The School of Biological Sciences's Herbarium was first established in 1971, located in the G08 Building within the main campus of USM. It is designed to be a reference collection for the biodiversity of flora in the Northern Peninsular Malaysia.

The function of the USM Herbarium is to provide voucher specimens as a collection of preserved dried plants for taxonomic reference of species, to supply data for teaching and research, to conduct practical classes, and to organize Herbarium Techniques Courses.

Additionally, the Herbarium plays a crucial role in supporting all related research and service programs. One of the objectives of establishing the Herbarium is to serve as the primary reference center for the northern region of Malaysia.

To date, the herbarium collection exceeds 11,623 species across 200 families. The collection includes specimens of mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. This collection involves specimens researched by lecturers, master's and doctoral students, as well as specimens used for teaching purposes.