In 1829, London physician Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward sealed a plant inside a glass container - an experiment that revolutionised global plant transport and forever transformed ecosystems, gardens and lives in the process.
This invention, later known as the Wardian case, allowed the British Empire to move “exotic” species across continents, facilitating the spread of tea from China to India and enabling the smuggling of 70,000 rubber plant seeds from Brazil to Kew Gardens. It also played a crucial role in conservation, helping to save the critically endangered ngutukākā (kākābeak) plant in Aotearoa.
Photographer Mark Smith and botanical artist Felicity Jones have spent the past seven years uncovering stories of botanical globalisation with a focus on plant exchanges between Aotearoa and the wider world. Their findings are presented in their new book, Case Studies.
The pair also have an exhibition on at Silo Park until October 16th.
Case Studies by Felicity Jones and Mark Smith Photo: Massey University Press
