oklahoma from throughout the state since scientific plant collections were first undertaken. Therefore, without leaving one large room — the herbarium — one can examine plant diversity for the entire state of Oklahoma and its adjacent regions.

The entrance to the Bebb Herbarium is framed by posters and news items relating to plant systematics

The Herbarium is named for Robert Bebb, a plant collector and florist from Muskogee	Robert Bebb's father was Michael Bebb, a noted American willow expert

The Robert Bebb Herbarium is administered jointly by the Oklahoma Biological Survey and the Department of Botany and Microbiology. 'OKL' is the international acronym assigned to the Bebb Herbarium.




Please sign our guest book when you visit the herbarium




The Systematics Research and computer room is accessible via the Goodman Foyer

The Herbarium

The Bebb Herbarium has its own filtered air-handling and air-conditioning system, which maintains cool temperatures, low humidity, and positive air pressure in the herbarium. The herbarium is windowless, and is separated from stairwell, office, and lab spaces by doors with seals. Plant specimens are housed in more than 270 metal cabinets.

Main corridor	Filing specimens
Flowering plants are filed according to the Cronquist system	Representative herbarium specimen of Penstemon oklahomensis

Mosses, liverworts, and lichens are stored in envelopes organized in boxes

The herbarium exhibits a large collection of botanical posters

A Halon fire suppression system protects the collections

Freezers are part of an integrated pest management system in the herbarium

The work room is located adjacent to the collections

Herbarium specimens are prepared in the work room	Most specimens are attached to archival paper with white glue
Type specimens are kept in a dedicated herbarium case	Types are arranged alphabetically by family, genus, and species Type specimens are maintained in individual folders with cardboard backing

There are several identification stations throughout the herbarium

Data entry, bar coding, and computerization of collection information is a high priority for the Bebb Herbarium.
The Oklahoma Vascular Plants Database represents a searchable database of Oklahoma specimens deposited in all Oklahoma herbaria.

Visitors are always welcome!