Collection Of Plants Research Articles

The conservation impact of botanical drones: Documenting and collecting rare plants from vertical cliffs and other hard‐to‐reach areas

Abstract A high percentage of island floras are at risk of extinction and have been reduced to relic populations, often in remote hard‐to‐reach areas. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS aka drones) are now being utilized to assist in the survey and collection of rare plants in inaccessible areas or vertical cliff habitats. Here, we test the application of this technology for conservation of 23 plant taxa in three oceanic island hotspots: Hawaiʻi, Madeira and the Republic of Palau. We collect high‐resolution imagery using a small UAS to document the distribution and abundance of vascular flowering plants. Location information is then used to map and assess plant populations. Depending on the terrain, collections are completed using either traditional rope techniques or newly developed remote drone‐based collection methods. Over the course of 6 years, we have greatly expanded our knowledge of rare and endangered species, while increasing survey efficiency and staff safety. Most importantly, this work has had a large impact on the conservation of critically endangered plants. Although using drones for botanical conservation comes with limits and challenges, we see great potential in the continued employment of these techniques wherever plants are growing on cliffs or in other hard‐to‐reach areas.

Preservation of ex-situ gene pool of rare medicinal plant species in Kazakhstan

The approved “List of Medicinal Plants” consists of 278 medicinal plants used in official or traditional medicine. At the same time, 65 species have been listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. In the experimental medicinal plant collections located in the foothills of Zailiyskiy Alatau (in the Main Botanical Garden, Almaty), a total of 48 (74%) are indigenous medicinal herbs of Kazakhstan’s flora were grown over different years. A significant number of rare medicinal plant species of Kazakhstan (37 species), which is more than half of all tested ones, can be successfully grown. Eight of them are blooming and bearing fruit regularly and tree crops give real yields. Thirteen species of trees and shrubs have high adaptive abilities and were introduced at the expositions of the botanical garden. Sixteen species could bloom but not all of them produced seeds consistently. Introduction of 13 species are very difficult or unsuccessful, 17 species (26%) of the medicinal flora have not been tested in culture, mainly due to the known futility of cultivation in the open ground.

The collection of letters addressed to D.F.L. von Schlechtendal in the University herbarium in Halle (Saale), Germany (HAL)

D.F.L. von Schlechtendal (1794–1866) was one of the most important botanists of the 19th century. From 1833 to 1866 he was professor of botany at the University Halle-Wittenberg, where his collection of some 70 000 plant specimens is kept. Schlechtendal described more than 1600 new taxa, including 78 genera, mostly from the New World. Schlechtendal’s dense network of scientific contacts is documented by his correspondence, comprising some 5600 letters he received from about 500 persons, including many famous contemporary botanists, natural scientists, travelers and plant collectors. The letters mostly refer to publications and scientific questions concerning the journals ,Linnaea’ and ,Botanische Zeitung’ edited by Schlechtendal. In particular, the letters of scientists dealing with African, Central and South American, and Australian plants are an important source of taxonomic information. The letters are mostly written in the old German Kurrent script, the ink is fading and the paper is disintegrating. We therefore have started to transliterate all letters (54 % completed), index and digitize them and make them available online. Here we explain their importance, highlighting letters dealing with the plants from Humboldt’s and Bonpland’s travels and from the correspondence with R.A. Philippi(Chile, 1808–1904) and H. Christ (Switzerland, 1833–1933).

Exploring the Leiden 'Van Royen herbarium': History and scientific significance of the herbarium specimens of Adriaan (1704–1779) and David van Royen (1727–1799)

