Herbarium Tubingense and other Botanical Collections
Herbarium Tubingense comprises of about 500.000 collections of plants and fungi from different parts of the world. Between those are many type specimens, meaning collections that were used for the first scientific decription of plants or fungi.
Collecting and archiving plants and fungi in a Herbarium is a tradition for more than 200 years in Tübingen. As early as in the beginning of the 19th century a botanical collection existed, which was a "Naturalienkabinett" hosted in Schloss Hohentübingen.1837 professor Hugo von Mohl founded Herbarium Tubingense, based on the "Naturalienkabinett". Since 1968/69 the Herbarium Tubingense is located at Morgenstelle. Today, it belongs to the chair of Organismic Botany within the Institute of Evolution and Ecology. The collection is continuously expanded.
Since the rise of molecular biology, herbaria have even gained in importance, as it is possible to isolate and analyse DNA from century-old dry collections. Thus, plant treasures are preserved for generations to be analysed by the latest available technique.
Special Collections
- Under the highlights of Herbarium Tubingense are collections from Expeditions of the "Botanischer Reiseverein" (Botanical Travel Club) between 1826 and 1860. Between others, Christian Friedrich Hochstetter, Theodor Kotschy and Wilhelm Schimper were members of this club.
- numerous collections from Johann Georg Gmelins famous Kamtschatka-Expedition (1733-1743)
- the plant collections of Hogo von Mohl
- more than 100000 specimens from the herbarium of Beuron monastery, which were taken over by Herbarium Tubingense in 1975
- Recent collections are for example the collection of DFG special research project "Tübingen Atlas of the Near East" (TAVO) assembled between 1974 and 1989, comprising abot 40000 specimens from the whole Orient
- the ample collection of tea and spices assembled by Professor of Pharmacy Karl Hummel
- The Paleobotanic Collection and the collection of historical microscopes are available for research and teaching.
- 23 original, unique plant drawings by Leonhart Fuchs (1501-1566), made for continuation of his "Kräuterbuch" (phamarceutic herb book)
- Herbarium Tubingense cooperates with other herbaria and universities. For exhibitions of the Tübingen city museum, natural history museum Reutlingen and other facilities, Herbarium Tubingense provides plant specimens.
- Recently, the herbarium took part in a database project compiling type specimens from Africa (www.aluka.org)
Contact and Opening Times
For scientific purpose, the collections can be visited on appointment.
contact person | Cornelia Dilger-Endrulat (keeper of herbarium) |
adress | Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076 Tübingen |
phone | +49-7071-29-76943 |
fax | +49-7071-29-5344 |
