The Ray J. Davis Herbarium (IDS) is a historically, regionally and nationally important collection of over 70,000 plant and lichen specimens, including 137 type specimens. The collection well represents the plant diversity of Idaho as well as providing reference material of North American and global plant families. Plant specimens from the U.S. make up 96% of the collection, with 70% from Idaho and surrounding states. Idaho specimens make up 48% of the collection, with Southeast Idaho especially well represented (32% of total specimens, 66% of Idaho specimens).
Southeast Idaho is a geographically and biotically diverse region that includes the western extent of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the volcanic landscapes of the Upper Snake River Plain. IDS contains one of the largest collections of Southeast Idaho plants (22,409 specimens), and is thus one of the most important sources of information on the historical distributions of the regions’ plants and a growing resource for future research in this era of changing climate and landscape use. IDS receives frequent use for research, education and outreach.
Online Collections Search Options
As part of the digitization project (SWITCH) a searchable online database is hosted by the Pacific Northwest portal at the University of Washington. Records from the Ray J. Davis Herbarium are identified with the prefix IDS loans of those collections should be directed to the director of Ray J. Davis Herbarium.
OTHER ONLINE COLLECTION RESOURCES