Exsiccata

Front cover and dried specimens from Ludwig Schaerer's exsiccata series Lichenes Helvetici (Swiss lichens), published in 26 fascicles from 1823 to 1852

Exsiccata (Latin, gen. -ae, plur. -ae) is a work consisting of "published, uniform, numbered set[s] of preserved specimens distributed with printed labels". Typically, exsiccatae are numbered collections of dried herbarium specimens or preserved biological samples issued in several duplicate sets under a common theme or title, such as Lichenes Helvetici exsiccati. Exsiccatae are regarded as scientific contributions by their editors, combining features of the library world (published booklets of scientific literature with authors or editors and titles, often issued as serial publications or in fascicles) with features of the herbarium world (uniform, numbered collections of duplicate herbarium specimens). Exsiccatae represent a distinct form of scholarly communication. The accompanying printed matter or published booklets consist mainly of lists of labels (schedae) giving information on each numbered unit in the series. Broader uses of the concept also occur.

Several comprehensive bibliographies and studies of exsiccatae have been published for algae, bryophytes and lichens, lichens and fungi. No printed bibliography devoted to works on vascular plants is available. The online database IndExs – Index of Exsiccatae fills this gap.

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