The digital reconstruction of the Du Bois Herbarium enables researchers to explore and manipulate the collection according to different parameters, allowing specimens to be arranged by taxonomy, structure, geography, or collector.
Open the URL https://digitalplant.discapp.link/. On the home page you’ll see options such as “About the du Bois Herbarium”, “Browse Specimens”, “Explore Collector Relationships”, and “Map”. Select “Browse Specimens” to access the collection.
In “Browse Specimens”, you will see digitised herbarium sheets. Use search or filters (date, geography, collector, classification, or taxonomy) to narrow the view. Click a specimen to open a full view with zoom, label text, and metadata (collector, date, place, classification notes).
Choose “Explore Collector Relationships” to map connections among specimens, collectors, and regions. Use thematic filters like “Science and Colonialism”, “Medicinal Plants”, or “Indigenous & Vernacular Names” to explore the collection. The “Map” view lets you visualise geographic distribution and collection routes.
Rearrange the collection by different parameters: pre-Linnean arrangement, modern taxonomy, date, geography, or collector identity. This enables research that is otherwise physically impossible with the actual herbarium due to conservation constraints.
Many specimen pages allow downloading exporting metadata (CSV). Reuse is often allowed under open-access terms;
Combine specimens, archives, and metadata for interdisciplinary work. In classrooms, students can compare original classifications with modern taxonomy and trace collection origins for historical analysis.
Use full-screen zoom to inspect labels. Combine filters (e.g., collector + geography) for network exploration. Some metadata may be incomplete—treat it as a historical source. Always cite the platform and URL properly.