Plant Science Lab Plant Science Lab Image About the Plant Science Lab Featuring 1,500 square feet dedicated to wet lab space for our research team, this facility, which opened in 2025, supports ongoing active research projects in plant biodiversity, conservation, ecology, and evolution. Our laboratory is fully equipped to support modern plant molecular and morphological research. For inquiries about equipment in our lab, please e-mail Lab Manager Dr. Lulu Korsak . Image Image Active Research Projects Subtribal classification of Ironweeds in the Eastern Hemisphere Vernonieae is one of the most species-rich tribes in the sunflower family and notable for its challenging taxonomic history. A key challenge for taxonomists who work with this group has been characterized by what is referred to as “The Vernonia Problem,” which refers to a large and poorly defined core genus. Throughout much of its taxonomic history,  Vernonia was considered among the largest plant genera on Earth; however, it was significantly reduced in 1999 to comprise only 20 species from the Americas. Despite significant taxonomic revision for this tribe in North and South America, more than 300 species from the eastern hemisphere (largely Africa and Madagascar) remain in the genus Vernonia that await recircumscription and placement into an alternative, segregate genus. Vernonieae is currently represented by 12 subtribes and 66 genera across its range in the Eastern Hemisphere. A critical priority for advancing systematic knowledge of this group is a concerted integrative taxonomic effort that combines a well-resolved phylogeny and detailed comparative morphological analyses. This project highlights integrative taxonomic tools to develop a infratribal phylogenetic framework that will guide subtribal classification and taxonomic revision of this diverse group of plants in the Eastern Hemisphere. Image Ripariosida hermaphrodita Ripariosida hermaphrodita , Virginia mallow, is a plant of paradoxes. It is a …

Public Tours Public Tours Image Step into a world of natural wonder. Our public tours bring the Morris Arboretum & Gardens to life through expert insights, seasonal highlights, and stories hidden among the trees. From weekend highlights to themed walks, there’s always something new to discover. In-Person Tours Image Small Trees for Small(er) Spaces Saturday, September 12 • 11 am Investigate the smaller specimen trees at Morris that make a big impact. Learn More Image Hidden Gems Tour Saturday, September 26 • 11 am A combination of structures, sculptures, walkways, trees and vistas are included in our Hidden Gems. This tour shows something unique about these more familiar gems. Learn More Image The Wetland: A Unique Ecosystem Saturday, October 10 • 11 am Explore the many native plants and trees in the Natural Areas near the Wissahickon Creek on a guided tour.  Learn More Image Oaks of the Mid-Atlantic Tour Saturday, October 24 • 11 am Join an experienced Garden Educator in discovering and identifying the Mid-Atlantic oaks in the Morris’s extensive collection. Learn More Image Garden Highlights Weekends: 1 pm  Weekdays: 10:30 am Our knowledgeable guides will design a tour around the interests of the attendees. Every tour is different so come back as many times as you’d like. Learn More If you are interested in organizing a private group tour, please see our Group Tours page . Self-Guided Tours Image Fernery The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the only freestanding fernery left in North America and is home to over 200 different species of ferns and fern allies. During this tour, you will be introduced to some of the most notable ferns in the current collection.  Learn More Image Wetland The Wetland and its floodplain encompass about 35 acres of the Morris. Find native plants, keep an eye out for belted kingfishers and blue herons, and learn about the history of the wetland dating back to 1717.  Learn More Image Witchhazels Explore our witchhazel collection this …

Herbarium and Networks Herbarium and Networks Image Morris Herbarium Image The Morris is home to the Herbarium of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania. What's a herbarium? An archive of dried, pressed, dead plants. That might not sound like much but it is, in fact, priceless! Each specimen in a herbarium tells us about a specific plant collected in a particular place and time, complete with a physical specimen that allows for even more in-depth studies (morphological, anatomical, molecular... the list goes on!). Herbaria are the closest thing we have to a time machine for plant research and as such contribute exponentially to our understanding of plants. MOAR , our herbarium here at Morris, holds over 27,000 specimens and focuses on the flora of Pennsylvania and collections of wild material relevant to temperate species of horticultural interest or our living collection at Morris.   Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium The Morris Plant Science Department proudly coordinates the Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium (MAHC) , a consortium of 30+ herbaria from the Mid-Atlantic region (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia). MAHC grew out of the Mid-Atlantic Megalopolis Project (2016 – 2021), a highly successful herbarium specimen digitization project lead by Morris Arboretum & Gardens and funded by the National Science Foundation of the US. The aim of MAHC is to get as many of our herbarium specimens from the region as possible digitized, with high-resolution images, transcribed field data, and georeferenced points. MAHC works together to create a portal of virtual herbaria with these digitized records to complement our physical herbaria, providing free online access to nearly 3 million specimens for researchers and the public alike. We welcome any Mid-Atlantic herbaria to get in touch ( midatlanticherbaria@gmail.com or botany@morrisarboretum.org ), if they are interested in joining the consortium. …

Research & Collections Research & Collections Image Plant science has been at the heart of Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania for more than a century, helping establish the Morris as one of our nation's leading university-based arboreta. Today, our Plant Science team advances knowledge of plant biodiversity, evolution, floristics, taxonomy, conservation, and the complex relationships between plants and the ecosystems they support. This work builds on a longstanding commitment to documenting and understanding the flora of Pennsylvania, resulting in landmark publications such as   The Plants of Pennsylvania . Drawing on this strong foundation, we lead and contribute to regional, national, and international collaborations that advance botanical science and support plant conservation around the world. With the opening of our new Plant Science Lab in 2025, the Morris is now poised to expand its impact even further, creating new opportunities for research, discovery, and scientific partnership. Image Meet the Plant Science Team Learn More Image Plant Science Lab Learn More Image Herbarium & Networks Learn More Image Garden Explorer Learn …