Herbarium, or Hortus Siccus of plant specimens collected by Dr John Bateman, 1718

Description

This large herbarium, entitled ‘Hortus Siccus’, dates from 1718.
The book contains medicinal plant specimens collected and preserved by Dr John Bateman.

A herbarium is a collection of plant specimens, dried and preserved and often mounted on a sheet of paper. Herbaria were arranged systematically, with their associated data, to be used for scientific study. They were invaluable resources for pharmacists to help them identify the plants that they might use when making medicines.

Fact

Hortus Siccus translated from Latin means garden of dried plants; hortus ‎(“garden”) + siccus ‎(“dry”).

Dr John Bateman was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Upon his death in 1728 he left the College many of his books. His herbarium was transferred to the Pharmaceutical Society in 1926.