Herbarium Dr. Edward Hackel

One of the world's most important herbaria was created around the middle of the 19th century by the biologist Prof. Dr. Eduard Hackl (Professor of Biology at the local Realgymnasium from 1863).

With well over 2000 specimens, most of which come from Lower Austria, especially from the Wachau region and the central St. Pölten area, this herbarium is an important piece of Austrian natural history. Some parts come from the collection of Dr. Josef Neumayer from St. Pölten.

In addition to the very good condition of the collection, the precise scientific description and listing of the locations of the individual plants is particularly noteworthy.

Numerous sites are listed in and around the following regions:

St. Pölten

Krems

Schönbrunn

Dürnstein

Danube rocks

Sandbanks

Weissenkirchen

Göttweig

Paudorf

Meidling in the valley

Obritzberg

Karlstetten

Gansbach

Viehofen

Türnitz

Mariazell

Mitterbach

Türnitz

Gippel

Göller

Rax

Schneeberg

Brunn am Gebirge

Klosterneuburg

The collection period was between 1833 and 1877 and

Another important part of the collection is the original, handwritten inventory by Dr. Hackl.

The herbarium is a unique collection and indispensable for the identity of Lower Austrian natural history.

Biography:

Eduard Hackel, born on March 17, 1850 in Haida, Bohemia, and died on February 17, 1926 in Attersee, Upper Austria, was an important botanist of his time.

Hackl became interested in nature, especially plants, early on in his life and began his studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna at the age of 15. After completing his studies, he became an assistant teacher at the secondary school in Sankt Pölten in 1869, where he taught natural history. 

In 1870, he passed his teacher's examination and continued his commitment to botany.

Hackl's research focused mainly on grasses, particularly the genus Festuca, and his knowledge in this area earned him worldwide recognition as an expert on gramineae.

He was entrusted with the editing of grasses in various anthologies and expedition results, and his work contributed significantly to the understanding of grass flora in countries such as Japan, Formosa, New Guinea, Brazil and Argentina.

Hackl gained particular attention through his distinction between intravaginal and extravaginal shoots in gramine systematics, which later became of great importance. His work on the histology of the leaf blade and on the lodiculae also contributed to a deeper understanding of grasses.

Although Hackl's scientific achievements were recognized by his peers, he did not receive appropriate recognition from his superiors in the department. This led to his early retirement in 1900. He moved to Graz in 1904 and finally to Attersee in 1907.

Hackl's works, including his monograph on European Festucas and his contributions to various botanical anthologies, made a significant contribution to the botanical knowledge of his time.

Eduard Hackl died in 1926, but left behind an extensive legacy in botany that is still important today. His commitment to researching the plant world and his numerous scientific contributions have cemented his legacy as an important botanist.