Curator of the Compton Herbarium: Dr Anthony Richard Magee
Administrative Support: Mrs Dulcinea Paulse
Contact details:
Please direct all herbarium enquiries to compton.herbarium@sanbi.org.za
Herbarium Technical Support Overview
Technical support staff manages plant specimen collections, including cataloging, labeling, preservation, and maintaining the herbarium’s database (BRAHMS). They assist researchers, ensure proper storage, and support educational outreach. Their role is crucial in preserving specimens and advancing scientific research.
Michelle Smith
Senior Technician, Science Collections
Michelle manages data digitization at SANBI, specializing in physical and scientific data curation, digital transformation, and graphic design. Her skills encompass database management, GIS mapping, Imaging, and creating distribution maps for publications. She trains staff in the Biosystematics division and plays a key role in managing the institutional botanical BRAHMS database while providing analytics to support SANBI’s APPI and Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP) targets for the division. Additionally, she serves as a critical liaison in the technical management of the database, empowering the data-capturing team to digitize data effectively and meet key targets, while also reporting to management to support institutional goals and objectives.
Joy Antoinette Tobin
Senior Technician, Science Collections
Joy excels in specimen digitization, quality control, mounting, and training interns and volunteers. She ensures data accuracy and proper specimen mounting while also contributing to data curation for BODATSA.
Robyn Manuel
Principal Technical Assistant, Science Collections
Robyn focuses on digitizing specimen information, coordinating volunteers, and supporting the herbarium team. Her expertise includes succulent preservation, georeferencing, and advanced lab techniques.
Fellow Staff
Scientific fellows in a herbarium are essential to advanced botanical research, focusing on specimen analysis, taxonomy, and biodiversity studies. They enhance the herbarium’s database with their research findings, publish results, and present at conferences. Their roles include collaborating with other researchers, mentoring students and staff, and seeking funding through grant proposals.
Dr Nicola Georgina Bergh
- Current Position: Botanist, Gothenburg Botanical Gardens
- Expertise: Plant Systematics and Evolution
- Research Focus: Taxonomy and evolutionary biology of Asteraceae, particularly species from the Cape of South Africa.
- Key Publication or Contributions: Google Scholar profile.
- Professional Affiliations:
- The Compton Herbarium, SANBI, South Africa
- Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Sweden
- Southern African Society for Systematic Biologists
Dr Dee Snijman
- Current Position: SANBI Fellow
- Field: Plant Systematics
- Research Focus: Systematics of petaloid monocots, particularly within the Amaryllidaceae and Hypoxidaceae families.
- Key Publications:
- Systematics of Hessea, Strumaria, and Carpolyza (1994)
- Phylogenetic relationships in Amaryllideae (1996)
- Floral and macroecological evolution within Cyrtanthus (2010)
- Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (2013)
- Taxonomic revision of Pauridia (2014)
- Contributions: Significant research on monocot systematics, published extensively, and contributed to the understanding of these plant groups through various key studies.
Interns
Herbarium interns assist with specimen preparation, cataloging, and data entry, supporting research and maintaining the collection. They gain hands-on experience with botanical techniques, contribute to educational outreach, and provide valuable support to the herbarium while learning about botany and museum practices.
Samkelisiwe Mathonsi is a Plant Taxonomy Intern under the Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship, holding a BSc in Botany and Zoology. She has developed expertise in plant identification, curation, and digitization, acquiring skills in scientific and physical curation, research, and laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction and analysis. Additionally, she is proficient in mounting, imaging specimens, and applying fieldwork techniques for plant collection and study.
Khanya Cwenga Ntondini is a Plant Taxonomy Intern under the Joan Wrench Programme, with a BSc Honours in Zoology. His work centers on the systematics and taxonomy of the Cape-centred daisy tribe, Calenduleae, focusing on revising the genera Osteospermum and Dimorphotheca. He also conducts independent morphometric analyses of Osteospermum scariosum. Additionally, Khanya is developing expertise in georeferencing and managing plant collections.
Tasha Nita Lyner is a Plant Taxonomy Intern with SANBI, previously part of the Groen Sebenza Programme focusing on succulent poaching. She holds a background in Biodiversity & Conservation Biology and Geography & Environmental Studies. Her responsibilities include databasing, digitization, scientific curation, and fieldwork, particularly with Aizoaceae. Tasha trains others, manages data using tools like QGIS and BRAHMS, and supports research projects. Additionally, she contributes to the Occupational Health and Safety Committee and serves as a fire marshal.
Ieslaah Isaacs is a Plant Taxonomy Intern with the Groen Sebenza Internship Programme, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and an Honours degree in Biodiversity and Ecology. Her role includes digitizing heritage specimens, maintaining tracking systems, and providing scientific support through curation and research assistance. She has developed skills in mounting and sorting plant specimens, plant identification, and using software like BRAHMS, and she is actively building her expertise in these areas as the newest intern.
Scientific staff
Scientific staff undertake advanced research on plant specimens, specializing in taxonomy, systematics and biodiversity. They analyze data, maintain specimen records, and publish findings in scientific journals. Their responsibilities include developing herbarium collections, collaborating with researchers, and contributing to educational and public outreach programs, ultimately enhancing the herbarium’s scientific value and advancing botanical knowledge.
Dr Anthony Richard Magee (they/them) is the Deputy Director of Science Collections, specializing in taxonomy and systematics with a focus on early African lineages in the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families, particularly the tribes Anthemideae and Astereae, as well as the flora of the Nama Karoo. They serve as a Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology and hold several editorial roles, including Co-Editor-in-Chief of African Biodiversity and Conservation and Subject Editor for PhytoKeys. For a complete list of their publications, please refer to their Google Scholar profile.
Prof John Charles Manning is a Senior Specialist Scientist with expertise in systematics, focusing on the Iridaceae and Hyacinthaceae families within the Cape Floristic Region, as well as pollination biology. His notable publications include Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: The Core Cape Flora (2012), Drimia in Southern Africa (2018), and Iridaceae of Southern Africa (2020), co-authored with Peter Goldblatt, along with the Field Guide to Fynbos (2007). He is committed to promoting the floral diversity of South Africa.
Pieter J.D. Winter is a Senior Taxonomist specializing in plant taxonomy, specifically focusing on the genus Heliophila within the Brassicaceae family. He is affiliated with the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB). For a complete list of his publications, refer to his Google Scholar profile.
Thaabiet Parker is a Candidate Scientist specializing in molecular systematics and taxonomy, particularly focusing on the Asteraceae genera and the taxonomic revision of the Tribe Calenduleae. Notably, Parker co-authored a 2022 publication titled “A molecular phylogeny of Calenduleae (Asteraceae) supports the transfer of Dimorphotheca polyptera DC. to Osteospermum L.,” published in the South African Journal of Botany. Parker is also a member of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). For a complete list of publications, refer to his Google Scholar profile.
Aarifah Jakoet is a Scientist specializing in systematics, focusing on the Cotula (Asteraceae) and Rutaceae families. For a comprehensive list of her publications, refer to her Google Scholar profile.