Prof. Yoav Waisel
Director of the Botanic Garden, 1980–1987, 2002–2004
Prof. Yoav Waisel, one of the foremost researchers of the ecology of the Land of Israel's flora, served as the Director of the Botanic Garden from 1980 to 1987, and again from 2002 to 2004.
Professor Yoav Waisel was born in Tel Aviv in 1931. He completed his academic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His Master’s thesis focused on the properties of Tamarisk trees (Tamarix) in the Halutza sands. It was during this period that he developed a deep interest in this genus and in halophytes (salt-tolerant plants) in general, subjects he continued to research until his final days. His doctoral dissertation explored the phenomenon of ecotypification in Israeli flora, identifying intraspecific variation resulting from the unique environmental conditions to which plants are exposed in diverse habitats.
Scientific and Educational Legacy
In 1972, Prof. Waisel published the book Biology of Halophytes (Academic Press), which synthesized all existing knowledge on salt-tolerant plants at the time.
He was responsible for publishing a series of foundational Hebrew-language books on ecology and botany. He personally published Chapters in Ecology (Perakim Be'Ekologia), the first book on ecology written in Hebrew. For many years, it served as the primary textbook for universities, teacher training colleges, and high schools. Subsequently, alongside his students, he published a Hebrew volume on the flora of the Land of Israel, which later served as the basis for the botany volume of the Encyclopedia of Animals and Plants of the Land of Israel (Ministry of Defense Publishing House). His series of pocket guides for hikers – covering trees, aquatic plants, and halophytes – were also a novel contribution that served professionals and nature enthusiasts alike.
Contributions to Public Health
At the Botanic Garden, Prof. Waisel established the Laboratory for Airborne Allergens Research. This lab provided the public with essential information regarding the flowering periods of allergenic plants throughout the year, a service typically provided by governmental health authorities in most developed nations. In this field, he campaigned vigorously for legislation to ban the planting of allergenic species in urban landscaping. While such laws are common globally, the complexities of the Israeli political system presented obstacles that even his persistence could not overcome.
In response to frequent inquiries regarding plant poisonings, he co-authored Poisonous Plants in Israel with Professor Sasson Cohen. This book continues to serve medical professionals in diagnosing and treating cases of poisoning caused by wild or ornamental plants.
Leadership of the Botanic Garden
During his long tenure as Director of the Tel Aviv University Botanic Gardens, Prof. Waisel significantly expanded the grounds. He was responsible for adding:
- The Garden of Useful Plants
- The Garden of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants
- The Succulent Collection
- The Palm Greenhouse
- The Sarah Racine Root Laboratory (Aeroponic Research Lab)
He was deeply involved in every detail of the garden's development, often working physically alongside the staff.
Written by: Professor Amram Eshel, Tel Aviv University
Further Reading: In Memory of Prof. Yoav Waisel – the Faculty of Life Sciences Website
