Herbal Medicines at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: past, present and future

To help celebrate the 250th anniversary of Kew Gardens you are warmly invited to a lecture, display and tour at the Royal College of Physicians.

In 1759, Princess Augusta and Lord Bute established the Physic or Exotic Garden at Kew Gardens, the direct ancestor of today's establishment and this date is now accepted as the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In the 250 years since then, medicinal plants have been central to the role of the Gardens. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the collection and introduction of plants such as cinchona (the source of quinine); the 20th and 21st centuries have emphasised plant conservation, ethnobotanical fieldwork, and laboratory research.

The Gardens are now a World Heritage Site and as part of their 250th anniversary celebrations are hosting events at different venues. At this event at the Royal College of Physicians, guests can visit the Colleges extensive Physic Garden (with over 1000 species) and take a historical tour of the Grade I listed building situated on the edge of Regents Park.

After tea Professor Monique Simmonds and Dr Mark Nesbitt will survey Kew’s work on medicinal plants, drawing both on Kew’s historic collections and on current research by the Jodrell Laboratory. After the lecture there will be an opportunity to examine historic material medica from Kew’s Economic Botany Collection, and herbals and other items from the heritage collections held by the Royal College of Physicians.

Tours will start at 4.30 followed by tea at 5.30 with the lecture to start at 7pm. Guests are welcome to arrive at any time up to 7pm. The evening will end at 9pm.

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund