Wonders of the Herbarium Library

 

linnaeus

Carl von Linné, the Swedish taxonomist from the 18th century.

Here at the Museum we focus on collecting and preserving samples of biodiversity to document variation that exists over species’ ranges and through time.  We then analyze that variation to come to conclusions about the circumscription of species and their relationships.  There is a long history of this kind of work, especially regarding the recognition of species and their naming.  This means that it is very important to have access to the literature that came before our own work.  With plant taxonomy, the starting point for nomenclature (naming of taxa) is 1753, with the work of the Swedish botanist Carl von Linné (Linnaeus), since he was the first individual to use binomial nomenclature (names consisting of a genus and species) consistently.

We are fortunate in the Herbarium to have a great library collection, with books dating back to the mid-1500’s.  The reason that we have these is that staff associated with the Herbarium in the past acquired these books and we have continued to add to and shape the collection with a focus on plant systematics.  However, the collection also has strengths in other areas, including exploration.  Browsing through the collection, one finds some amazing things.

Curtis Bot Mag title

The title page of the first volume of what came to be known as “Curtis’s Botanical Magazine” from 1787.

One thing that is striking about many of our older volumes is how well they are preserved.  Books produced up to the late 19th century used good paper that lasts well.   This is in comparison to many books printed in the early 1900’s, in which poor quality paper with high acid content has led to crumbling and yellowing of the paper.  The colors of illustrations can be spectacular, even though hundreds of years old.  A case in point is the series Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.  Begun in 1787, this publication is still being produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (London).  Every other page consists of a color plate of a plant, with a description on the following page.  The plates are very popular for their decorative value, with the result that many volumes of the work have had their plates removed so that they can be framed.  Here you can see some plates from Volume 1 (1787).

Helleborus

Helleborus,, a member of the buttercup family, is often grown as an ornamental.

Dodecath

Dodecatheon, known as “Shooting Star”, from the primrose family. This species is native in the midwestern US.

Sprekelia

Sprekelia is a member of the amaryllis family, from South Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature displayed

The title page of “Nature Displayed”, from 1740.

Another aspect that is documented in a historical collection such as ours is the change of attitudes over time.  For example, in the late 18th and 19th centuries, occupations and pastimes considered suitable for young women, and youth in general, were limited.

Rousseau

The first page of Rousseau’s book on botany (in English translation) from 1771.

One activity that was eventually considered appropriate was the study of plants.  The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was an advocate of nature study for young women, as can be seen in the opening page of a book from 1771 written for mothers who could then teach their daughters about the study of plants.  As he says, the study of nature, “abates the taste for frivolous amusements [and] prevents the tumult of the passions.”  Similarly, another early volume called “Nature Displayed”, by the French author Noël Antoine Pluche (1740), argued that study of natural history “excites the curiosity and forms the minds of youth.”

 

Matthioli

The title page of Matthioli’s commentary on Dioscorides.

We have a copy of the French translation of Pietro Matthioli’s commentary (published in 1579) on the ancient Greek author Dioscorides’ work.  The latter was one of the go-to sources for information about plants and their medicinal uses from about 300 CE to the 1400’s.  Matthioli, writing in the 1500’s, added to Dioscorides.  The book contains many hand-colored illustrations of plants, animals, and even people interacting with nature.  As you can see, they did not worry too much about coloring within the lines!  Here we see a number of those illustrations, including a man apparently struggling to collect vipers (probably the European Adder).

Matt Dandelion

A Dandelion (dent de lion) from Matthioli.

Matt Croc

A crocodile from Matthioli.

Matt Viper

A man catching vipers from Matthioli.

 

 

 

Today, even much of the older literature is becoming available online, but there is still nothing like holding the 400-year-old original in your hand.

 

About the AuthorDr. John Freudenstein is a Professor in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology and Director of the OSU Herbarium.  All photos are by the author except for the one of Linnaeus, which came from an online source.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *