Herbarium
The
Singapore Herbarium (international acronym SING) houses about
650,000 herbarium specimens backed by the spirit collection.
The Herbarium mainly concentrates on the Malesian region (Peninsular
Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and New Guinea) with the
most extensive collections from Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia
dating from the 1880s. Out of these, about 6,800 are type
specimens.
The Herbarium uses the Botanical Research and Herbarium Management
System (BRAHMS) to computerize the plant collection data.
To access images of type specimens held in the Herbarium,
please click here.
Current taxonomic research in the Herbarium
concentrates on bryophytes (Dr. Benito C. Tan), Begoniaceae
(Dr Mark Hughes), Convolvulaceae (Dr George Staples), Orchidaceae
(Dr Hubert Kurzweil) and Zingerberaceae (Jana Leong-Skornickova).
|
Dr. Benito C. Tan
(Benito_Tan@nparks.gov.sg)
is the current Keeper of the Herbarium and Botanical Library.
He is both a well-trained bryologist and pteridologist. As
one of the world authorities of Southeast Asian and East Asian
moss taxonomy and biogeography, Dr Benito has been elected
to serve as the Vice President of the International Association
of Bryologists (IAB) for a six years term from 2005 to 2011.
He also serves as a committee member of the IUCN-IAB Bryophyte
Species Commodity in charge of monitoring the world most endangered
mosses. With strong interest in plant nomenclature, he is
an elected member of the Bryophyte Nomenclatural Committee
of the International Botanical Congress. His publications
include more than 250 scientific papers and chapters of books
on bryophyte taxonomy, systematics, ecology, biogeography
and conservation. At present, he is revising the family Sematophyllaceae
and Hookeriaceae for SE Asia and East Asia. He is an associate
editor of a number of international refereed bryological journals,
including Cryoptogamie, Bryologie (France), and Tropical Bryology
(Germany), and is a member of the Editorial Board of Arctoa
(Russia), Chenia (China) and Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica
(Japan). He is the incumbent Editor of the Gardens’ Bulletin
Singapore published yearly by the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Dr. George Staples (George_Staples@nparks.gov.sg)
is engaged on taxonomic studies of tropical Asian and Southeast
Asian Convolvulaceae (morning glory or kang-kong family).
Recent publications include revisions of Porana and allied
genera, and taxonomic reviews for Rivea, Lepistemon, and new
species of Operculina. There are taxonomic works in progress
on Asian Ipomoea, Merremia, Neuropeltis, and Argyreia, as
well as floras for Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, and other
Asian countries. George has broad interests in botany including
the taxonomy of cultivated plants, invasive species issues,
plant nomenclature, the history of botany (especially history
of plant introductions), and the botany of useful and edible
plants. He has published three books to date: A Tropical Garden
Flora (2005); Hawai‘i’s Invasive Species (2001); Ethnic Culinary
Herbs (1999). He serves on the Editorial Board for Garden’s
Bulletin Singapore and the Edinburgh Journal of Botany.
Dr. Hubert Kurzweil (hubert_kurzweil@nparks.gov.sg)
in involved in various studies in Orchidaceae. In collaboration
with botanists in the United Kingdom he is currently revising
the taxonomy of the genus Calanthe, a terrestrial
orchid genus with great horticultural potential. It will ultimately
result in the publication of a comprehensive, well-illustrated
book on the genus. His other projects are the taxonomic accounts
of several orchid genera for the Flora of Thailand Project
as well as contributions to the very diverse but poorly known
orchid flora of Myanmar.
Dr. Mark Hughes (mark_hughes@nparks.gov.sg)is
working on SE Asian Begonia, which is one of the worlds largest
flowering plant genera and which has a hotspot of diversity
in our region. He has recently published an online checklist
(http://elmer.rbge.org.uk/Begonia/)
which includes nearly 6000 specimen images and protologues
for around 700 names. Current research is focused on producing
a monograph and field guide for the Begonia of Sumatra, as
well as regional accounts for other parts of SE Asia in collaboration
with local botanists.
Dr. Jana Leong-Skornickova (jana_skornickova@nparks.gov.sg)
is working on Asian Zingiberaceae. Her prime focus of interest
is on the genus Curcuma. Currently, she is revising
the Curcuma flora for Indian Subcontinent. Her other
research interests cover taxonomy and nomenclature of historical
plant names, and gingers of Indian Subcontinent and Borneo.
She is at present an Assistant Editor of Garden’s Bulletin
Singapore.
The Herbarium sends material on loan and in exchange to recognized institutes (see Index Herbariorum), both locally and abroad.
Locally, the Herbarium plays an important advisory role in identifying both wild and cultivated plant species from Singapore. For details or information, please contact Ms Serena Lee, Herbarium Manager, at 64719870 or email her at serena_lee@nparks.gov.sg
Supporting the research arm of Singapore Botanic Gardens is the Library of Botany and Horticulture, with a large collection of old and new, relevant books and periodicals. Click here to find out more.
In 2001, the Singapore Botanic Gardens was appointed by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) as the International Registration Authority for Curcuma Cultivars. The permanent record for each registered cultivar, the standard portfolio, is lodged at the SING herbarium. We encourage growers to register their cultivar names promptly. More information and application forms for registering Curcuma cultivars can be found at http://curcuma.sbg.org.sg/ |