Improvements to Hortus Camdenensis
The problems encountered when upgrading the Hortus software have now been largely overcome. Any remaining bugs will be corrected during the improvements detailed below.
Improvements are also being progressively made to the content of the Hortus in three main areas, botanical and horticultural history, cross referencing and illustrations. Some enhancements will be done as the opportunity arises but most will be completed family by family. This was originally estimated to take at least two years to complete but will probably take twice this time. It has been completed up to and including Amaryllidaceae. Fortunately few other families in the Hortus are as large and complex as this and those that are, such as Rosaceae and Ericaceae contain a large number of varieties and cultivars which are not subject to the same degree of scrutiny.
Botanical and horticultural history
Botanical history of species and naturally occurring varieties will include, as a minimum, the author of the first known botanical description with full reference, and the author of the currently accepted Latin name, again with full reference.
The intention is that all plant profiles will contain the following horticultural history: date and location of the discovery or breeding of the plant, the name of the discoverer or breeder and the date of introduction to European gardens. Additional information concerning its introduction to Australia or North America will also be given when available. Uses to which the plant has been put by the human inhabitants of its natural range will also be briefly discussed.
Cross referencing of Hortus entries
Inevitably there is considerable cross-referencing within the Hortus pages. Cross-references are progressively being hot-linked, the linked page immediately available as a separate page.
Illustrations
It has always been our ambition to illustrate all Plant Profile pages with an appropriate image. This is unlikely to be achieved as such images do not exist for many Victorian cultivars and varieties, most of them long extinct. It is our intention to provide a ‘close-fit’ illustration for at least some of these plants but suitable images of species and varieties are still being sourced and will be progressively uploaded. Additional images are also being added on a 'click-here-to-see' basis where it is considered that this will add value to the entry.
Written by
Colin Mills
Date published
Sep 14, 2010 - 04:06 PM
Date last edited
Aug 12, 2012 - 04:36 PM
