Kirstenbosch: the final victory of botanical nationalism.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Alhoewel die Nasionale Botaniese Tuine by Kirstenbosch eers in 1913 tot stand gekom het, was Botaniese tuine reeds vir 60 jaar ʼn kenmerk van die Kaapse stedelike gemeenskap. Die ou tuine van die Duits-Oos Indiese Kompanjie in Kaapstad het by verskeie geleenthede botaniese elemente gehad. Hierdie tuine het daartoe bygedra om belangstelling in die Kaapse flora in beide Europa en die Kaap te bevorder. Die vestiging van Kirstenbosch het die belofte vir die oorwinning van Suid-Afrikaanse botaniese nasionalisme ingehou. Laasgenoemde is egter vir 76 jaar vertraag weens die kloof tussen die Kaapse en Pretoriase botaniese ondernemings.

• Summary: Though the National Botanic Garden at Kirstenbosch was established in 1913, botanic gardens had been a feature of Cape urban society for over 60 years, before which the old Dutch East India Company garden in Cape Town had at various times a botanical aspect. These gardens helped foster an interest in the Cape's flora both in Europe and at the Cape. The foundation of Kirstenbosch brought with it the promise of the victory of South African botanical nationalism but this was delayed 76 years due to the division of botanical enterprise between Cape Town and Pretoria.