Western Australian Herbarium
Encyclopedia
The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium
in Perth, Western Australia
, Western Australia
. It is part of the State government
's Department of Environment and Conservation, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Australia
.
The Herbarium is linked to the Regional Herbaria Network - which links approximately 84 regional community groups which have local reference collections.
In 2000, with the Wildflower Society of Western Australia
and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
it published The Western Australian Flora - A Descriptive Catalogue
.
, the Department of Agriculture, and the "forest herbarium" maintained by the Conservator of Forests. The first of these was formed by Bernard Henry Woodward, Director of the Museum and Art Gallery, probably around 1895; the second was probably formed with the appointment of Alexander Morrison
as botanist to the Department of Agriculture in 1897. In 1906 the Department of Agriculture handed its herbarium over to the Museum, but reclaimed it in 1911. The "forest herbarium" commenced in 1916. Around 1928, the Government took the decision to amalgamate the three into a single State Herbarium, to be managed by the Department of Agriculture. The "forest herbarium" was handed over more or less immediately, but the Museum was opposed to the merger, and did not finally hand over its specimens until around 1959. In 1988 departmental responsibility was shifted from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (now the Department of Environment and Conservation).
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...
in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is part of the State government
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
's Department of Environment and Conservation, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Australia
Flora of Western Australia
The flora of Western Australia comprises 9,437 published native vascular plant species of 1,543 genera within 226 families; there are also 1,171 naturalised alien or invasive plant species more commonly known as weeds...
.
The Herbarium is linked to the Regional Herbaria Network - which links approximately 84 regional community groups which have local reference collections.
In 2000, with the Wildflower Society of Western Australia
Wildflower Society of Western Australia
The Wildflower Society of Western Australia is a member of the Australian Native Plants Society . In each of the other states of Australia, there is a region of the ANPS and they share many of the aims of the WSWA .-Objects:The Objects of the WSWA as outlined in its Constitution are: To...
and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority
The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority is a Western Australian Government authority charged with the administration of Kings Park and Bold Park....
it published The Western Australian Flora - A Descriptive Catalogue
The Western Australian Flora - A Descriptive Catalogue
The Western Australian Flora – A Descriptive Catalogue was published by the Wildflower Society of Western Australia, the Western Australian Herbarium,CALM, and the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority of Perth, Western Australia....
.
History
The Herbarium was formed as the amalgamation of three separate government department herbaria: those of the Western Australian MuseumWestern Australian Museum
The Western Australian Museum is the state museum for Western Australia.The Western Australian Museum has seven main sites: two in Perth within the Perth Cultural Centre, two in Fremantle , and one each in Albany, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder...
, the Department of Agriculture, and the "forest herbarium" maintained by the Conservator of Forests. The first of these was formed by Bernard Henry Woodward, Director of the Museum and Art Gallery, probably around 1895; the second was probably formed with the appointment of Alexander Morrison
Alexander Morrison (botanist)
Alexander Morrison was the first Government Botanist of Western Australia.Born in Western Dalmeny, Scotland, he began a medicine degree at Edinburgh, but suffered from ill health, prompting him to break his studies and visit Australia. He spent two years in Melbourne before returning to Edinburgh...
as botanist to the Department of Agriculture in 1897. In 1906 the Department of Agriculture handed its herbarium over to the Museum, but reclaimed it in 1911. The "forest herbarium" commenced in 1916. Around 1928, the Government took the decision to amalgamate the three into a single State Herbarium, to be managed by the Department of Agriculture. The "forest herbarium" was handed over more or less immediately, but the Museum was opposed to the merger, and did not finally hand over its specimens until around 1959. In 1988 departmental responsibility was shifted from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Conservation and Land Management (now the Department of Environment and Conservation).