herbarium codes

Herbarium codes are standardized abbreviations used internationally to identify the institutions that house preserved plant specimens. When botanists collect and study plants, they often store physical samples—pressed and dried—in herbaria for future research. Each herbarium has a unique code, like "K" for Kew Gardens in the UK or "US" for the United States National Herbarium, which helps accurately reference where a specimen is stored. These codes ensure clear, consistent communication among scientists, indicating the specimen's origin and location, which is essential for research, verification, and historical records in botany.