Sub-Saharan Botanical Collections: Taxonomic research and impediments
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Sub-Saharan Botanical Collections : Taxonomic research and impediments. / Demissew, Sebsebe; Beentje, Henk; Cheek, Martin; Friis, Ib.
Tropical Plant Collections: Legacies from the Past? Essential Tools for the Future?: Proceedings of an international symposium held by The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in Copenhagen, 19th–21st of May, 2015. ed. / Ib Friis; Henrik Balslev. Vol. Scientia Danica, Series B, Biologica, Vol. 6 Copenhagen : Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 2017. p. 97-115.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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TY - CHAP
T1 - Sub-Saharan Botanical Collections
T2 - Taxonomic research and impediments
AU - Demissew, Sebsebe
AU - Beentje, Henk
AU - Cheek, Martin
AU - Friis, Ib
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Many historical specimens from sub-Saharan Africa are only found in European herbaria, but a higher number of newer specimens than widely assumed are kept in African herbaria, with a concentration in eastern and southern parts of the continent. Many of these herbaria were initiated in connection with independence of former European colonies in Africa, fewer were built on well-established herbaria from the colonial period. There are many gaps in collecting coverage, not least with regard to areas of high plant diversity; this is often caused by poor access or political instability. High species diversity exists in both humid and arid parts of Africa. Lack of collections from and knowledge about areas of high species diversity makes it difficult to prioritise conservation efforts. Gaps in taxonomic knowledge exist in certain large families, such as Rubiaceae, or in large genera, such as Cyphostemma (Vitaceae), Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), Polystachya (Orchidaceae), and Barleria (Acanthaceae). Newly collected specimens are now mainly kept in African herbaria, but lack of training and resources in tropical African herbaria are important challenges to prevent African botanists from continuing a somewhat declining European activity, partly caused by the downgrading in priority given to herbaria in European universities and research institutions. Encouraging examples of progress are the many regional African floras that have now been finished or nearly finished in collaboration between African and European herbaria, and the increasing digitization of herbaria and the general development of relevant services on the Internet, which provides new possibilities for botanical studies in Africa.
AB - Many historical specimens from sub-Saharan Africa are only found in European herbaria, but a higher number of newer specimens than widely assumed are kept in African herbaria, with a concentration in eastern and southern parts of the continent. Many of these herbaria were initiated in connection with independence of former European colonies in Africa, fewer were built on well-established herbaria from the colonial period. There are many gaps in collecting coverage, not least with regard to areas of high plant diversity; this is often caused by poor access or political instability. High species diversity exists in both humid and arid parts of Africa. Lack of collections from and knowledge about areas of high species diversity makes it difficult to prioritise conservation efforts. Gaps in taxonomic knowledge exist in certain large families, such as Rubiaceae, or in large genera, such as Cyphostemma (Vitaceae), Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), Polystachya (Orchidaceae), and Barleria (Acanthaceae). Newly collected specimens are now mainly kept in African herbaria, but lack of training and resources in tropical African herbaria are important challenges to prevent African botanists from continuing a somewhat declining European activity, partly caused by the downgrading in priority given to herbaria in European universities and research institutions. Encouraging examples of progress are the many regional African floras that have now been finished or nearly finished in collaboration between African and European herbaria, and the increasing digitization of herbaria and the general development of relevant services on the Internet, which provides new possibilities for botanical studies in Africa.
KW - Faculty of Science
KW - biodiversity hotspots
KW - conservation
KW - field work
KW - herabria
KW - historical plant collections
KW - tropical Africa
KW - South Africa
M3 - Book chapter
SN - 978-87-7304-407-0
VL - Scientia Danica, Series B, Biologica, Vol. 6
SP - 97
EP - 115
BT - Tropical Plant Collections: Legacies from the Past? Essential Tools for the Future?
A2 - Friis, Ib
A2 - Balslev, Henrik
PB - Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab
CY - Copenhagen
ER -
ID: 184807927