The FRLH Herbarium is a specialized center focusing on the comprehensive documentation, study, and conservation of medicinal plants that are fundamental to the Indian Medical Systems (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Swa-rigpa, and Folk traditions). Through its dedicated research and extensive collections, the herbarium contributes to plant taxonomy, conservation biology, pharmacognosy, and ethnobotany.

Key Features and Achievements:

- Specialization and Recognition:

• Recognized by the New York Botanical Garden and collaborating with KEW Botanical Gardens, the herbarium plays a leading role in taxonomic research, with expertise in nomenclature and Indian botanicals.

- Extensive Collections:

• Houses over 4,200 medicinal plant species supported by more than 60,000 voucher specimens, representing 62% of the species used in ISM.
• A dedicated raw drug repository of 3,000 well-authenticated botanical samples sourced from India’s major raw drug markets.
• Comprehensive documentation of vernacular names, accurate botanical nomenclature, and geolocation data (latitude, longitude, altitude) for each species.

- Research and Fieldwork:

• Conducted botanical surveys across India’s diverse ecological zones since 1993, contributing to the discovery of 27 new plant species and the relocation of 3 species once considered extinct.
• Holds significant collections of 125 endemic species, 105 species with extended distribution, and 100 species listed in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants.
• Supports conservation through the assessment of 400 threatened medicinal plants, with 80% of these species represented in the herbarium.

- Knowledge and Community Engagement:

• Conducted ethnobotanical studies across India to document wild edible plants and culturally important traditional knowledge.
• Successfully completed 25 research projects and continues work on wild edible plant studies.
• Published 196 scientific papers, 8 books, and 12 book chapters on taxonomy, conservation, ethnobotany, and related fields.

- Facilities and Resources:

• A physical herbarium, an image library of 21,000 plant images, and a virtual herbarium with 1,000 digitized species.
• Associated with a unique Ethno Medicinal Garden (EMG) containing 1,500 native medicinal plant species.
• Provides authentication services for medicinal plants to industries, researchers, and government agencies.

- Academic Programs and Training:

• Offers an MSc by Research in Plant Systematics, designed to train skilled taxonomists capable of independent fieldwork, plant identification, and research in ecology, molecular biology, and related disciplines.
• Conducts hands-on training programs, orientation workshops, credit courses, and capacity-building programs in areas such as taxonomy, medicinal plants, pharmacognosy, adulterants-substituents in medicinal plants & food, and museology.

- Beneficiaries:

• Students and researchers from the fields of botany, pharmacognosy, and traditional medicine.
• ISM practitioners, herbal industries, government and non-government organizations, forest managers, and conservationists.

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The FRLH Herbarium plays an essential role in bridging the gap between traditional botanical knowledge and modern scientific research, creating a knowledge base that supports sustainable management, conservation, and responsible utilization of medicinal plant resources. Through its meticulous documentation and research, the herbarium provides:

• Critical data for conservation strategies, habitat protection, and restoration of threatened medicinal species.
• Reliable plant authentication services to support the quality and safety of herbal products in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries.
• Field-based evidence and traditional knowledge documentation to strengthen India's biodiversity policies and safeguard the cultural heritage associated with medicinal plant use.
• Educational opportunities that empower future taxonomists, ethnobotanists, conservationists, and industry professionals through interdisciplinary learning.

The FRLH Herbarium remains committed to preserving India's medicinal plant diversity while fostering innovation in botanical sciences. For detailed information on our research collaborations, academic programs, training opportunities, and project partnerships, we welcome you to connect with us.

For collaboration and services, please contact: Dr. S. Noorunnisa Begum, Associate Professor

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Please contact Noorunnisa Begum at noorunnisa.begum@tdu.edu.in