The West Virginia University Herbarium, the largest such facility in the state, contains about 185,000 mounted and cataloged vascular plant specimens and approximately 26,000 bryophyte and lichen specimens. The collection was started in 1889 and has steadily increased since then. It is designated a National Resource Collection and contains the best collection in the world of West Virginia and Central Appalachian vascular plants. In addition there are over 25,000 color photographic slides that comprise the Earl L. Core Botanical Slide Collection and over 2,000 seed collections in the Elizabeth A. Bartholomew Seed Collection.