Herbarium Label Template Preview

On the top, we have the institution or project the collection is associated with. Below that, on the lefthand side we have the plant’s scientifically accepted name at the time of submission and its accepted plant family. On the righthand side, we have the collector, collection number (to be referenced with their field notes) and the date of collection.

Below that, we have the determiner or identifier with key identifying marks to support their identification.

Underneath this, we have the locality, which should give us information as to where the specimen was found. Typically, city, state, country, and then details as to exact area.

Then, we have GPS coordinates of where the specimen was found and the datum used for exactness. Elevation follows this.

Then, we have habitat information describing the surrounding community and description of the habitat the plant was found in, such as the soil type and bedrock, if known.

Customizing the Herbarium Label

Every herbarium is a little different in what it wants to see on an herbarium label, and it may have different guidelines for the order in which you fill out a template. Your institution may require different fonts, arrangement of information, sizing… All of this to say that it’s best to familiarize yourself with the best practices of the herbarium you are submitting your voucher to.

You can either use this template wholesale, or reference it to make your own template. If you re-post this template, it must be done with attribution to HerbSpeak.com. 

When printing your herbarium label, be sure to do so on appropriate materials. Because herbarium specimens are intended to last for a long time, it’s important to print your label on archival-grade, acid-free cardstock with archival inks to ensure it remains legible. Herbarium Supply is a common source for these items. 

Download the Template

Below, you can download whichever format suits your needs. The .docx file is a direct download, so if you have a pop-up blocker or similar, you may need to add herbspeak.com to your safe domains list to initiate the download.