Acadia University
The E.C. Smith Herbarium houses the largest collection of dried vascular plants, bryophytes, fungi and lichens in Atlantic Canada. The herbarium moved into the world-class K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and became part of the Irving Biodiversity Collection in 2002, along with the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens and the Acadia Seed Bank.
The preserved specimens and associated data in the E.C. Smith Herbarium are available for scientific study and biodiversity conservation purposes, particularly within the Acadian Forest Region. Our goal is to preserve invaluable historical information and generate new knowledge that promotes sustainability efforts in the region and beyond. All while fostering student engagement and education on the many topics that connect the Herbarium to the world: biodiversity, conservation, species at risk research, the publication of conservation data, the taxonomic treatment of species and ecosystems, and our relationship with the natural world.
Many students benefit from the E.C. Smith Herbarium via internships, co-op work terms, honours and masters theses, research projects, and the Flora of Nova Scotia, Research Topics and Research Skills full-credit courses. For more information about opportunities, please contact us.
Since 1910, we have collected, preserved, and digitized more than 200,000 specimens to document the region’s biodiversity and threatened species and ecosystems. We share this knowledge with conservation-minded researchers, decision-makers, and the global scientific community.
In the E.C. Smith Herbarium, every wild-collected specimen is annotated with vital information such as its location, habitat, local abundance, and population health. Specimens are mounted, labelled, scanned, digitized, and filed. Their respective data are available online as data spreadsheets and scanned images. With permission and assistance from the Director of the Herbarium, physical specimens are available onsite for review or can be loaned via mail. Specimens are frequently used by researchers for processes such as DNA sequencing and morphological analysis.
Curating and expanding an accurate preservation of our natural history is paramount to a brighter and more sustainable future for the biodiversity of the Acadian Forest Region.
Data
Researchers, decision-makers, and the global scientific community can explore the E.C. Smith Herbarium’s rich array of specimen data online. These databases are updated as frequently as possible.
- Canadensys (vascular plant species)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (vascular plant species)
- Mycology Collections Portal (fungal collections)
Visit the Herbarium
All lower level areas adjacent to the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre research facilities, including the E.C. Smith Herbarium, are open to the public. Special requests can be made to visit the E.C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia Seed Bank and environmental research laboratories. A 45-minute guided tour will take you inside the Herbarium and offer the opportunity for participants to mount their own specimen.
Fee: $30 for a group of 20 or less. Costing increases by $15 for each additional 20 participants. Maximum group size is 80 per booking. Each group of 20 will be assigned 1 tour guide. Please click here to view more information on a guided tour of the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens. Tour options can be customised depending on your group’s interests.
Guided tours for school groups are free of charge. Parent volunteers and teachers must be present to meet appropriate student/adult ratios. High school classes are encouraged to also book a campus tour to learn more about Acadia University. Please call (902) 585-2665 or email reservations@acadiau.ca to schedule your visit.
How you can help
Opportunities are always available for students or volunteers, ranging from specimen preparation to spending some time outdoors studying plants, lichens, and fungi, or making a donation. If you or your organisation are interested in a partnership to support a sustainable, long-term summer internship position, please contact us.
CONTACT US
Alain Belliveau
Collections Manager
or
Dr. Allison Walker
Director of the E.C. Smith Herbarium
E.C. Smith Herbarium
K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre
32 University Ave, Wolfville, NS B4P 2P8