The collections of Dr. C. C. Parry are of scientific importance because they include types of numerous plant species from the western United States and Mexico. The Parry herbarium, presently housed at Iowa State University, includes about 18,000 specimens. Earlier reports indicated the Parry collection numbered 30,000 specimens and \u27\u27not less than 15,000 species.\u27\u27 A brief history of the collection is reported. It is probable that Parry\u27s partial dispersal of his collection and his inadequate record keeping resulting in an overestimation of the number of his specimens are cause for the conflicting figures in the literature
