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UTK Herbarium - TENN

@utkherbarium.bsky.social
380 followers 54 following 239 posts

Biodiversity collection of over 710,000 plants & fungi at University of Tennessee - Knoxville in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department. Specimens from around the world with strengths in Tennessee & southern Appalachians! linktr.ee/utkherbarium

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Reposted by UTK Herbarium - TENN
Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 7h
Just listened to this great piece on @scifri.bsky.social about the importance of collections. www.sciencefriday.com/segments/are... Consider making a donation at any level to support your local natural history collection. Support @utkherbarium.bsky.social here herbarium.utk.edu/give/
sciencefriday.com
Are natural history museums in trouble?
The country’s oldest natural history museum, in Philadelphia, has closed its doors to visitors. Will other museums follow?
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Have you ever pressed a plant? We had a great afternoon with the UT Plant Sciences Club at UT Gardens! Students chose some of their favorite flowers, learned how to collect and press botanical specimens, and filled our presses with plants to take home once they're dry. #PlantCollectionWorkshop
A student stands beside a table under the pavilion at UT Gardens, holding up a purple-flowered plant. A closed wooden plant press and several other colorful freshly collected flowers are spread across the table.A student holds up a purple-flowered aster she is about to place between sheets of newspaper in a plant press. Behind her, other students work together pressing flowers in a second plant press under the pavilion at UT Gardens.A student crouches over a plant press under the pavilion at UT Gardens, writing her name on the newspaper beside a freshly collected pink flower. Several other students stand nearby, and a closed wooden plant press sits in the foreground.Members of the UT Plant Sciences Club pose together under the pavilion at UT Gardens. Two students in front hold wooden plant presses filled with the specimens collected during the workshop.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
76 years ago today, Robert A. Heilman explored a quiet Pennsylvania lake and the nearby marshy woodland. He left with an Appalachian quillwort and two grape ferns. Today, TENN preserves all three, which gives us a glimpse into his day in 1950. #Herbarium #Pteridophytes
Herbarium specimen of Isoetes engelmannii, Appalachian quillwort, collected by Robert A. Heilman at Conewago Lake, Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1950. The grasslike plant has numerous long, narrow leaves arising from a small rooted base. Heilman’s handwritten label notes, “Calm, quiet lake. In the shallows along the breast of the dam.” Green banners added to the image read “On this day 76 years ago...” and “September 30, 1950.Herbarium specimen collected by Robert A. Heilman at Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1950. The grape fern, originally labeled Botrychium obliquum and now known as Sceptridium dissectum, has a long slender stalk, a divided leafy blade, and an upright fertile portion bearing clusters of sporangia. The handwritten label describes its habitat as “Marshy, open woodlanHerbarium specimen collected by Robert A. Heilman at Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1950. The small grape fern, originally labeled Botrychium obliquum and now known as Sceptridium dissectum, has a single upright stem bearing divided green leaves. The handwritten label describes its habitat as “Marshy, open woodland.”
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Yellow moosedung moss from the Russian taiga produces a dung-like odor that attracts flies to carry its spores from one pile of dung to the next. An ingenious solution for life on a scattered, temporary substrate. #DungMoss #Bryology #HerbariumSpecimen
Herbarium specimen of yellow moosedung moss, Splachnum luteum. Dozens of very slender reddish-brown sporophyte stalks rise above the moss, many topped by pale yellow, umbrella-shaped structures. The specimen is mounted on a small sheet against a brown herbarium packet. Text reads “Yellow moosedung moss” and “Splachnum luteum.Close-up of the upper portion of the Splachnum luteum specimen, showing numerous long, thin reddish-brown sporophyte stalks. Several are topped by broad, pale yellow, umbrella-shaped hypophyses. Two black arrows point to examples beneath the word “Hypophyses."Close-up of the specimen’s original herbarium label from the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The label contains the scientific name Splachnum luteum and several lines of handwritten Russian cursive that have not been fully deciphered. The year 1983 and collection number 18/4 are visible. Text below asks, “Can you read this dung moss label?”
