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Faculty of Science
Department of Botany
(Including the Bolus Herbarium and the
Plant Conservation Unit)
Head of Department: Professor Jeremy
J. Midgley
Departmental Profile
Botany is a vibrant department, which strives towards the
development of a centre of excellence for research and
teaching of the ecology, evolution, physiological ecology
and systematics of marine and terrestrial plants of southern
Africa. The department includes two research units, the
Bolus Herbarium and the Plant Conservation Unit, and is
also home to the Department of Environmental Affairs &
Tourism Chief Directorate: Marine & Coastal Management.
Research thrusts include plant population, community and
reproductive ecology, systematics, floristics, biogeography
and evolutionary biology of the unique Cape Floral
Kingdom and its response to different land use practices,
ecology and economics of marine and freshwater algae,
the ecophysiology of plant responses to pollution and
global change, the physiology of plant nitrogen-fixing
symbioses and dendrochronology and palaeoecology.
The Plant Conservation Unit focuses on sustainable land
use, restoration and palaeoecology/environmental history
with an emphasis on the conservation of the vegetation of
the winter rainfall region of South Africa, while the Bolus
Herbarium is researching the taxonomy of and curating a
specimen collection of over a third of a million southern
African species. The staff are also active on Research
Councils, policy-making forums and advisory committees.
Departmental Statistics
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Professors
5
Associate Professors
3
Senior Lecturers
2
Lecturers
2
Scientific Staff
2
Technical Support Staff
6
Administrative and Clerical Staff
3
Total
23
Honorary Staff
Honorary Professors
3
Honorary Assoc. Professors
1
Honorary Research Associates
10
Total
14
Students
Postdoctoral
8
Doctoral
23
Master’s
24
Honours
11
Undergraduate
486
Total
480
Research Fields and Staff
Permanent staff
Professor Jeremy Midgley
Head of Department; plant ecology; evolutionary biology;
forest ecosystem dynamics.
Professor John J. Bolton
Phycology; marine and freshwater biology; mariculture.
Professor William J. Bond
Plant ecology; evolutionary biology; conservation biology;
fire and community dynamics.
Dr Samson B. Chimphango
Physiology; nitrogen fixation.
Associate Professor Michael D. Cramer
Physiology; ecophysiology; plant nutrition.
Dr Edmund February
Senior Lecturer: palaeoecology; ecophysiology.
Dr Lindsey Gillson
Deputy Director of the Plant Conservation Unit: conservation
ecology; palaeoecology; theoretical ecology; landscape history.
Professor Terry Hedderson
Plant systematics; bryology; molecular systematics; life
history traits.
Professor M. Timm Hoffman
Director of the Plant Conservation Unit: plant ecology;
conservation biology; community ecology; biodiversity.
Dr A. Muthama Muasya
Senior Lecturer: plant systematics; molecular systematics;
biogeography.
Dr Anthony G. Verboom
Senior Lecturer: Plant systematics, ecophysiology,
biogeography.