The dried plant collection, now known as the 'Van Royen herbarium', was assembled by Adriaan and David van Royen, successive Leiden professors of botany in the period 1729–1799. The significance of this herbarium is partly due to the fact that Linnaeus was able to study Adriaan's collections extensively when he stayed in The Netherlands, such that it must have influenced, to some extent, his subsequent publications, notably Species Plantarum (1753). In this review we track the complex history of the herbarium and follow its physical housing through time. Poor storage conditions in the 18th and 19th centuries may account for the loss of an unknow nnumber of specimens originally in the herbarium. The history of the herbarium of Nicolaas Meerburg, head gardener in the Leiden botanical garden from 1774–1814, where he hadworked from 1752, is closely connected with that of the Van Royens, and is also discussed here. We explore the composition of the'Van Royen herbarium' and document who contributed to it. Altogether 80 plant collectors or original herbarium owners are identified. For example, there is a substantial set of specimens collected by Carl Peter Thunberg in Japan and many specimens from the Cape region of South Africa, which must have been gathered by him during his first stay there. Another largeset is that collected by Johann Gerhard König in Ceylon (now a days SriLanka) and there are many specimens from the collections of Albrecht von Haller and Sébastien Vaillant. The herbarium contains several seed collections used for Joseph Gaertner's De Fructibus (listed in Appendix 4)and also many specimens assembled by Adriaanvan Royen for his Ericetum Africanum project. Last, but not least significant among the rest, there are specimens cut out of a book herbarium owned by Jacob Breyne with plants collected by Carolus Schweiker (or Sweiker) around Montpellier (France) in 1666. Information necessary for the correct attribution of specimens is presented, complete with information enabling attribution of individual specimens to their original owners. Example barcodes of specimens from individual contributors and their handwriting(s)can be found in Appendix 3. Brief details of the life and work of Adriaan and Davidvan Royen is given in Appendices 1 and 2. The significance of the herbarium for the typification of Linnaean and other species names is discussed.

Network analysis of the herbarium collection of the Moravian Church from the 18th century

The Herbarium Dresdense (DR), Germany, houses about 500 000 specimens of worldwide origin. One of the oldest collections is the Herbarium Barbiense of the Moravian Church from the mid to the late 18th century. On their mission to spread Christianity, the Moravians settled on many continents and took the advantage of exploring culture and nature of their new home countries. Being excellent observers and documentarists, they left a barely explored corpus of objects and texts of tremendous importance for natural sciences and humanities. Since 1754 the educational centre of the community was located in Barby, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. To support the scientific training and to gather objects send home by the missionaries, a cabinet of natural curiosities was established in 1756. The collections of minerals, fossils, conchylia and plants were unique and soon attracted other European academics.

What did 16th-century tomatoes look like?

Soon after the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the first tomatoes were presented as curiosities to the European elite and drew the attention of 16th-century Italian naturalists. Despite their scientific interest in this New World crop, most Renaissance botanists did not specify where these „golden apples” or „pomi d’oro” came from. It is likely that tomatoes were brought to Europe after the Spanish sieged the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) in 1521 and after they conquered the Peruvian Inca emperors in 1531. Tomatoes and other New World domesticates must have been brought to the Spanish court, and were probably planted in the royal gardensin Madrid, after which they were likely shipped from Sevilla to Italy, but no written evidence have been found so far for these events. The debate on the first European tomatoes and their origin is often hindered by erroneous dating, botanical misidentifications and inaccessible historical sources. So, who saw the first 16th-century tomatoes that entered Europe? What did they look like? Who made the first botanical description, collection and/or illustration? And where did these tomatoes come from?

Flora of the Canary Islands – revised checklist to a classic arena of botany

The Canary Islands are a popular location for botanical collections that resulted in a series of seminal works, including the description and documentation of many endemic plant species (Fig. 1, 2, 3) in herbaria. Viera y Clavijo, Christ, Webb, Berthelot, Sventenius, Pitard, Kunkel, or Bramwell, to name but a few, majorly contributed to the knowledge about the flora of the Canary Islands. Alexander von Humboldt’s botanical description of Tenerife during his stay in 1799 also motivated Charles Darwin to explore the island. Unfortunately, Darwin was not allowed to set foot on land during his voyage with the Beagle due to quarantine restrictions. In recent years, a number of data bases containing detailed information about the plants of the Canary Islands emerged. This botanical legacy evokes the expectation that detailed information about the flora of the archipelago is available, with high agreement about taxa and status between different sources. To test this expectation, we elaborated an extensive floral checklist for the Canary Islands, documented which taxa are accepted in global taxonomic reference systems, and additionally checked their coverage in databases that are a common sources in biogeographical and ecological research.

CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNDAR PERICARP (Garcinia forbesii) EXTRACT FROM BANJAR DISTRICT OF INDONESIA

The mundar plant (Garcinia forbesii) is a typical fruit of South Kalimantan. The people use mundar empirically as a spice, cosmetic, and medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of mundar extract from Karang Intan and Beruntung Baru districts in Banjar Regency. The collection of plants from two places, plant determination, and extraction with 70% ethanol. The extract was then characterized. The characterization showed that the Garcinia forbesii pericarp extract from both places was dark brown, distinctive odor, sour taste, and thick. Both extracts contained flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and anthraquinones. The chromatography of both extracts was the same and detected to alpha-mangosten. The extract from Karang Intan district has a yield 59.99%, total phenolic content 0.888%, moisture content 9.78%, total ash content 1.10%, and acid insoluble ash content 0.06%. The extract from Beruntung Baru district has a yield 58.74%, total phenolic content 0.823%, moisture content 9.93%, total ash content 1.59%, and acid insoluble ash content 0.04%. Garcinia forbesii pericarp extracts from from two places have the same organoleptical characteristics, phytochemical compounds, and chromatography patterns. The differences are in yield percentage, total phenolic content, water content, ash content, and acid insoluble ash content

Phytochemical Investigation of High Potential Medicinal Plants for Friendly Insect Pest Management at Heramosh, District Gilgit

The exploration of medicinal plants in Gilgit-Baltistan for pest and insect control emerges as a promising strategy for natural pest management. The research was focused on three specific plant species-Swertia cordata, Gentiana tianschanica, and Pleurospermum candollei-highlighting their efficacy in pest control and the conservation of biodiversity in the region. These plants boast a rich array of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, and proteins, contributing to their pest-controlling attributes. The phytochemical investigation involved the collection of fresh plants from diverse locations, followed by air-drying and extracting plant samples for analysis. Qualitative tests on the crude extracts aimed to discern the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, and carbohydrates. The results of the preliminary phytochemical analysis affirmed the presence of various secondary metabolites in all three plant species. Additionally, the research delved into the antioxidant potential of these plants, employing DPPH free radical scavenging assays. The extracts from different solvents of each plant species exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, suggesting their role as natural antioxidants. The research explores the multifaceted bioactive properties of the identified secondary metabolites, highlighting their significance in fortifying plant defense mechanisms. Alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, saponins, amino acids, and carbohydrates collectively contribute to the overall health benefits of these plants, potentially aiding in insect control and disease prevention. The study concluded by underscoring the imperative for further research to comprehensively grasp the specific uses, concentrations, and properties of these compounds for effective pest and disease control. In essence, the findings underscore the importance of harnessing medicinal plants for pest management, considering their reduced environmental impact in contrast to synthetic pesticides. The research provides valuable insights into the potential of natural compounds derived from medicinal plants, offering a sustainable approach to agricultural practices and the preservation of ecosystems.

Orchids of the Southern Cone (1830–2000) – Part IV. Maevia Noemí Correa’s <i>Flora Patagonica</i>

Maevia Noemí Correa (1914–2005) will always be remembered as the director and editor of an outstanding work, Flora Patagonica, in which she assumed the treatment of several plant families, among them the Orchidaceae. Published between 1969 and 1999, the work was the product of 30 years of dedicated research and fieldwork, resulting in the publication of eight volumes and extraordinary plant collections, now housed in Argentinian and foreign herbaria. Popularly known as The Dame of the Orchids, Correa must be considered one of the most relevant Argentinian botanists of the 20th century. In honor of her birth on February 14th, the day has been designated as "The Day of the Orchidophile”.

Species from the collection of tropical and subtropical plants of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University in need of protection