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Our specimens are for research, not lunch! Freezing, glue traps, environmental monitoring, inspections, and regular pest control help us protect TENN's collection from some very hungry visitors #HerbariumPestControl
Graphic showing the interior of the UT Herbarium surrounded by examples of collection pests and threats, including a cigarette beetle, casemaking clothes moth, carpet beetle, booklice, silverfish, American cockroach, house mouse, and mold or fungal growth. Each pest is labeledHumorous graphic showing a large cockroach appearing to flee from a towering pile of blue glue traps used for pest monitoring in the herbarium. An exclamation mark above the cockroach emphasizes its alarmPhotos showing equipment used to help protect the UT Herbarium collection from pests. Two images show TENN's upright and chest freezers, where incoming material can be frozen for one week at –40°F. A third image shows an environmental monitor used to track temperature and relative humidity in the collection.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
We recently welcomed the Native Plant Rescue Squad for a special tour! We explored our collections, algae, library, and cabinet of curiosities while sharing how the herbarium can serve as a community resource for plant identification and conservation work. #PlantConservation #HerbariumTour
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Ever spotted poison ivy and thought, “I should pick that”? TENN has 93 specimens collected by botanists who did! Urushiol can persist long after a plant is dried, and dermatitis has even been reported from herbarium specimens more than 100 years old. #PoisonIvy #Herbarium
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The UTK Herbarium is part of something much bigger! Students in Natural History Collections Research are exploring UT’s collections, from preserved plants to fish and animal bones, all valuable resources for research, teaching, and discovery. #NaturalHistory #Biodiversity
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This 1947 specimen book quite literally fell out of a ceiling during renovations. Created by Charles Niles for a botany class nearly 80 years ago, its pages preserve pressed plants collected across East Tennessee and an extraordinary piece of botanical history. #Herbarium #Botany
Front cover of Charles Niles’s 1947 specimen book. The heavily worn brown cover has an elaborate embossed geometric and floral design, with scuffs, scratches, discoloration, and worn edges from age.A yellowed interior page of the specimen book. A small handwritten card taped near the center reads “Herbarium, Botany 204F, 1947, Charles Niles.” In the lower right corner, a handwritten B+ is accompanied by initials and the date May 12, 1947. The page and old tape show considerable age and discoloration.A small, faded pressed specimen of dwarf iris, Iris cristata, mounted vertically on an aged paper page with strips of old amber-colored tape. The handwritten label identifies the specimen as collected by Charles Niles along the Little Tennessee River in Vonore, Tennessee, on April 22, 1947.A large pressed specimen of Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica, filling much of an aged paper page. The darkened plant has broad leaves, a flowering stem, exposed roots, and numerous strips of old amber-colored tape. A handwritten label records Charles Niles as the collector at Dicks Creek in Walland, Tennessee, on April 17, 1947.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Explore Tennessee’s flora from anywhere! The UT Herbarium website includes thousands of plant photographs, county-level distribution maps, native status, conservation status, and more. Whether you’re identifying a plant, researching a species, or simply curious about what grows around you.
Promotional graphic for the UT Herbarium website. Evergreen branches and cones frame a misty mountain landscape. A screenshot of the UT Herbarium Vascular Plant Collection website appears in the center. Text reads, “Explore Tennessee’s flora from anywhere” and “Explore plant photographs, distribution maps, native status, and more!” The website address is herbarium.utk.edu.Graphic demonstrating how the UT Herbarium website can help compare similar species. Four photographs show different morning glories: Ipomoea coccinea, with a small red-orange tubular flower; I. lacunosa, with a small white flower; I. pandurata, with a large white flower and deep pink-purple throat; and I. hederacea, with a blue-purple flower and long, hairy sepals. Text reads, “Know the genus, but not the species? Compare photographs of similar species and look for the features that set them apart.” Website: herbarium.utk.edu.Graphic showing information available through the UT Herbarium website for four morning glory species: Ipomoea coccinea, I. lacunosa, I. pandurata, and I. hederacea. Each species is shown with a flower photograph, common name, wetland indicator status, Tennessee native or introduced status, and a Tennessee county distribution map. Orange counties on the maps indicate documented herbarium occurrences. Text highlights native status, wetland indicator status, synonyms, and distribution across Tennessee. Website: herbarium.utk.edu.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
What if your classroom this winter was a tropical forest in Panama? Join Dr. Jacob Suissa for EEB 461: Tropical Plant Biodiversity, a field-based Winter Mini Term course, Jan. 4–18, 2027. Apply by Oct. 2. Scholarships available! #Botany #FieldBotany #Panama
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
When A. R. Shields and A. J. Sharp collected Trichomanes petersii near Calderwood Lake in 1939, they documented more than the plant. Tucked inside the specimen is a hand-drawn map larger than the specimen itself—preserving valuable details about where it was collected!
