Short Description
The wood collection of the NHM Vienna, Department of Botany contains about 6500 wood samples or trunk sections of higher plants (ferns and seed plants) from all around the world. Among those are such well known plants as mahogany, ebony or brazilwood (the later having given the name to the country). Numerous samples are also represented by specimens in the phanerogams herbarium. Iconic samples are e.g. the 3 m high grid-like section of a stranger fig or the trunk of the unusual Welwitschia mirabilis from Angola - an object not possible to obtain today, given the species high conservation status and priority.
Contact Person
Dr. Bruno Wallnöfer
Research Services
Plant identification possible upon request.
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
Historically the collection was used as reference in authentication of timber, but today is basically used for exhibitions.