Botanical garden history: evolutions of styles ideas and functions

Abstract

The botanical garden is an institution that carries out activities associated with diverse scientific studies about plants based on living collections. The basic roles of a botanical garden include: 1) research, 2) education, 3) conservation and 4) public service. The central part of a botanical garden is the living plant collection which can represent taxonomic groups, vegetation types, and classes of plants with anthropocentric importance. Based upon the perspective from the United States of America and Canada, nine phases of botanical garden development can be identified. The structure, activities and contributions of each period varied. The modern botanical garden began in 1544 in Pisa, Italy. The introduction and distribution of ornamental plants were one of the benefits derived from world-wide exploration by European botanical gardens in particular. The role of botanical gardens in the development of ornamental plants has diminished from the last century. There is an excellent opportunity for botanical gardens to carry out exploration, evaluation and conservation of plants with ornamental potential as well as wild relatives of ornamental species domesticates.