Botany collections
The botany collections include inert collections (over 2,000,000 herbarium sections of cryptogams - fungi and lichens, algae, bryophytes - and over 6,000,000 parts of herbarium of vascular plants), living collections and an inert collection of reference fruits and seeds (botanical gardens).
Attention
Following a serious cyberattack on our servers, some of our websites are currently unavailable for an indefinite period. Our teams are working flat out to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Our collection databases remain available for consultation.
Natural History Collections
- The Museum’s collections portal is once again accessible. Last updated: 01/04/2026
Documentary Collections
- Catalogue of archives, manuscripts, iconographic documents, works of art and Calames collection items
- Printed Works Catalogue
For any requests regarding access to the MNHN’s collections (loans, sampling, images, visits), please refer to the procedure outlined on the page for the collection relevant to your request.
Contact
Spirit collection, algae, bryophytes, carpological collection linked to the herbarium, fungi and lichens, histological library, pollen, vascular plants, plant tissues and wood collection.
Scientific Officer
Germinal Rouhan: germinal.rouhan [@] mnhn.fr
Head of Conservation Service
Vanessa Invernon: vanessa.invernon [@] mnhn.fr
Living collections from the Jardin des Plantes (plant collection and seed bank), the Arboretum de Versailles-Chèvreloup, the Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre and the Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton
Inert collection (carpological-seed collection of the Jardin des Plantes)
Scientific Officer
Denis Larpin: denis.larpin [@] mnhn.fr
Spirit collection
The spirit collection includes specimens preserved in liquid (not just alcohol), mainly of Algae and Vascular Plants, as well as...
Algae collection
Algae are very diverse organisms and do not form a monophyletic group. In other words, blue and brown algae and most planktonic...
Bryophyte collection
The bryophyte collection includes mosses, liverworts, sphagnum mosses and hornworts. It accounts for around 10% of all the...
Fungi collection
The fungi collection is gathered together in a "fungarium" (as opposed to a "herbarium", which is for plant collections only). It...
Historical herbaria collection
The "historical" herbaria are of great value to researchers as they provide examples of particular classification concepts and...
Histology Library collection
The Histothèque is a histology library, where a collection of histological slides is stored. The Histothèque currently contains...
Orchid collection
Although orchids are classified as Monocotyledons, they are acotyledons in terms of seeds. The specific features of a petal (the...
Palynothèque collection
The Palynothèque is in theory an extension of the Histothèque, but developed independently, and more recently. It contains spore...
Vascular plants collection
Vascular plants are plants that have tissues for conducting sap. This collection consists of specimens collected worldwide, and is...
Plant tissues collection preserved for genetic studies
Sometimes described as "emergent", this collection was set up in 2010. It is linked with a particularly rapid method for drying...
Wood collection
Since the reopening of the Grand Herbarium in 2013, the Muséum’s rich wood collections have been gathered together in a xylotheque...
Collection of the Arboretum de Versailles-Chèvreloup
The Versailles-Chèvreloup estate forms an arboretum that extends over 200 hectares (494 acres) of natural and landscaped spaces...
Collection of the Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre
The Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre conserves the collection compiled by Jean-Henri Fabre, a passionate naturalist.
Collection of the Jardin botanique Val Rahmeh-Menton
Val Rahmeh is dedicated to acclimatisation: the Museum has been introducing species since 1966. Approximately 1,700 taxa (species...
Collection of the Jardin des Plantes (Plants and Seed Bank)
With its planted spaces, remarkable trees, statues and walkways, the Jardin des Plantes offers visitors a varied and well...
Jardin des Plantes carpological-seed collection
The seed collection at the Jardin des Plantes was created in 1822 by André Thouin, an eminent botanist and agronomist who directed...