An aerial view of the Bolus Herbarium library in the HW Pearson Building, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town
Its collection of specimens numbers over 320 000, making it the third largest university herbarium in the Southern Hemisphere.[1] The collection is highly representative of the Cape Flora and also houses many type specimens. The international herbarium abbreviation BOL is used when referring to the Bolus Herbarium.
Although the building caught on fire during the 2021 Table Mountain fire, which gutted several other collections in the university including the Plant Conservation Unit, the Bolus Herbarium managed to narrowly escape being destroyed in the blaze.[2][3]
Harry Bolus (1834–1911), a rich Cape Town businessman, began his collection in 1865 in Graaff-Reinet, and it is now the oldest functioning herbarium in the country. In 1903 Louisa Bolus who was a grand-niece of Harry Bolus was appointed a Curator of the herbarium.[4] After his death, the South African College (which changed its name to the University of Cape Town on April 2, 1918) inherited his herbarium; a library featuring many expensive, unique, and rare books on botany; and a substantial amount of money for the maintenance and expansion of the collection. In 1924, a dedicated building was erected for the herbarium in Kirstenbosch, but it proved unsuitable later. Therefore, the herbarium was moved onto the campus in 1938. Louisa Bolus was also involved with the herbarium until her death in 1970.[4]
Several botanists bequeathed their collections of flora and books to the Bolus Herbarium. Among them were C. Louis Leipoldt in 1946, Fourcade in 1948, and Gen. Jan Smuts in 1950.
Publicationsedit
Between 1915 and 1928, 4 editions were published of the Annals of the Bolus Herbarium.[6] Later, Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium appeared.
^"The Bolus Herbarium, Global Plants on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
^Craig Hilton-Taylor. "I heard from Callen Cohen that the fire in the Pearson building is out and that the Bolus is safe". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
^Alex Lansdowne. "The top floor was burnt but it did not get to the Herbarium". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
^ abGunn, Mary (1981). Botanical exploration of southern Africa : an illustrated history of early botanical literature on the Cape flora : biographical accounts of the leading plant collectors and their activities in southern Africa from the days of the East India Company until modern times. L. E. W. Codd. Cape Town: Published for the Botanical Research Institute by A.A. Balkema. p. 101. ISBN0-86961-129-1. OCLC 8591273.
^"S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science". www.s2a3.org.za. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^Herbarium, Bolus (1914). The Annals of the Bolus Herbarium. University Press.
bolus, herbarium, established, 1865, from, donation, harry, bolus, extensive, herbarium, library, south, african, college, which, later, became, university, cape, town, aerial, view, library, pearson, building, upper, campus, university, cape, town, collection. The Bolus Herbarium was established in 1865 from a donation by Harry Bolus of his extensive herbarium and library to the South African College which later became the University of Cape Town An aerial view of the Bolus Herbarium library in the HW Pearson Building Upper Campus University of Cape Town Its collection of specimens numbers over 320 000 making it the third largest university herbarium in the Southern Hemisphere 1 The collection is highly representative of the Cape Flora and also houses many type specimens The international herbarium abbreviation BOL is used when referring to the Bolus Herbarium Although the building caught on fire during the 2021 Table Mountain fire which gutted several other collections in the university including the Plant Conservation Unit the Bolus Herbarium managed to narrowly escape being destroyed in the blaze 2 3 Contents 1 History 2 Goal 3 Special collections 4 Bequests 5 Publications 6 See also 7 Bibliography 8 References 9 External linksHistory edit nbsp Staff of the Bolus Herbarium 1914 Harry Bolus 1834 1911 a rich Cape Town businessman began his collection in 1865 in Graaff Reinet and it is now the oldest functioning herbarium in the country In 1903 Louisa Bolus who was a grand niece of Harry Bolus was appointed a Curator of the herbarium 4 After his death the South African College which changed its name to the University of Cape Town on April 2 1918 inherited his herbarium a library featuring many expensive unique and rare books on botany and a substantial amount of money for the maintenance and expansion of the collection In 1924 a dedicated building was erected for the herbarium in Kirstenbosch but it proved unsuitable later Therefore the herbarium was moved onto the campus in 1938 Louisa Bolus was also involved with the herbarium until her death in 1970 4 Goal editBotanical and ecological research at the herbarium runs the gamut The focus is primarily on Cape Province flora including their taxonomy invasive plants biogeography systematics and evolution Scientists from around the world conduct research here Special collections editThe best known of the several collections of plants in the herbarium are Harry Bolus s set of orchids and heaths 5 H M L Lulu Bolus s Mesembryanthemum Augusta Vera Duthie s fungi and Henry Georges Fourcade s trees from the area between Humansdorp and George Bequests editSeveral botanists bequeathed their collections of flora and books to the Bolus Herbarium Among them were C Louis Leipoldt in 1946 Fourcade in 1948 and Gen Jan Smuts in 1950 Publications editBetween 1915 and 1928 4 editions were published of the Annals of the Bolus Herbarium 6 Later Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium appeared See also editList of herbaria Isobel Agnes ArbuthnotBibliography editFloyd K B The Bolus Herbarium University of Cape Town Lantern tydskrif vir kennis en kultuur Yearbook 23 no 1 September 1973 Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa several vol Cape Town Nasou 1970 1976 References edit The Bolus Herbarium Global Plants on JSTOR plants jstor org Retrieved 2018 09 14 Craig Hilton Taylor I heard from Callen Cohen that the fire in the Pearson building is out and that the Bolus is safe Twitter Retrieved 2021 04 18 Alex Lansdowne The top floor was burnt but it did not get to the Herbarium Twitter Retrieved 2021 04 18 a b Gunn Mary 1981 Botanical exploration of southern Africa an illustrated history of early botanical literature on the Cape flora biographical accounts of the leading plant collectors and their activities in southern Africa from the days of the East India Company until modern times L E W Codd Cape Town Published for the Botanical Research Institute by A A Balkema p 101 ISBN 0 86961 129 1 OCLC 8591273 S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science www s2a3 org za Retrieved 2021 03 23 Herbarium Bolus 1914 The Annals of the Bolus Herbarium University Press External links editOfficial Bolus Herbarium website 33 57 23 S 18 27 42 E 33 9565 S 18 4617 E 33 9565 18 4617 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bolus Herbarium amp oldid 1198273149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
