My favourite Botanists studying the flora of Malta

[MWP admin]

This week I had the pleasure to meet in person the botanists Professor Hans Christian Weber and his assistant and co-author Bernd Kendzior who also study flora. As many should know, Dr. Weber is the main expert member who help us with our questions regarding Maltese flora.

Below is a small report about these guys after I have spent 2 days with them


Dr. Weber is a professor of Botany at the famous univerity of Marburg, Germany. His friend (and) student Berndt is always nicked by weber as his "assistant", but he is knowledgable nearly as him in botany, and maybe more when it comes to the Fabaceae family.

Christian told me a bit the story about him and Maltese flora. To my surprise this link have happened becasue of the 11th September accident. Chris used to make live guided tours for his students in the American continent. Since of the accident, the following scholastic year (Spring 2002) he and the students did not dare to travel to US, so instead Weber changed destination and he put his eyes on Malta, hearing rumours the Malta has interesting and plentiful flora in Spring.

He and the syudents really liked Malta and Gozo, except that at that time there were not much books and literature about the Maltese flora. As a result, his first book "Wild plants of the Maltes Islands" was born, featuring nearly 250 photographed species.

After that year, Weber and his botany students came in Malta every year for in situ learning of Maltes flora. This year I took the opportunity to be present during 2 days of his intense 2 week tour.

The first time I met the group (Weber, Bernt and students) was near the Alexandra Hotel. From there we drove all way to Bahrija, and neighbouring garigues. I dont want to enter into detail of what we have seen and went becasue it is beyond the scope of this post, but I want to express few opinions about it.


1)
I was touched immensely by how much Weber and Bernt are ready to help. Where are the rest of the maltese botanists? (except few who have helped me) Do we have any botanists here? Why we should really beg to get some info from them. Why some have a secretary and have to make an appointment to ask a question? Why they dont reply to emails? No wonder why maltese do not love nature and environment then if those above dont do their part in promoting interess to the public to our flourishing nature.



2)
I was touched by the german students who enjoyed our contryside and showed their interess of learning about the Maltese flora, which is quite diverse and difficult at times. Then I remembered our agricultural course at the University of Malta. Lots of technical data and book-junk from old books and in 2 years we have never been out in a field or farm to see the real things.


3)
I felt so strange seeing these foreign people love and learn about our Maltese nature, and on contrast the Maltese do not take care or respect it.


4)
I also could not believe how in a short time (3 yeasr) Weber and his assistant know so much corners and sites were uncommon to rare plant are found. I remember that I went with them to a site called in-nadur (malta) (limits of Mtahleb/Bahrija) that in my 30+ years I never been there.


5)
I really admire their sense of humor, modesty, good-hearted, and there smiling charm. The students of Germany are really lucky if this is the relationship between their lecturers. MOST of our lecturers look down to us and I can stongly feel that they are teaching simply for the salary not to really teach us from ther heart. Asking something from them simply means annoying them in most cases. This is my opinion.


6)
Finally I was sad about one thing. The Maltese have no opportunity to study botany in the University of Malta as an individual Diploma/Degree course. One have to follow the full General B.Sc. course which involves only 20% of Botany. So in our country, the maltese cannot study about their flora as foreigners are doing. Then I should believe in the EU policy - "Citizens of EU nations have equal opportunies"



Well, Weber tour ended for us on Saturday evening with a nice dinner at St. Julians. Present were other forum members like Pine, Elena Yasnetskaya, and Picus. We had great pleasure to talk with each other about many things and we had some good laughs too.


I would finally like to thank again Mr. Weber and Bernt for this opportunity to meet them and joining them in few of their interesting trips. Really nice persons that you enjoying staying with and very helpful.

Best regdards
Stephen

[MWP admin]

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE WERE NOT MWP ORGANISED ACTIVITIES.

[IL-PINE]

I was most honoured to meet with our German heroes.

I surely am eager to meet you again when visiting our islands next time. I hope the book will be out then.

[HC Weber]

Finally, I will be responsive to your report, Stephen. Thank you for your friendliness. We enjoyed very much our field trips, it was nice that you participated in some of our trips, and it was my pleasure that Bernd and myself could get to know each other during the dinner. Also, I like to add that I am thankful to Edwin and Mepa that they are helpful in supporting my PhD student Sdravko. I am looking forward to meet you all again as well as the other hardcore members of the forum.

[Zurrija]

I went to souvenir shop today in Valletta (I"m going to Moscow soon), saw this book and bought it!
The book covers not only plants, but partly geology and history (military) - loor at the excellent illustrations of the book

[jackpot]

...partly geology and history (military)...? Did I miss something? Zurrija: what was the title of the book you talk about?

[Zurrija]

There were number of photoes with fortifications or cliffs on background