Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden

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South Africa - Gauteng - Pretoria

Institution Code: PRU

BGCI Member: No

Prof. Manie's pond in the early summer months.
Prof. Manie's pond in the early summer months.

About the Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden

A botanical garden is a collection of living plants that is scientifically managed for the purposes of education, research, conservation and community service.
The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden currently has about 3 000 plant species in the collections, planted within grounds that cover approximately 3.5 hectares of the University's Hatfield west campus. The primary aim of the garden is to raise awareness of Southern Africa's indigenous flora through the acquisition and dissemination of botanical knowledge. This includes the provision of plant material for education and research purposes, the collection and propagation of rare and endangered species, as well as research into indigenous plant species with horticultural potential. The dissemination of this knowledge to the broader community is also considered to be very important and the Curators and staff of the Garden participate in teaching and outreach activities both within the University and the greater community.

The Garden had its beginnings as far back as 1924 when Pavetta species were planted on the campus for research purposes. The real impetus came in the 1930s with Berend Elbrecht, a man with a huge passion and enthusiasm for Southern African flora who's legacy lives on in the many large trees and cycad specimens that were planted during his time at the University. In 1986 the garden was named after Prof. Manie van der Schijff to honour the contributions that he made towards the development of the Garden. The Garden is run by a Garden Committee which is responsible for formulating and implementing policy.

Main Address:
Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden
Department of Plant and Soil Science
University of Pretoria
Pretoria
Gauteng 0002 South Africa

Telephone: +27 (0) 12 420 4274
Fax:
URL: http://www.up.ac.za/botanical-garden
Primary Email: jason.sampson@up.ac.za

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Prof. Nigel Barker
    Curator's Name: Jason Sampson
    Plant Records Officer's Name:
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 8
    Educational Staff Number:
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 2

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: Yes
    Status: Educational: Yes
    Status: Municipal: No
    Status: Satellite: No
    Status: Trust: No
  • Date founded: 1934
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: No
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
    Landscaped Area: Size: 2 Hectares
  • Total Area: 4 Hectares
    Latitude: -25.751662
    Longitude: 28.22923
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres
  • Additional Locations
  • Satellite Garden Names: Sports Campus arboretum and Onderstepoort arboretum Succulent garden Cremnophyte and balcony gardens of the Plant Science building Cycad collection propogation facility
  • Locality: Information
  • Locality: Garden Name: Manie van der Schijff Botaniese Tuin
  • Local Address: University of Pretoria Cnr. of Lynwood ave. and Roper str. Hatfield Pretoria
  • Locality: City: Pretoria
  • Locality: State: Gauteng Province

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: Yes
    Arboretum: Yes
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: Yes
    Published Plant Catalogue: No
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: No
    Retail Outlet: Shop: No
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: Yes
    Disabled access: Yes

Plant Collections

  • Accession Number: 5000
    Cultivation Taxa Num: 3000
  • Special Collections:An extensive collection of both African and exotic cycads and a range of plants for teaching and research. Food plants collections are also growing apace.
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: No
    Invasive Species Policy: No
    ABS Policy: Yes
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: Yes
    Plant Breeding: Yes
    Conservation - Biology: Yes
    Conservation - Genetics: Yes
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: Yes
    Ecology: Yes
    Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Ethnobotany: Yes
    Exploration: No
    Floristics: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: Yes
    Molecular Genetics: Yes
    Pollination Biology: Yes
    Restoration Ecology: Yes
    Seed/Spore Biology: Yes
    Systematics and Taxonomy: Yes
    Sustainability: Yes
    Pharmacology: Yes
    Agriculture: Yes
    Land Restoration: Yes
    Urban Environments: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: No
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: No
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: No
    Courses for School Children: No
    Courses for University/College Students: Yes
    Courses for General Public: No
    Education Programme: Yes