Sibbaldia - the Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Journals)
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The tree and shrub collections of the Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute
Get PDFPolar-Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute (PABGI) is the northernmost in Russia (67о38\u27N.) and one of the few botanical gardens in the world inside the Arctic Circle. It has a unique collection of live plants, extensive herbarium funds. The article contains a list of the introduced woody plants in the PABSI collection fund. In 2018, the collection funds of woody plants included 27 families, 57 genera, 271 species, 21 subspecies, 14 species, 17 forms, 22 varieties and 22 hybrids.
For the overwhelming majority of tree species introduced in PABGI, the presence of flowering / pollination and fruiting / seed production phases of different regularity is characteristic. The collection has 2 species included in the Russian Federation Red List. In the regional Red Lists of Russia there are 232 samples of 78 taxa of woody plants introduced in the PABGI. According to the list of rare species of IUCN, 298 samples of 106 taxa of woody plants have one particular international protection category or another.
 
The need for horticulturist expertise in plant conservation: challenges and opportunities
Get PDFAs many as 40% of the world’s plant species are currently threatened with extinction, and botanic gardens have an important role to play in restoring habitats and supporting plant species recovery in situ. Specialist horticultural skills are essential for proactive plant conservation and management. However, there are a number of impediments to deploying horticultural expertise where it is needed the most, including lack of information about which species and recovery programmes need expertise, where that expertise can be found, and institutional or practical impediments such as availability of time and funding. In this paper, the author presents details on tools and resources developed by Botanic Gardens Conservation International designed to engage and support the participation of horticulturists in plant conservation.
 
Student Project: Horticultural protocols for experimental studies of eyebrights (Euphrasia, Orobanchaceae)
Get PDFParasitic plants are particularly challenging to cultivate as the growth conditions must be suitable for the parasite, the host, and their interaction. Here, we review our progress growing British native eyebrights (Euphrasia), a group of hemiparasitic plants found in diverse habitats in Britain and Ireland. We consider the protocols required to grow them under a range of conditions, including the laboratory, in pot trials, in cultivated fields, and in the wild. We highlight the need to use seed stratification to break seed dormancy, to replicate planting to overcome low seed viability, and to manage host plants to avoid competition. While Euphrasia can be successfully grown in different environments more work is required to develop reliable horticultural protocols for growing plants under natural conditions
Garden Profile: The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh at 350
Get PDFThe Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was founded in 1670 and celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2020. In Edinburgh, Scotland, the institution has occupied four different sites in that time and has been at the current site in Inverleith since 1823. Three other gardens in Scotland are also part of RBGE: Dawyck in Peebleshire, Benmore in Argyllshire and Logan in Dumfries & Galloway. 13,750 species from 2721 genera representing 344 families are cultivated in these four gardens and this article describes some of these collections. It also describes the issues facing the Garden today in common with many large and botanic gardens, those of plant health, implementing environmentally sustainable working practices, and managing collections in the face of a changing climate and growing visitor numbers. The Garden is also planning an exciting future with ambitious plans for new buildings and the refurbishment of historical structures to not only improve plant cultivation facilities, but also to increase visitor engagement and education about the value of plants for a healthy future
BOTANIC GARDEN PROFILE Gullele Botanic Garden, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia): Current status, Challenges and Opportunities
Get PDFGullele Botanic Garden (GBG) was founded through a joint venture between Addis Ababa University and Addis Ababa City Government. Since its establishment in 2010, it has developed its infrastructure and carried out a range of activities related to plant conservation, research, environmental education and ecotourism in line with its vision and mission. Key activities described in this paper are the five different uses of GBG land; the installation of a weather station; and the construction of a mini-greenhouse for plant acclimatisation, the multipurpose Agora II (an eco-friendly building with a green roof), a thematic garden and a nursery. The lists of endemic plants (65), large mammals (11) and endemic bird species recorded are presented in Appendices I, II and III respectively. The main activities and works carried out by GBG are not yet widely known to local and international communities. Through describing the garden’s current status, challenges and opportunities, this paper aims to increase awareness among the scientific community and more widely of GBG’s activities and intentions for protecting Ethiopia’s flora.
This article has an Erratum available to download as a pdf
Understanding and attributing cultural heritage values to individual plants
Get PDFThe cultural, both tangible and intangible heritage value of individual plant specimens are rarely included in discussions regarding botanical and cultural heritage, whilst the more scientific and conservation values of a plant as a genetic resource or habitat component are more defined and understood. Nassauer (1995) acknowledges that cultural concepts of nature are different from scientific concepts of ecological function. Widening multidisciplinary discussion and an increased consensus in the definition and role of intangible cultural heritage have all facilitated the potential of cultural heritage plant values being understood by the heritage sector. How can such heritage values be assessed, are there existing methodologies within the heritage and collections management sectors that can be used for living plants? Would this heritage value be passed on to a plant’s offspring, is heritage a tradeable commodity and how would such heritage status affect future management
Horticulture in 2020
Get PDFTo close the Promoting Excellence in Horticulture Conference in October 2020, a video consisting of recorded opinion pieces was created with contributions from a wide range of individuals working in horticulture. Contributors were asked to provide their perspectives and experiences on four topics which the conference convenors considered to be prominent in 2020: COVID-19, Brexit, plant health, and diversity and inclusion in horticulture. We consider their contributions here
Managing botanic garden collections of high conservation value
Get PDFThe author has spent 30 years co-ordinating the International Conifer Conservation Programme (ICCP), based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and uses this significant milestone to reflect on some important aspects of managing genetic resources in plants of conservation concern. The main driver of the ex-situ component of the ICCP has been to develop robust protocols for broadening the genetic base of threatened conifers and a range of conservation dependent Chilean woody plants in cultivation. This is achieved using well-documented known wild origin material distributed through a dedicated network of ‘safe sites’. Examples of threatened species for which collection and cultivation of a breadth of genetic material has enabled meaningful conservation are given here. The strategy to increase genetic material in cultivation sometimes involves using novel methods including conservation hedges. The great challenge facing all managers of botanical collections is how to develop effective programmes that integrate ex-situ with in-situ conservation. The biggest contribution collection managers and growers can make is to maximise the value of collections in their care and actions which achieve this are listed
Creating a biophilic Wales: increasing the health and wellbeing of people, biodiversity and the environment
Get PDFThe National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW) is dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity, sustainability, lifelong learning and the enjoyment of our visitors. NBGW’s Conservation and Research programme includes four major themes: ‘Saving Plants and Fungi’, ‘Saving Pollinators’, ‘International Conservation and Research’ and ‘Science and Society’. This article describes some of NBGW’s activities in three of these core areas, focusing on our work within Wales. 1. Conserving and understanding Welsh plants, fungi and habitats. 2. Conserving pollinating insects and understanding pollinator ecosystem services. 3. Understanding and promoting the importance of plants and gardens for the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environment. NBGW takes a multi-disciplinary approach that involves research, education, engagement, advocacy and direct conservation action. We aim to create a Biophilic Wales by increasing our understanding of the natural world and inspiring people to protect it. Wales is used as a study system to develop models that can applied throughout the world
The biosecurity risks of seeds in a botanic garden context
Get PDFSeeds present a naturally occurring package of germplasm with ideal attributes for collection, distribution and, in the case of orthodox seed, long term storage. From a phytosanitary perspective seeds are often considered a relatively low-risk option for movement of germplasm across borders. Most published data are concerned with diseases of commercial crops and little is known about the risks associated with wild collected, non-commercial seeds. However, there is demonstrable risk associated with the movement of any plant germplasm which can pose a risk to both crops and the wider environment. Presented here are a discussion on seed standards and the difference between seed borne and seed transmitted pathogens, with case studies presented to highlight the risks associated with informal seed systems and wild collected seeds in particular. Additionally, suggestions on how to address phytosanitary issues are presented including awareness raising measures aimed at improving biosecurity procedures during collection and before long-term storage of seed accessions