Gramina Hungarica de Degen, or What Would We Do Without Grass?

Gramina Hungarica de Degen, or What Would We Do Without Grass?

Exhibition “Gramina Hungarica de Degen, or What Would We Do Without Grass?”
Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, Zagreb

Authors: Suzana Buzjak and Zorana Sedlar
Opening: 1 October 2019 at 7:00 PM

Grass is a term familiar to everyone, yet it is often used for plants that are not actually grasses. At the same time, we are often unaware of how much our daily lives depend on this remarkable group of plants. Grasses form the foundation of human nutrition through crops such as wheat, rice, barley, and oats; they are used in the production of beverages such as beer, serve as building materials like bamboo, provide sources of biofuel, and even affect our health through allergies.

The exhibition “Gramina Hungarica de Degen, or What Would We Do Without Grass?” presents a unique herbarium compiled by the renowned botanist Árpád Degen, best known in Croatia for discovering the Velebit degenia, one of the country’s most famous endemic plants. The herbarium consists of nine bound volumes, four of which are housed in the Croatian Natural History Museum.

The uniqueness of the Gramina Hungarica collection lies in its specialization: it contains only species belonging to the grass family (Poaceae). The collection was created as a scientific basis for studying and improving the quality of meadows and pastures. Nearly forty collaborators contributed to the project, collecting more than 350 grass species across the territory of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

Through this exhibition, museum curators Suzana Buzjak and Zorana Sedlar present the life and work of Árpád Degen. In his honour, they have also prepared a three-dimensional specimen of the Velebit degenia. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the appearance, diversity, distribution, and importance of grasses, as well as their role in nature and everyday human life.

The central part of the exhibition features four original volumes of the Gramina Hungarica herbarium, including two carefully restored editions.

Designed for botanists, scientists, students, and all nature enthusiasts, this educational exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the grasses that surround us. Visitors will also discover species with intriguing names such as “the poor girl’s hairy-petioled hair grass” and “curved dagger grass,” highlighting the rich diversity and creativity found in botanical nomenclature.