One of the current areas of work of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Dnipro, Ukraine) is considered conservation, introduction, study of tropical and subtropical plants needed protection. The fund collection of tropical and subtropical plants in protected soil, where the total number of taxa is 830 units from 105 families, and those listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and international lists are more than 70 (28 families), among them, the vast majority of species (60) are included in the World Red List and, in particular, Adiantum capillus-veneris L. – in the Red Book of Ukraine has been studied. The geographical origin and life forms of the collection species needed protection are studied. Their habitats have been found to represent almost all areas of the tropics and subtropics; there are a large number of endemics, including the Galapagos Islands, Madagascar, and the islands of Norfolk and Rodriguez. Among the life forms, most belong to succulents (35 taxa) and trees (20). The taxonomy and systematic position of species according to the classification of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV) have been determined. It has been determined that almost all rare and endangered plants of the Laboratory of the Tropics and Subtropics of DNU have a decorative appearance and can be used in the phytodesign of various interiors, some of them are plants in which fruits, leaves, stems and other parts have a high biological value, in particular as a source of antioxidants, and are a source of physiologically active compounds and vitamins, can be raw materials for the pharmaceutical and food industries. It was found that the largest number among the species in need of protection is the life form of succulents. Among them, the family Cactaceae Juss dominates: 13 genera, 16 species and the family Xanthorrhoeaceae Dumort. – 7 species of Aloe L. The collection of tropical and subtropical plants of the DNU Botanical Garden is constantly used for educational work among the population, thousands of people visit it throughout the year. Protected soil plants serve as the basis for environmental education for adults and children, schoolchildren in particular from the Junior Academy of Sciences, students.

Production of phytoliths in woody plants of the Atlantic Forest in islands of the Paraná River, Brazil

The analysis of phytoliths is a recent addition to the geosciences and has found applications in various fields over the last few decades, including palaeoenvironmental studies in fluvial environments. As a developing field, it is essential to carry out studies aimed at creating a modern reference collection that fills an information gap on the production of phytoliths by plants in this environment. These studies are essential to increase the reliability and accuracy of phytolith research in reconstructing past vegetation patterns and compositions. This study is the first with the aim of creating a pioneer collection of phytoliths in fluvial environments of the Upper Paraná River, addressing woody eudicotyledon species of greater representation on the Três Ilhas (Three Islands) Archipelago. The phytoliths were extracted from the leaves of 51 species from the botanical collection of the Nupélia herbarium (HNUP) using the dry ashing extraction method. The analysis found that 21 plant families established on the site have some kind of silica accumulation and 34 species are producers of phytoliths with an identifiable shape and size (<5um). It was confirmed the Moraceae family produces Acute bulbosus (with ramifications), both considered diagnostic at family level. Confirming the current literature on the subject, redundancy of the spheroid ornate and spheroid psilate morphotypes was observed in woody plants. Although no new morphotypes were found, the information will contribute to studies on the evolution of fluvial geoforms.

Documentation of flowering plants and ethnobotany in Jhilmil Lake area, Kanchanpur, Sudurpaschim Province

Documentation of indigenous knowledge about plants plays a key role for conservation and utilization of plant resources. The present paper documents the diversity of plants and their traditional use in and around the Jhilmil Lake Area, one of the forest-dominated peri-urban areas of Kanchanpur district lying in Sudurpaschim Province. Vegetation sampling and ethnobotanical surveys were carried out twice between January, 2020 and January, 2021. Semi-structured questionnaire and checklists were used to record the use and distribution of the plant species and their conservation. A total of 126 plant species representing 52 families and 113 genera were reported. Among the total plants recorded, 114 (90.48 %) species were found to be ethnomedicinally used. The results showed that the use of plants as ethnomedicine was culturally motivated and less influenced by availability of the plants. The plant “importance value index” (IVI) was found to be negatively associated with the plant “relative frequency of citation” (RFC; p=0.057–0.790). The high RFC values of the trees and climbers hinted that the plant collection was subjectively oriented towards quality products. The findings suggested that the rare plants with high-use values such as Pterocarpus marsupium, Dalbergia latifolia, Rauvolfia serpentina, Citrus limonum, and Mussaenda frondosa should be prioritised for future conservation. It illustrates that lakes in forested areas are essential resources for plant diversity and local life because they include a variety of rare and useful local plant species

Sustainable approach for the collection and processing of medicinal and aromatic plants in Hungary

AbstractHungary is a Central European country that is rich in medicinal and aromatic wild plant species; in rural livelihoods, the collection, use, process, and trade of these plants are traditionally important contributors. However, due to several recent changes touching the sector, the natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and collectors - who generally belong to poorer social groups – are affected negatively.The paper aims to introduce the Hungarian herbal sector from a holistic perspective, including its economic, environmental, and human dimensions, with a particular focus on sustainability. In this context, the purpose of the article is to discover this field as comprehensibly as possible and present it from both theoretical and practical aspects. Another objective is to collect the best practices and feasible solutions from the field in connection with promoting a harmonious, as well as economically prosperous relationship between nature and local people. This integrated approach helps show the industry's strengths and advantages, as well as its weaknesses and challenges. Based on the findings, the paper attempts also to propose some recommendations for the future.

