The herbarium

November 12, 2022



“Yoday I visited Dr. Tura. Five years ago he passionately devoted himself to the study of plants, formed a herbarium of the Italian flora, and laid out a botanical garden under the superintendence of the former bishop. However, all that has come to and end. Medical practice drove away natural history, the herbarium is eaten by worms, the bishop is dead, and the botanic garden is again rationally planted with carbages and garlic.”

_Italian Journey, 1786-1788, Johann Wolfgang Goethe.

_image: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, at the first meeting of Decay without mourning: Future thinking heritage practices project.