Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
For nearly six centuries, scientists have been documenting the plants and fungi of the world through herbaria. The wealth of specimens available today, carefully preserved through the centuries, is a unique source of data that not only helps scientists understand how the world's vegetation has changed over time, but allows them to also predict how it will change in the future.
In The Herbarium, Barbara Thiers, the Director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanic Garden, shares the fascinating story of how herbaria began, what they are, and how they function today. Readers will discover the role herbaria play in the exploration of the natural world, the important contributions they have made, and how they are under threat. Thiers argues passionately for their preservation and for the important role they play in protecting plant life for generations to come. The Herbarium is heavily illustrated with photographs and unique historical material from the collection at the New York Botanical Garden. It is a must-read for passionate plant fans and conservationists.
Synopsis
A Treasury Like No Other
Since the 1500s, scientists have documented the plants and fungi that grew around them, organizing the specimens into collections. Known as herbaria, these archives helped give rise to botany as its own scientific endeavor.
Herbarium is a fascinating enquiry into this unique field of plant biology, exploring how herbaria emerged and have changed over time, who promoted and contributed to them, and why they remain such an important source of data for their new role: understanding how the world's flora is changing. Barbara Thiers, director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, also explains how recent innovations that allow us to see things at both the molecular level and on a global scale can be applied to herbaria specimens, helping us address some of the most critical problems facing the world today.
At its heart, Herbarium is a compelling reminder of one of humanity's better impulses: to save things--not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.
Synopsis
"A sweeping history of the origins, development, and future of herbaria and their role in plant consternation." --The American Gardener
Since the 1500s, scientists have documented the plants and fungi that grew around them, organizing the specimens into collections. Known as herbaria, these archives helped give rise to botany as its own scientific endeavor.
Herbarium is a fascinating enquiry into this unique field of plant biology, exploring how herbaria emerged and have changed over time, who promoted and contributed to them, and why they remain such an important source of data for their new role: understanding how the world's flora is changing. Barbara Thiers, director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden, also explains how recent innovations that allow us to see things at both the molecular level and on a global scale can be applied to herbaria specimens, helping us address some of the most critical problems facing the world today.