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.
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.
Ieslaah Isaacs is a Plant Taxonomy Intern supported by the Joan Wrench Scholarship, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and an Honours degree in Biodiversity and Ecology. As the sole intern currently based at the Compton Herbarium, she conducts plant taxonomy research, supports plant identification, manages projects, and serves as the interim Loans Officer. She has developed skills in plant morphology, plant identification, herbarium curation, and taxonomic research, while continuing to build her expertise through her work at the Compton Herbarium.
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.
Dr Thaabiet Parker is a plant systematist specialising in the taxonomy and evolution of the Asteraceae daisy family. His research integrates morphology, genomics and ecological data to develop classifications informed by evolutionary history. His doctoral research focused on the genus Dimorphotheca (Tribe Calenduleae), while his current research program investigates the systematics and evolution of the hyper-diverse Tribe Senecioneae. He also actively collaborates on projects in various other plant families (e.g. Rutaceae, Iridaceae, Polygalaceae, Amaryllidaceae). For a complete list of publications, see his Google Scholar profile.
Dr. Aarifah Jakoet is a scientist specialising in systematics, focusing on the Asteraceae and Rutaceae families. Her doctoral research focused on the genus Cotula (Asteraceae), while her current research looks into the family Rutaceae particularly the tribe Diosmeae. For a comprehensive list of her publications, refer to her Google Scholar profile.