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<p>Ancient herbaria are invaluable archives for botany and ethnobotany, offering unique historical baselines on plant diversity, distribution, and human–plant relationships that are sometimes absent from modern datasets. We studied a rediscovered, century-old herbarium collected by Austrian ethnologist Martin Gusinde in southern Patagonia. Preserved at the Missiemuseum in Steyl, the Netherlands, the collection comprises 105 specimens representing 90 species, 71 genera, and 43 families, with approximately 35% likely to be unicates (specimens for which no duplicates are known in other herbaria). By combining taxonomic review, archival research, and analysis of Gusinde’s ethnographic writings, we identified 71 documented uses for 24 species, spanning food, medicinal, technological, and ceremonial domains among the Yagán, Kawésqar, and Selk’nam Peoples. Our study reveals the scientific and cultural significance of Gusinde’s botanical work, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and relevance for contemporary biocultural research, conservation, and historical justice. We digitized the herbarium and allowed open access via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), enabling global availability while fostering ethical and reciprocal research practices. This work underscores the importance of reexamining overlooked collections to enrich biodiversity knowledge and strengthen intercultural education.</p>

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Rediscovering Martin Gusinde’s Century-Old Herbarium: Botanical and Ethnobotanical Insights from Southern Patagonia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月30日

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  • Daniela Salazar,
  • Julián Caviedes,
  • Tinde van Andel,
  • Nina van der Werf,
  • José Tomás Ibarra

摘要

Ancient herbaria are invaluable archives for botany and ethnobotany, offering unique historical baselines on plant diversity, distribution, and human–plant relationships that are sometimes absent from modern datasets. We studied a rediscovered, century-old herbarium collected by Austrian ethnologist Martin Gusinde in southern Patagonia. Preserved at the Missiemuseum in Steyl, the Netherlands, the collection comprises 105 specimens representing 90 species, 71 genera, and 43 families, with approximately 35% likely to be unicates (specimens for which no duplicates are known in other herbaria). By combining taxonomic review, archival research, and analysis of Gusinde’s ethnographic writings, we identified 71 documented uses for 24 species, spanning food, medicinal, technological, and ceremonial domains among the Yagán, Kawésqar, and Selk’nam Peoples. Our study reveals the scientific and cultural significance of Gusinde’s botanical work, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and relevance for contemporary biocultural research, conservation, and historical justice. We digitized the herbarium and allowed open access via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), enabling global availability while fostering ethical and reciprocal research practices. This work underscores the importance of reexamining overlooked collections to enrich biodiversity knowledge and strengthen intercultural education.