What MISSA accepts

MISSA acquires specimens through fieldwork by faculty, staff, and students; gifts from individuals and institutions; and exchanges with other herbaria. Priority is given to native and naturalized plants from Mississippi and the southeastern United States and to material that strengthens the research and teaching value of the collection.

Before submitting material

Please contact the Herbarium Director before delivering a large set of specimens or an existing private collection. This allows MISSA to assess relevance, documentation, condition, and preparation requirements before accessioning.

Ownership and accessioning

Accessioning is the formal process by which a specimen becomes part of the permanent collection. Specimens accepted and accessioned by MISSA become the property of Mississippi State University and may be used for research, teaching, imaging, or inter-institutional loans in accordance with herbarium policies.

MISSA does not maintain private collections within the herbarium. Material borrowed from other institutions remains the property of the lending institution and is managed separately from the MISSA collection.