1939 Trichomanes petersii herbarium specimen collected by A. R. Shields and A. J. Sharp in Blount County, Tennessee. The preserved specimen is held in a paper packet secured by metal washers. Text reads, “This 1939 Trichomanes petersii specimen appears fairly normal…”The 1939 Trichomanes petersii herbarium specimen displayed beside the much larger hand-drawn map that was stored with it. Text reads, “Until you see a hand-drawn map, bigger than the specimen itself, is included!”Hand-drawn map included with the Trichomanes petersii specimen, showing Calderwood Lake, the Tennessee–North Carolina boundary, surrounding counties, roads, waterways, and the collection area marked with a red X. Text explains that maps were sometimes included to document where specimens were collected.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
How far can a fungus range? With support from the Breedlove-Dennis Fund, Chance Noffsinger traveled to Maine to study Russula in spruce-fir forests. Of the 7 species he found, 5 also occurred in the Southeast, revealing just how widely some of these fungi are distributed. 🌲 #Mycology #Fungi
Several fruiting bodies of Russula cf. fragilis growing among moss, leaf litter, and other forest-floor vegetation. The mushrooms have pale stems and caps showing reddish, purple, and brown tones. View across the water in Acadia National Park, Maine, with a conifer growing on a rocky outcrop at the left and forested shoreline in the distance. The photograph shows the coastal setting of the spruce-fir habitat where Russula were collectedField assistant Brooke Talley consults a map while standing in a wooded area of Acadia National Park in Maine during fieldwork to collect Russula mushrooms in spruce-fir habitats. Four fruiting bodies of Russula firmula growing on the forest floor among mosses and leaf litter. The mushrooms have pale stems and dark wine-red to reddish-brown caps.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Ever notice the barcode on an herbarium specimen? It represents the specimen’s catalog number and helps us track specimens, manage data and research loans, and connect physical specimens with their digital records.
Collage of UTK Herbarium specimen barcode labels with the text, “Why do specimens have barcodes?” The labels show TENN catalog numbers represented by black barcodes.

.UTK Herbarium vascular plant specimen sheet with its barcode, TENN-V-0000100, enlarged beside it. Text explains that barcodes are used to track specimens deposited at the Herbarium and link them to online records.UTK Herbarium bryophyte specimen with barcode TENN-B-0142961 and examples of TENN catalog-number prefixes. The graphic explains that letters distinguish collections: V for vascular plants, B for bryophytes, A for algae, F for fungi, and L for lichens.
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Reposted by UTK Herbarium - TENN
Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Did you miss out on ordering a shirt before the conference? Support the American Bryological & Lichenological Society student travel awards by purchasing your very own ABLS BOTANY 2026 @botsocamerica.bsky.social t-shirt featuring a rare southwestern moss and lichen species.
customink.com
Support 2026 ABLS Botany T-shirts for student travel awards.
Shirt features rare southwestern moss and lichen species. Made from 100% recycled fabric (60% recycled cotton/40% post-consumer recycled polyester), the Re-Tee is crafted from rescued materials, ensur...
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Join us for Specimens & Scones on September 15th! Go behind the scenes at the UTK Herbarium and discover how 700,000+ specimens are preserved, organized, and used for research, plus some of the fascinating specimens hidden in the collection! Scones & treats included! #HerbariumTour
Promotional graphic for the UTK Herbarium’s Specimens & Scones events, decorated with pressed botanical specimens on a cream background. The graphic reads “The UTK Herbarium -Specimens & Scones” and advertises behind-the-scenes Herbarium tours on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, November 11, from 3–5 PM. Location: 1818 Andy Holt Avenue, first floor of Temple Hall.View down a long aisle inside the UTK Herbarium, lined on both sides with tall, wood-grain mobile storage cabinets with black crank handles. Text reads: “What’s inside the UTK Herbarium? Come see for yourself. 700,000+ specimens. Countless stories.”
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Natural history collections may be more important than ever! Students in UTK’s Natural History Collections Research course visited the TENN Herbarium to explore how specimens support modern research and then learned how to create a lasting scientific resource by mounting specimens themselves.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
In 1934, a fire destroyed L.R. Hesler’s fungal collection, research notes & manuscripts. He rebuilt what was lost and went on to author 11 books and 100+ papers. Today, thousands of his specimens remain at TENN—and UTK’s Hesler Biology Building bears his name. #UTKHerbarium #Mycology
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Algae are photosynthetic organisms ranging from microscopic forms to large seaweeds. Many specimens are floated onto archival paper, arranged, and dried for preservation. Explore them in the Algae portal: macroalgae.org/portal/index...
