The scientific collections of the CIF in Lourizán constitute a heritage of incalculable value that brings together a wide sample of Galicia's biodiversity. The centre houses the LOU Herbarium, which has more than 92,000 vascular plant specimens (collections: B. Merino, X. R. García Martínez, BIGA Association, J. Baladró and its own), including the historic collection of P. Baltasar Merino (the basis of the Descriptive and Illustrated Flora of Galicia), as well as contributions from Manuel Laínz and Gómez Vigide. This collection is complemented by the LOU-Fungi Mycological Collection, with 21,000 sheets of fungi (collections: L. Freire, M. Castro, own collections), and a Zoological Collection, LOU-Arth, which houses more than 1,000 entomological boxes (collections: BIGA Association, R. Estévez, P. Cobos, own collections), all of which are preserved in humidity and temperature-controlled systems to ensure their scientific integrity.
Access to these collections is strictly restricted to research staff, technicians and specialists belonging to scientific institutions who can justify a specific study objective. Unlike the Botanical Garden, the herbarium and its associated collections are not open to the general public in order to preserve the safety of the specimens. The centre offers on-site consultation and loan services for specimens.