Reichenbach's Orchid Treasures: A Hidden Botanical Legacy Exhibition at Naturhistorisches Museum Wien

This exhibition at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien highlights the 'Orchid Treasures' bequeathed by German botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach. It showcases a selection of valuable herbarium specimens and illustrations from his extensive collection, alongside photographic portraits of all Austrian orchid species and live orchids from the Botanical Garden.

The exhibition 'Reichenbachs Orchideen - Verstecktes Erbe im NHM' centers on the significant orchid collection donated to the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien by the world-renowned German botanist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1889. Reichenbach, a leading expert in orchids during his time, amassed over 70,000 specimens, primarily from South America and Asia, for his scientific work. His will stipulated that these botanical treasures remain sealed for 25 years, making their accessibility 100 years prior to the exhibition's context a special occasion. The exhibition presents a curated selection of these valuable herbarium specimens and illustrations from the Natural History Museum's Botanical Department and Archive for the History of Science. Complementing Reichenbach's legacy, the exhibition also features photographic portraits of all orchid species found in Austria and displays of rare living orchids provided by the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna.

This exhibition was held at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien. Further visitor and ticketing information would typically be found on the museum's official website.