Among the Few
The Gary A. Fewless Herbarium is one of only ~3,500 herbaria in the world.
Think of the herbarium as a museum, but for plants! Our collection showcases the diverse flora of the Western Great Lakes region, featuring over 45,000 vascular plant specimens and an ever-growing number of non-vascular plants like mosses and liverworts. With 90% of our specimens collected in Wisconsin, it's a fantastic way to learn about the local environment. Schedule a visit to Mary Ann Cofrin Hall Room 147, and dive into the world of plants!
Identify
Out for a walk and wondering what that plant is? Use our dichotomous keys—developed by Gary Fewless—to find out.
Collaborate
Tour the Herbarium and peruse our collection, take a walk with a plant expert or get help with identification.
Opportunities
Build experience and gain hands-on knowledge with the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity.
Create New
Knowledge
Work with professors and organizations across the Midwest.
Most research projects focus on the flora of the Western Great Lakes, including bryophytes, vascular plants, and lichens. Our curator, Keir Wefferling, focuses on mosses and liverworts in the region's peatlands; this has resulted in the first-time reports of tufted fen moss (Paludella squarrosa) and golf-club moss (Catoscopium nigritum) in Wisconsin! Students gain experience studying understudied groups of land plants, often through grant-funded projects. The research niches have led to ongoing collaborations with the Department of Natural Resources in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, The United States Forest Service, The Ridges Sanctuary and other regional land managers.
Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
In 1999, UW-Green Bay started the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity to promote education, scientific research, land protection and community services that contribute to conservation of the western Great Lakes fauna and flora. The center manages the Herbarium, as well as other areas across the university, to help preserve NE Wisconsin's ecology.
As part of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, a lot of our work at the Herbarium is funded by our community. By donating to us, we can do more for scientific research, land conservation and education for our community.
Across Eco-U®
In the early 1970s, UW-Green Bay was dubbed Eco U® by Harper’s Magazine and Newsweek. But focusing on our environment is not just our past—it's our present and future. As part of that commitment, the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity manages the Richter Museum, the Fewless Herbarium and six natural areas. To help us continue our work, consider a donation. We can do more for scientific research, land conservation and education for our community.
Richter Museum
As the Herbarium features a collection of plants native to the western Great Lakes region, the Richter Museum has thousands of animal specimens, including one of the ten largest bird egg collections in North America.
Natural Areas
The Cofrin Center for Biodiversity manages six protected natural areas across three counties in NE Wisconsin. 1,600 acres of land serve as an outdoor classroom for students, faculty and our community.
Our History
Gary A. Fewless put our herbarium on the map of North American botanical resources.
In 2014, the Herbarium was renamed in honor of Emeritus Curator Gary Fewless’s 33-year career and dedication to the Herbarium, the plants and natural areas of Northeastern Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay. Fewless, who holds both a bachelor's ('78) and master's ('86), was curator and a lecturer in botany and ecology. Throughout his career, he mentored hundreds of students and built the Herbarium collection into what is described as Northeastern Wisconsin’s most important botanical research center. Now, the Herbarium houses over 45,000 plant specimens, many of which were collected by Fewless. Because of his work posting resources and photographs online, many educators throughout the eastern United States use our knowledge, helping put the Herbarium and UW-Green Bay “on the map” of North American botanical resources.
Connect with Us!
Follow the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity to stay informed about our programs, connect with other students and faculty and view our restoration efforts.
Stay Up to Date
Get the latest in the goings on at the Herbarium.
Ask an Expert
Meet Keir Wefferling, curator of the Herbarium and Assistant Professor of Biology. Keir's research focuses on mosses and liverworts in bogs, fens, and other peatlands of the region.