2025/07/10 by Dominik Tomaszewski, Łukasz Walas, Marzenna Guzicka · 3 voices
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Plant Diversity and Evolution #Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions #Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/ppp3.70071
Societal Impact Statement Global efforts to protect biodiversity depend on fair access to key plant specimens. This study examines the distribution of 119,361 holotypes—unique herbarium specimens used to formally describe new plant species. By linking collection and storage data, we found that holotypes are increasingly held closer to their places of origin, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This shift reflects postcolonial change, growing local scientific capacity and evolving biodiversity governance. Our findings underscore the lasting impact of colonial legacies and highlight the urgent need for investment in herbaria, improved digitisation and policies that strengthen local control over biological resources. Summary This study analyses the distribution of holotypes, probably the most important specimens in herbaria. Although holotypes represent a small fraction of the global collection of plant specimens, they are essential for systematic research and species identification. The research aims to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of holotypes and understand the dynamics of these patterns. Using publicly available data from the GBIF, the study selects holotypes of Tracheophyta and links their original collection locations and times to current storage locations. Analysis of 119,361 holotype records from 528 herbaria in 88 countries reveals significant trends in the distribution of holotypes. The distance between collection sites and herbaria has decreased over time, that is, around 1800, the median distance was 8,800 km, while by 2000 it decreased to 750 km. In particular, there is a growing trend for local retention of holotypes in Africa, Asia and Latin America, along with the continued presence of specimens in European and North American herbaria from those regions. The study highlights the importance of holotypes in botanical research and biodiversity documentation. The shifting distribution patterns reflect the historical colonial dynamics and recent changes in the local scientific capacity. The research underscores the need for global investment in herbarium collections to preserve genetic material and document local floral biodiversity, especially in biodiversity‐rich regions such as Africa, Asia and Central & South America.