Virtual herbarium

[1] This technology was developed because it is standard practice to never turn a herbarium specimen upside-down.

Alternatively, some herbaria employ a flat-bed book scanner or a copy stand to achieve the same effect.

A small color chart and a ruler must be included on a herbarium sheet when it is imaged.

Major herbaria participate in international loan programs, where a researcher can request specimens to be shipped in for study.

Some herbaria also capitalize on their images by selling herbarium prints and greeting cards featuring particularly attractive specimens.