Welcome to Flora Caroliniana
Since the settlement of Charles Towne in 1670, South Carolina has enjoyed a long history of
botanical investigation. Explorations of the unique and varied environs in search of 'new'
and 'useful' productions of nature quickly ranked South Carolina as one of the most botanically
diverse colonies. Enumerating many new species, Thomas Walter's Flora Caroliniana (1788) was
the first regional flora that documented this diversity and followed the Linnaean system of
nomenclature. While many botanical specimens were collected and shipped to European herbaria,
much of the early material still remains within the state. Noteworthy historic collections
include Stephen Elliott's Herbarium at the Charleston Museum (CHARL) and the Henry William
Ravenel Collection of Converse College now at the University of South Carolina (USCH).
The Consortium of South Carolina Herbaria was formed in part to: preserve these important
historic collections; augment contemporary collections; and "to promote and expand the role of
herbaria in botanical research, teaching and service to the community at large..." (Society of
Herbarium Curators - Central Mission Statement).
Flora Caroliniana offers access to the historic and more recent scientific specimen information
held within South Carolina herbaria. As part of the Consortium of South Carolina Herbaria's
public outreach initiative, visitors are invited to create an account by selecting
"New Account". Once an account has been created, users are
encouraged to develop their own personal checklists and backyard floras. Please send feedback to
the site administrator.
and is hosted by the University of South Carolina Department of Biological Sciences.
Please direct all inquiries to the site administrator