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Did you know dung beetles can help plant seeds? With support from Breedlove-Dennis, Nathan Duerr tested how warming affects this role. In plots warmed by ~2°C, rainbow scarabs buried food caches deeper, which potentially leaves fewer seeds at depths favorable for emergence. #Breedlove-Dennis
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
UTK EEB had plenty to celebrate at Botany 2026! Dr. Joe Williams, Ainun Nadhifah, Millie Mancini & Isabel Hildesheim received conference honors ranging from the BSA Distinguished Fellow and Young Botanist awards to best bryology presentation & travel awards. Congrats to these UTK botanists!
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The collection may have been here all summer, but it just isn’t the same without our Vol family! We’re excited to welcome students, staff, faculty, researchers, and our curatorial technicians back to the UTK Herbarium. Here’s to a fantastic Fall semester! #UTKHerbarium #GoVols
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
What do you do with a pinecone? You certainly can’t press it flat! Some plant structures are preserved in 3D to retain features lost through pressing. At TENN, these are linked to pressed specimens and stored in our Seeds & Cones Collection. #NaturalHistoryCollections
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Tennessee’s cedar glades are unique biodiversity hotspots, yet their pollinators remain understudied. With support from the Breedlove-Dennis Fund, Sam Wilhelm helped document 165 insect species and counting, including rare bees and new records for Tennessee! #TNCedarGlades #Pollinators #Botany
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Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Looking for a new job? Want to work with a fun & engaged team of biologists studying plants and animals? Join the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department as an Administrative Associate at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville! Please spread the word.
fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
Administrative Associate: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - UTK
This position exists to assist the Business Manager & Department Head in all operations related to smooth operation of the front office and reception, and serves numerous critical roles related to und...
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
The UTK Herbarium website is temporarily unavailable due to a university-wide issue. UT-affiliated users can still access it off campus using the university VPN. Thank you for your patience while the issue is resolved!
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
With support from the Breedlove-Dennis Award, UTK graduate student Sydney Baldwin is studying Clarkia gracilis to uncover how soil nutrients and pollinators influence pollen quality. #Botany #Pollination
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Tennessee's first state botanist, Dr. Augustin Gattinger, helped establish what is now the UT Herbarium with a collection of more than 4,000 specimens. Today, the Herbarium houses over 710,000 specimens and continues his legacy of botanical discovery. #HerbariumHistory
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Moss growing on caribou bones? In 1958, UT Herbarium Director A.J. Sharp collected this remarkable Splachnum specimen from a caribou carcass in Alaska. A fascinating reminder that nature is full of unexpected adaptations.
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Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Symposium for Future Proofing Herbaria. Discussing specimen backlogs. Recommendation to prioritize, be creative, & build a collections club of volunteers to help. Also we found that #bryophytes & #lichens are over-represented & need our energy. doi.org/10.3897/nhcm... #botany2026
doi.org
The state of herbarium specimen backlogs: Perspectives from bryophyte collections
An herbarium must have its specimens processed, identified and accessioned so that members of the botanical community can readily consult these materials. However, many herbaria struggle to keep up wi...
