Plant Identification Services at the National Herbarium (PRE)
A plant identification service is provided to individuals, nurseries, other herbaria, consultants, universities, nature conservationists, other government departments, registered collectors, SABONET countries as well as to NBI staff.
The aim is to assist users to contribute to the high standard of plant taxonomy in South Africa by using the most recent names for our very rich flora.
General guidelines
- When requesting plant identifications, a form has to be completed.
- We have opted to have a set rate for identification rather than an hourly rate for the expertise of the identifier, referring to it as a handling fee.
- The rates include computerisation, preparation and posting of provisional and final dispatch lists as well as telephonic and written liaison with clients.
- In cases where clients would like their specimens returned, arrangements should be made with the officer in charge. Pacckaging and postage costs are R40 per 10 specimens or part thereof.
Conditions and handling charges for the service
- Sterile specimens: R50 per specimen regardless of which category is chosen. Specimens will be identified to the nearest name, which can often only be that of a family.
- Urgent identifications: General and life-and- death cases (exclusively for Onderstepoort, SAP & Poison Units): R50 per specimen with immediate attention; the best possible identification will be given depending on the quality of the specimen.
- Standard identifications: R15 per specimen with names provided in 90 days. This applies to researchers, students, private individuals, institutions, universities and conservationists. Only fertile specimens will be considered for identification. Collectors will be charged for all specimens submitted.
- Free identifications: No charge, names will be given when available. Good quality specimens must be donated to the NBI. Inferior specimens will be discarded before identification and no specimens will be returned to collectors. This applies to countries participating in an exchange programme, gifts, private individuals and researchers where speed of identification is not important and to the affiliated collectors collecting in under-collected areas.
- Commercial ventures EIAs, non-NBI projects and publications: A basic charge of R250 and R50 per specimen. Names will be provided within 14 days. We undertake to identify all specimens to the lowest possible rank; immature, infertile or otherwise poor specimens can sometimes be identified only to family or genus level; collectors will be charged for all specimens submitted.
- Specimens from extra-FSA areas and SABONET countries: No charge and names will be given within 90 days. Good quality specimens must be donated to the NBI. Inferior specimens will be discarded before identification and no specimens will be returned to collectors.
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