Botanical Art: Science, Specimens and Stories
Botanical illustration has long played a vital role in the study and communication of plant diversity. This talk explores the enduring relationship between botanical art and botanical science through a selection of illustrations and specimens from the State Botanical Collection, housed in the National Herbarium of Victoria.
Along the way, it uncovers the stories of the artists, botanists and collectors whose work has contributed to our understanding of the world’s flora, revealing the rich scientific and cultural
history preserved within the Collection.
Plants from the Growing Friends Nursery will be available for sale on the day.
Presented by the Melbourne Friends. Part of TABI (The Art of Botanical Illustration) 2026.
Image: An illustration of Hymenophyllum fucoides by Olof Swartz (1760–1818) that accompanies a specimen in the State Botanical Collection.