Abstract

Computerization of KFRI Herbarium was undertaken to digitize the information about the herbarium specimens in such a way that it is easily accessible with the help of internet and world wide web (www)throughout the world. Modern databases also include the actual herbarium specimens as digital images with all accompanying information available on the herbarium sheet label. The digital database of the herbarium specimens was developed by selecting 33 variable characters by using software package “DELTA”. The digital photos were attached to the database after feeding the characters. Nearly 1891 species belonging to 96 families of dicots and monocots have been incorporated in the digital herbarium till now. These contain rare, endangered and endemic plant specimens including type specimens. Digital herbarium database has some edge over traditional one as the herbarium will not have any pathogenic attack, no bio-degradation problems, no space problem, minimum maintenance cost etc. In addition, this database can be used for information retrieval, generation of conventional key and interactive key, and to get full description, brief description and diagnostic features of plants, current status of the plants, socio-economic values, etc.