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What Is a “Type” Specimen?
According to the International Rules for Botanical Nomenclature, when a new species is discovered, several steps must be taken:

1. the new species is given a Latin name
2. a description of the species is written in Latin
3. a type specimen is designated and deposited in a herbarium
4. the name and descriptions are published in a scientific journal

Taxonomists use type specimens (tracked by the collector’s name and collection number) as a reference to provide a clear definition and the correct name for a species.

Holotype:
A holotype is the single specimen that was designated to represent the species by the author who named that species.

Isotype
An isotype is a duplicate specimen of the holotype that was collected at the same time and in the same place, by the same collector.

Lectotype
A lectotype is a specimen selected from the material used by the original author when no holotype was designated at the time of publication.

Neotype
A neotype is a specimen that is selected to serve as the type when all original material has been destroyed or lost.

The BRIT Herbarium has over 900 type specimens.

The Type Collection at BRIT is databased but not yet available online.