Herbarium
The Department of Biology on West Campus houses an extensive collection of vascular plants and algae of South Texas. The West campus plant collection comprises around 6000 specimens and is registered in the International Index Herbariorum as PAUH. The herbarium was established by a former professor in the department, Dr. Robert Lonard, whose curatorial responsibilities are assumed at present by Dr. Frank Dirrigl. The vascular plant collection represents a portion of the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s diverse flora (ca. 1100 native species) with considerable focus on the grass family. Algae collections represent elements of both the hypersaline Laguna Madre and Gulf of Mexico.