Description
The herbarium of University of Extremadura (UNEX Herbarium) is formed by 38.341 specimens of vascular plants whose main origin is the autonomous region of Extremadura (Spain) and Portugal, although it also contains a smaller number of specimens from different places, including the rest of peninsular Spain, the Balearic Islands, the Macaronesian region (Canary Islands, Madeira and Azores), northwest of Africa (Morocco) and Brazil. Almost the 98% of the total records are georeferenced.
It is an active collection in continuous growth. Its data can be accessed through the GBIF data portal at https://ipt.gbif.es/manage/resource?r=collectionherbariumextremadura In the paper Espinosa & López (2013) are described the specimens associated data set of the UNEX Herbarium, with the objective of disseminate the information contained in the data set for promote the multiple uses of it.
Established in 1986, the specimens incorporated in the herbarium of vascular plants collection of University of Extremadura (UNEX Herbarium), are the result of the work of collection and identification by different researchers associated with the Botany Area (Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences) of the University of Extremadura. Chief amongst these include: Professor Juan Antonio Devesa, founder and director of the herbarium until 2004; Trinidad Ruiz, curator and director since 2004 to 2020; Rafael Tormo, curator until 2019; Josefa López, curator and current director; Tomás Rodríguez, curator; Ana Ortega and Francisco Javier Valtueña. Other researchers who contributed to the growth of the UNEX Herbarium include, Mª Carmen Viera, Jacinto Pedro Carrasco, Adolfo Muñoz, Inmaculada Montero, and Francisco Mª Vázquez. In addition, the disinterested work developed throughout time by a lot of students of the University of Extremadura, especially, Mª Luisa Navarro Pérez.
The development of different research projects has made it possible to improve the quality of the herbarium. Among them, the numerous compilations carried out by different members of the Botany Area in order to elaborate the first flora of the Extremadura region (Devesa, 1995) or the synthesis of different taxonomic families or genera for Flora Ibérica (http://www.floraiberica.org/). Additionally, 4.5% of the material comes from the purchase of part of the herbarium of Dr. J.V.C. Malato-Beliz.
Limited and unpredictable funding has always been a challenge for ensuring sustained growth of the collection facility since its origin.
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