The collection also provides a basis of correctly identified material for the National Identification Service, which serves numerous clients concerned with the identification of pests and imported material potentially injurious to Canadian economy. Each year more than a hundred loans involving thousands of specimens are made available to researchers worldwide. Without this large herbarium operation Canada would not be able to participate in the international cooperative network that makes essential research material available to Canadian agricultural scientists. A major contribution to the classification and naming of plants is the establishment and protection of type specimens. They are among the most important and valuable specimens in a collection, and are also among those most frequently used.
Type specimens are an essential foundation for all of plant classification.
A frequent problem is finding a particular type specimen that is needed. The types reside in various collections around the world and the scientists involved with many larger collections have provided a listing of their type holdings to facilitate classificatory research and to enhance the value and utilization of the collections. The catalogue provided here will facilitate Canadian research, and improve the Canadian contribution to the international research network, especially with respect to economically important plants, by enabling type specimens and related information to be readily recovered. Bernard Boivin, W.M. Bowden, James M. Calder, William G. Dore, John M. Gillett, and Gerald A. Mulligan. Isotypes, paratypes and topotypes of taxa described by these individuals are not included in the list.