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Reposted by UTK Herbarium - TENN
Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Are you passionate about #naturalhistory #collections? Apply for our open position for the Herbarium Collections Manager @utkherbarium.bsky.social. We will start evaluating applications on Aug 17, so get your application in now. #Botany2026 #herbarium #jobs
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Thanks to the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Sophia Turner is exploring the hidden world of plant microbiomes. Her research on goldenrods investigates how fungi and other microbes shape plant health, helping us better understand the relationships that support resilient ecosystems.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
After the 1934 fire destroyed the UT Herbarium, rebuilding the collection became a community effort. Led by Dr. Aaron "Jack" Sharp and many dedicated botanists, those efforts laid the foundation for the Herbarium we know today—and even helped inspire the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.#Botany
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Future scientists in action! Appalachian STEM Academy students explored the UTK Herbarium, examined plant specimens under the microscope, and met with researchers. Thanks to ORNL, Dr. Gautam Shirsekar, and Aaron Onufrak for a wonderful visit! #Botany #STEM #UTKHerbarium #ORNL
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
One fern. Thousands of miles. Countless questions. Thanks to the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Dusty Prater is uncovering what shapes the distribution of the sensitive fern across North America. #StudentResearch #BreedloveDennisAward #Botany #UTHerbarium #UTK_EEB
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Herbarium labels have come a long way—from handwritten notes to digitally created records. But their purpose remains the same: documenting the who, what, when, and where of every specimen so it can be used for research long into the future. #Botany #NaturalHistory #TENNHerbarium
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
127 years. One species. Countless stories. These two Niphidium crassifolium specimens show how botanical science has evolved through changing labels, mounting techniques, and plant classification. Herbaria preserve both plants and the history of their discovery.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Thanks to the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Sydney Baldwin traveled to California's unique serpentine seeps to study how pollen quality influences plant reproduction. Her research is helping us better understand pollination, plant fitness, and evolution. #BreedloveDennisAward
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
From field to herbarium! Kids U: Flora Quest students toured the TENN Herbarium, played Herbarium Bingo, collected local plants, and created their own mini herbarium collections using the same techniques employed by botanists. We loved sharing the world of plant science! #KidsU #UTkHerbarium
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Job Opening! Apply to join the the @utkherbarium.bsky.social as our new Herbarium Collections Manager. #jobopportunity #jobopening #jobsearch #herbaria #plants @utknoxville.bsky.social Full Position Posting & Application Instructions: fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
fa-ewlq-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
Herbarium Collections Manager: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - UTK
The TENN herbarium is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented individual to join our department as the Herbarium Collections Manager. The TENN herbarium houses over 710,000 plant and fungal specim...
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
In 1934, the UT Herbarium lost nearly 30,000 specimens in the Morrill Hall fire, including the historic collections of Dr. Augustin Gattinger. Thanks to Aaron "Jack" Sharp and support from other institutions, the collection has grown to approximately 710,000 specimens.
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Jessica Budke 🌱🥼🔬 @mossplants.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Attending #BOTANY2026? Order a shirt featuring rare SW moss & lichen species. @botsocamerica.bsky.social Order using the link below & pickup your shirt at the ABLS booth in Tucson, AZ, Aug 1-5, 2026. No shipping fees! www.customink.com/g/cqx0-00d2-... Deadline to order July 14, 2026 at 11:59PM ET
customink.com
American Bryological and Lichenological Society Group Order Form - Sign Up Today!
Please pay directly online through Custom Ink. Shirts will be available for pickup at the ABLS booth at the BOTANY 2026 conference August 1-5, 2026 in Tucson, AZ. Shirt Details: 100% recycled materia...
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Thanks to the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Tonika Birmley is studying how differences in chromosome number influence reproduction in the Appalachian wildflower Galax urceolata. Her research is helping us better understand plant evolution and conservation. #BreedloveDennisAward
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Conducting plant research? The UT Herbarium supports researchers with more than 700,000 specimens, field and research equipment, and dedicated workspaces. Our collections include vascular plants, ferns, bryophytes, fungi, lichens, algae, and fruits and seeds.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Supported by the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Ashlynn Hord sampled cottonwood populations across the Intermountain West to study introgression (gene flow through hybridization and backcrossing) and its potential role in climate resilience.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Every specimen has a story to tell—and every story begins with careful preparation. Our Curatorial Technicians carefully mount vascular plant specimens using archival materials, creating lasting scientific records that will support research for generations to come.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
We had a wonderful time visiting the UT Gardens Summer Camp! Campers learned about herbaria, examined preserved plant specimens, and created their own mini herbarium sheets using flowers from the gardens. We hope we inspired a few future botanists!
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Thanks to the Breedlove, Dennis Fund, UT graduate student Cait Barnes studied the fungal partnerships that help trees survive and thrive. Her research on dual-mycorrhizal associations is expanding our understanding of forest ecology from the ground up.
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Every specimen has a story to tell. This Phacelia bipinnatifida specimen was collected more than 100 years ago, yet traces of its blue flower pigmentation remain visible today, a testament to the value of careful preservation and collections care. #UTHerbarium #EverySpecimenHasAStory #Botany
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UTK Herbarium - TENN @utkherbarium.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This summer, students from UT's Summer Field Botany course visited the herbarium for a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection. From plant identification to climate change research, herbarium specimens are valuable records of biodiversity through time
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