The genus Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the historical collection of W.S.J.G. Besser (KW-BESS) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW)

Abstract

Our herbarium inventory revealed that the collection of specimens of the genus Artemisia (Asteraceae) in the memorial collection of W.S.J.G. Besser (KW-BESS) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW) contains at least 1186 herbarium sheets. The collection of specimens of Artemisia is stored in folders Nos. 234–249 of the Besser herbarium. Each folder contains individual paper folders (here termed taxon covers). In total, there are 217 individual taxon folders. Our analysis of protologues and herbarium labels demonstrated that the KW-BESS collection contains types and/or other original specimens in 118 taxon folders, but much more actual types of species-rank and infraspecific names. Additional analysis of their possible type status is needed for specimens in 28 taxon folders. The KW-BESS collection contains authentic and historical specimens of such famous researchers and collectors of the 19th century as A. Bunge, L.K.A. Chamisso, A.P. de Candolle, D. Douglas, J.F.G. Eschscholtz, F.E.L. Fischer, J.É. Gay, A. Gray, J.D. Hooker, V.V. Jacquemont, G.S. Karelin and I.P. Kirilov, K.F. Ledebour, A.F. Marschall von Bieberstein, C.A. Meyer, T. Nuttall, J.D. Prescott, Ch. Steven, N.S. Turczaninow, N. Wallich, etc. We present and discuss here some examples of labels written by Besser and several other famous botanists. Our preliminary assessment of this globally important collection established the foundations for further nomenclatural and taxonomic studies of Artemisia, in particular, those based on historical specimens at KW.