The Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Systematics Research Resource Center committed to the acquisition, preservation, and study of plant specimens for scientific purposes. Its herbarium serves as a permanent repository for plant specimens, including many types, and other specimens not available at other U.S. institutions, with a strong emphasis on the Neotropics and tropical Africa. The collection is heavily used as a resource by the botanical systematic community for monographic, floristic, and numerous other kinds of studies and accessed through loans, and personal visits. This project will support, for a three-year period microscopes, supplies and staff to enhance the loan specimen program and visitor support services.