William & Mary Herbarium (WILLI)

About the Herbarium

William & Mary’s herbarium (WILLI) has come a long way since its official founding in 1968. Today, it houses more than 81,500 accessioned specimens—an impressive record of vascular plants from the southeastern United States, with a special focus on Virginia’s Coastal Plain Physiographic Province. Roughly half of these specimens are the direct result of research by our faculty and students, including the creation of 29 floras (detailed inventories of plant species) and a wide range of other projects. The remainder of the collection has grown through collaborations with other herbaria, as well as generous gifts from individuals and organizations like the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. You can download a brochure to learn more about WILLI.

 

Herbarium specimens are more than pressed plants—they capture the exact place and environmental conditions where each plant was found. Because we keep multiple examples of each species, our collection reveals just how much variety exists in nature. This information is essential for accurately identifying species and supports research in systematics, ecology, evolution, conservation biology, and more. Researchers are welcome to use our  collection for their own studies by arranging a visit with the curator or director. For those outside the William & Mary community, we offer a loan program for specimen access. Interested in learning more about herbaria? Check out our powerpoint presentation.