Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich

Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich

Main entrance
Established 1931
Location Mythenquai, Enge (Zürich)
Coordinates 47°21′21.93″N 8°32′6.35″E / 47.3560917°N 8.5350972°E / 47.3560917; 8.5350972Coordinates: 47°21′21.93″N 8°32′6.35″E / 47.3560917°N 8.5350972°E / 47.3560917; 8.5350972
Owner Stadt Zürich
Public transit access Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich: Bus line 161 and 165 stop Mythenquai
S-Bahn Zürich: S-Bahn line S8 stop Enge or Wollishofen
Website sukkulentensammlung.ch
Interior at the entrance area
Haworthia viscosa

Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich, literally succulent collection of the city of Zürich, is a botanical garden in the Swiss municipality of Zürich. It also houses a botanic library, a herbarium and the International Organizations for Succulent Plant Research (IOS).[1][2]

Location

The greenhouses are situated in Zürich-Enge, as of today being a district of the city of Zürich, on Zürichsee lake shore. Thy are a part of the so-called Quaianlagen promenades, and are located on the southwestern lake shore. The collection is separated by the Mythenquai road from the lower lake shore promenade and the Enge harbour area, at the park facilities of the Mythenquai lido respectively nearby the lower entrance to the Rieterpark.

History

At the end of the 1920s Jakob Gasser, a cactus grower from Zürich, decided to sell his collection of about 1,500 succulents to the city government of Zürich, but the venture failed. in 1929 Julius Brann Gassersche, the owner of a store, acquired the unique collection, and made it to a gift to the city of Zürich. The collection was housed in the greenhouses at the former site of the municipal gardens (Stadtgärtnerei) at Mythenquai, and established as «Städtische Kakteensammlung», meaning urban cactus collection.[3]

Formally established in 1931, the collection houses one of the largest and most important special collections of succulent plants,[3] being one of the leading institutions of its kind.[4] The main complex was built in 1947 and inaugurated in 1948. The succulent collection started in the today's still existing greenhouse at Mythenquai, and was extended in 1948, 1954, 1961, 1984, and in 2011 the entrance area was rebuilt and the guidance for the visitors improved. Related to the planned project to redesign the Mythenquai area, the facilities will be rebuilt.[5]

Collection and structure

Succulents are plants from arid areas, the water store, including also Agaves, Aloes, stonecrop family, and many others, in addition to the Cacti and thick leaf plants. The collection features more than 6,500 different types of succulent plants from more than 80 different plant families of Orchidaceae, Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Aizoaceae, Cactaceae and Apocynaceae.[3] The collection is provided by Grün Stadt Zürich and by the boosting association Förderverein der Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich.[6] Although internationally known for the scientific objectives, the Sukkulenten-Sammlung, in public it is perceived mainly as a collection, that is daily and available, and free of charge for its visitors. The periodic special displays provide an insight in various aspects and in the fascinating world of these botanical survivalists.[4]

Facilities

Surrounded by the beautiful and well maintained park at the lake, the facilities house in all over 25,000 exotic plants in about 6,500 species and varieties on 4,750 square metres (1.17 acres) respectively 700 square metres (0.17 acres) in six greenhouses,and 16 heated cold frame boxes and the outdoor area. The staff consists of nine employees who take care of annually to 50,000 visitors. Usually the facilities are openend daily from 09:00 (9 am) to 16:30 (4.30 pm); after hours visits are available by appointment, as well as guided tours for groups. The collection is largely wheelchair-accessible, but there are no handicapped-accessible public WC's.[3]

IOS library, database and herbarium

Since about 1947, the institution is involved in the international seed exchange between botanical institutes and gardens. Currently, there are seed exchange relations with more than 200 botanical gardens world. An extensive specialized library on succulent plants represents the unique scientific work of the succulent collection. Books are not borrowed, but can be seen during opening times after timely notification. The library data in the database comprises more than 30,187 titles.[2]

The herbarium was founded in 1950,[2] simultaneously with the International Organizations for Succulent Plant Research (IOS),[1] and has an extensive archive of plants with approximately 20,000 specimens and a meticulous tracking database by which the succulent plant collection owes its international reputation. Today, it is also under the patronage of the Swiss UNESCO commission.[4]

Förderverein association

Despite the uniqueness of the collection, in 1996 the municipal council (Gemeinderat) of the city of Zürich commissioned, to outsource the collection of succulents either from the municipal administration or, even to close it.[4] The political pressure led to the founding of the boosting association Förderverein.[6] The council thus decided to withdraw the motion, but under reserve to check how the Canton of Zürich and the federal authorities may be involved for the co-financing.[4]

Cultural heritage of national importance

Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance as a Class A object of national importance.[7]

Literature

References

  1. 1 2 "IOS". Grün Stadt Zürich. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  2. 1 2 3 "Weltweite Vernetzung" (in German). Grün Stadt Zürich. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sukkulentensammlung" (in German). Grün Stadt Zürich, Arboretum Zürich. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Grün Stadt Zürich (May 2006). "Vom Bürkliplatz zur Sukkulenten-Sammlung" (PDF) (in German). Grün Stadt Zürich. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  5. ↑ Information boards at Mythenquai 1
  6. 1 2 "Förderverein der Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich" (in German). foerderverein.ch/. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  7. ↑ "A-Objekte KGS-Inventar" (PDF). Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-09-13.

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