Welcome to the SQU Herbarium

The Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Herbarium is a vital division of the Life Science Unit within the College of Science. Our collection of archived specimens serve as a premier scientific library dedicated to documenting, preserving, and studying the wild flora of the Sultanate of Oman and the wider Arabian Peninsula.

Our Collection at a Glance

Our rapidly growing repository currently houses more than 6,000 specimen vouchers, capturing the diverse array of both vascular and non-vascular plant life.

The Herbarium components

The collection is categorized into Angiosperms (Dicots & Monocots), Gymnosperms and non-vascular plants (Fern, Algae, Mosses & Lichens). Based on recent updates and inventory, the Angiosperms accounts for 95 % of the total collection and divided into:

Dicots: 880 identified species spanning 88 families and 442 genera.

Monocots: 209 identified species spanning 18 families and 108 genera.

Regional Diversity: The primary focus is the unique and native flora of Oman. However, collections from neighboring countries are accepted, which enriches the research and studies of plant biodiversity across the Arabian Peninsula.

Bringing Botanical Science to the World

To support global research and education, the SQU Herbarium features an advanced Online Catalogue. This user-friendly digital resource provides researchers, students, and plant enthusiasts worldwide with open access to comprehensive specimen details, scientific information and high-resolution specimen images and photographs.