This course is about the intrepid journeys of plant hunters which was driven by their passion to explore and collect plants. Plant collectors faced dangers of extreme weather, accidents, disease and attack by hostile natives. Plant hunting took off in the late 1500s, as sailors and explorers opened up the world, continent by continent, during the 'Age of Discovery'. Later plant hunting was driven by empire building, politics, nurseries and profit. By now plant hunters were backed by big money, although few of them became rich. We will look at the origins of the foreign plants that now fill our gardens and the ideas about plant hunting today. We must not forget the dark side - the exploitation of the people and countries whose natural resources were plundered. Also the close connections of plant collecting with the slave trade.
Please click HERE for handouts