Search more than eight million plant, algae, and fungi specimens held by Australian and New Zealand herbaria.
Chinese Virtual Herbarium
Search China's Virtual Herbarium for plant and fungi specimens shared by national botanical collections.
About Chinese Virtual Herbarium
The Chinese Virtual Herbarium (CVH) is the official online sharing platform for China’s National Plant Specimen Resource Center, a national science and technology resource sharing platform approved by the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance. It aggregates plant and fungi specimen data from 16 major, high-impact botanical collections with large holdings and distinct specializations, alongside former national specimen information infrastructure sub-platforms covering plant, teaching, nature reserve, and polar specimen resources.
Users can search the full aggregated specimen dataset, use advanced search tools to filter results, view type specimens and color specimen photos, and access specialized resource collections. The platform is also developing additional resources including DNA specimen data, expanded image libraries, and records of rare and endangered protected plants.
It serves researchers, educators, conservation professionals, and anyone seeking access to structured plant and fungi specimen data from Chinese national collections.
Key features
- Aggregates over 8.6 million plant and fungi specimen records
- Includes 66,192 type specimen records
- Provides access to 66,113 color specimen photos
- Offers advanced search functionality for specimen data
- Hosts specialized teaching, nature reserve, and polar specimen collections
- Supports ongoing development of DNA and rare plant resources
Best for: Researchers, educators, and conservation professionals working with Chinese plant and fungi specimen data.
Good for
- Large aggregated dataset of Chinese plant and fungi specimens
- Includes specialized niche specimen collections (polar, teaching, nature reserve)
- Provides access to type specimens and color specimen imagery
- Backed by official national science and technology resource sharing platform status
Watch out for
- Some specialized resource sections are still under construction
- Coverage is limited to Chinese national botanical institution specimen collections
Chinese Virtual Herbarium at a glance
- Website
- cvh.ac.cn
- Category
- Research & Data › Open Data & Datasets
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Chinese Virtual Herbarium FAQ
What is the Chinese Virtual Herbarium (CVH)?
It is the online sharing platform for China’s National Plant Specimen Resource Center, a national science and technology resource sharing platform that aggregates plant and fungi specimen data from major Chinese botanical collections.
What types of specimen resources are available on CVH?
The platform hosts over 8.6 million plant and fungi specimen records, including type specimens, color photos, and specialized collections for teaching, nature reserves, and polar regions, with additional DNA and rare plant resources under development.
Who operates the Chinese Virtual Herbarium?
It is run by the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the implementing unit of the National Plant Specimen Resource Center.
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