Botanische Staatssammlung München
Encyclopedia
The Botanische Staatssammlung München is a notable herbarium
and scientific center maintained by the Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, and located within the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg
at Menzinger Straße 67, München, Bavaria
, Germany
. Its library is open to the public; scientific collections are open to researchers by appointment.
The institution was established in 1813 by King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria to maintain the royal herbarium, which grew to include major collections from the University of München and botanist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber
, a student of Carl von Linné. In 1817, Maximilian sent botanist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius
on a three-year expedition to Brazil
, and upon his return appointed him the herbarium's curator. Martius' collection of South America
n vascular plants is among the world's foremost at 25,000–30,000 specimens representing 7,300 species.
Today the herbarium contains about 3 million dried specimens of plants and fungi
, which is estimated to reflect about 25% of the world's known plant species. It has major strengths in the flora of Bavaria
and the Alps
, and vascular plants of Brazil
, Chile
, Central Asia
, and regions of Africa
, as well as in lichen
s and fungi
. As of 2009, collection sizes were approximately as follows: vascular plants (1,800,000 specimens); bryophyte
s (350,000 specimens); fungi
(350,000 specimens); lichen
s (300,000 specimens); and algae
(150,000 specimens). The herbarium grows at an average rate of 16,000 specimens per year.
The center's research focuses on exploration and study of Europe
an, South-East Asian and South America
n flowering plants as well as of fungi
, lichen
s, and algae
. It also offers expert advice and identification services for certain types of plants and fungi.
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
and scientific center maintained by the Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, and located within the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg
Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg
The Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg is a botanical garden and arboretum located at Menzinger Straße 65, Munich, Bavaria, Germany...
at Menzinger Straße 67, München, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Its library is open to the public; scientific collections are open to researchers by appointment.
The institution was established in 1813 by King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria to maintain the royal herbarium, which grew to include major collections from the University of München and botanist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber
Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber , often styled I.C.D. von Schreber, was a German naturalist.-Career:He was elected Professor of Materia medica at the University of Erlangen in 1769....
, a student of Carl von Linné. In 1817, Maximilian sent botanist Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius
Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius
Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius was a German botanist and explorer.Martius was born at Erlangen, where he graduated M.D. in 1814, publishing as his thesis a critical catalogue of plants in the botanic garden of the university...
on a three-year expedition to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and upon his return appointed him the herbarium's curator. Martius' collection of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n vascular plants is among the world's foremost at 25,000–30,000 specimens representing 7,300 species.
Today the herbarium contains about 3 million dried specimens of plants and fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, which is estimated to reflect about 25% of the world's known plant species. It has major strengths in the flora of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, and vascular plants of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, and regions of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, as well as in lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s and fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
. As of 2009, collection sizes were approximately as follows: vascular plants (1,800,000 specimens); bryophyte
Bryophyte
Bryophyte is a traditional name used to refer to all embryophytes that do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore called 'non-vascular plants'. Some bryophytes do have specialized tissues for the transport of water; however since these do not contain lignin, they are not considered to be...
s (350,000 specimens); fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
(350,000 specimens); lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s (300,000 specimens); and algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
(150,000 specimens). The herbarium grows at an average rate of 16,000 specimens per year.
The center's research focuses on exploration and study of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an, South-East Asian and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n flowering plants as well as of fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s, and algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
. It also offers expert advice and identification services for certain types of plants and fungi.
See also
- Botanischer Garten München-NymphenburgBotanischer Garten München-NymphenburgThe Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg is a botanical garden and arboretum located at Menzinger Straße 65, Munich, Bavaria, Germany...
- List of herbaria
- List of botanical gardens in Germany