In 1893, the research in Plant Systematics at the University of Zurich was for the first time lined up in a professional mode: On the former bulwark Zur Katz in the middle of the town, two complementary institutes, namely The Botanical Garden and The Botanical Museum, were combined and headed by Hans Schinz (1858-1941) from 1893 until 1929.
Whereas feature and function of a Botanical Garden are self explicable, the characteristics of the Botanical Museum have to be outlined here to avoid erroneous perception. The Museum harbored all items necessary for a successful research and teaching: The lecture hall, the various herbaria, the library, the desks for students, assistants and the director, several assemblages assisting teaching such as wallcharts etc. , and finally a collection of conserved (by drying or keeping in alcohol), mostly plant-derived objects. This latter collection was called by Schinz Frucht- und Modellsammlung. We name it here Botanical Collection. For details see the illustrated guide to the Botanical Garden printed in 1908.
Between 1988 and 1990, the illustrator Beatrice Häsler worked in The Zurich Collection and created a large number of paintings. She was inspired by the many enchanting objects assembled by Schinz and his followers, collected either on excursions or obtained by the international exchange among botanical gardens. Get here the impressive' and free ebook!
The illustrator is thankful to Edwin Urmi, Christopher D.K. Cook and the late Karl U. Kramer (1928-1994), who had granted access to Botanical Collection.
Use of these images within UZH is free. Please get in contact as to © issues.
Other users are referred to:
impressions from a botanical collection
The 'Caffeines'
The
Caffeine Plants
