From your backyard to big science—one pollen grain at a time.
The Florida Library of Pollen (FLiP) is a statewide community science initiative led by our lab to document and understand the incredible diversity of flowering plants and their interactions with each other and pollinators across Florida—using pollen.
With the help of volunteers, gardeners, students, and nature enthusiasts, we’re building a physical and digital archive of pollen samples from across the state. These tiny grains can be used to provide valuable data about plant-pollinator interactions.
How It Works
Anyone in Florida can participate. We send a simple collection kit with glassine envelopes, clear instructions, and a prepaid return envelope. Participants collect pollen from flowers on private property (like their yard or garden), label their sample, and send it back to us.
Back in the lab, we preserve, image, and identify the pollen grains. Each sample becomes part of a long-term dataset that supports research on biodiversity, restoration, and pollination ecology.
How to Participate
You can request your FLiP Kit below or at this link
Responsible Collecting
FLiP only accepts samples collected from private property with permission. We do not accept samples collected from public lands or rare/protected species. Our goal is to celebrate and study Florida’s plant life with care and respect for the ecosystems we depend on.