EXTRACTION AND CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE HOMESTEAD FARM “DUNDURI” OF LUDZA MUNICIPALITY

The aim of the work: to evaluate the development possibilities of the economic activity of the homestead farm “Dunduri” by collecting and cultivating medicinal plants.&#x0D; The work was developed the basis on European Union and Latvian regulatory documents and guidelines applicable to the collection and processing of medicinal plants, special literature and homestead data.&#x0D; It is important to understand what steps to take, what problems to face and how will affect activities in the future in the field of harvesting medicinal plants. &#x0D; The work examines the extraction of medicinal plants in Europe and Latvia, the guidelines for collecting and growing plants and the classification of medicinal plants, provides a description of the resources of the homestead farm “Dunduri”, examines the growing and harvesting technologies of medicinal plants and their realization possibilities, analyses the farm economic activities and development opportunities.

PENDAMPINGAN DENGAN PENDEKATAN KDEPE DALAM PENGEMBANGAN TAMAN TEMATIK LIANA DI KEBUN RAYA GIANYAR

Since its soft opening on July 17 2017, the Gianyar Botanical Gardens has built several thematic parks, namely the upakara thematic park, liana thematic park, and other parks currently under construction. The liana thematic park is one of the thematic parks that is being developed based on the potential diversity of liana plant types that already exist in the KRG. The main problems addressed in mentoring activities in the development of liana thematic gardens are lack of access arrangements to liana thematic park, minimal collection of plant types, minimal information about liana thematic park, and lack of supporting hardscape facilities to increase liana thematic park capacity. Implementation of activities from 29 September to 1 October 2022, by applying the KDEPE approach (Coordination, Documentation, Evaluation, Common Perception and Execution). The results achieved are (a) entry access to the liana thematic park is more organized, making it easier for visitors; (b) there was an increase in the number of liana plant collections based on their types (initial 12 after assistance became 21 types). (c) There is information regarding collection of liana plants with scientific name labels and the writing of a book entitled Liana Botanical Gardens Gianyar.

Event I. The development of oriental medicine in Russia in the XVIII-XIX centuries. The role of scientists of the Imperial Medico-Surgical (Military Medical) Academy

The article presents the history of nascence traditional oriental medicine in Russia during XVIII–XIX centuries. The first information about oriental medicine was brought to Russia in the XVIII century by doctors, who visited Mongolia and China as members of embassy expeditions. The first decades of the XVIII century can be considered as beginning of a systematic study oriental treatment methods. It was possible thanks to the many years efforts of the employees of the Russian ecclesiastical mission in Beijing. This organization from 1715 to 1864 years served religious, diplomatic and scientific functions. An invaluable contribution to the study of Chinese medicine was made by the leaders of the mission. Major role belongs to Nikita Yakovlevich Bichurin (father Iakinf), archimandrite of the IX mission. He was fluent in Chinese, studied the primary sources of medical literature, translated significant treatises into Russian, and taught Chinese to the mission staff. The head of the X mission, Pavel Ivanovich Kamensky, compiled a Chinese-Russian medical dictionary, reorganized the mission, and insisted on the need to introduce the position of a doctor among the staff. Starting from 1821, doctors O.P. Voitsekhovsky, P.E. Kirillov, A.A. Tatarinov, S.I. Bazilevsky and P.A. Kornievsky, graduates of the Imperial Medical and Surgical (Military Medical) Academy worked as physician of the X–XIV missions. Doctors continued to study the theoretical concepts of Chinese medicine, philosophical and cultural traditions that underlie healthcare. In addition to medical work, in accordance with the instructions of the Medical Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they explored epidemiology, healthcare organization and the process of training doctors in China, analyzed Eastern approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, pharmacopoeia, used of herbal remedies, methods of prevention and health maintenance. The scientific approach, knowledge of the Chinese language, and a long stay in the country allowed them to lay the foundations of Oriental medicine in Russian, acquaint medical community with the methods of treatment and prevention of diseases adopted in China, introduce acupuncture, moxa, the use of new types of herbal remedies, enrich the collections of medicinal plants.

СОЦВЕТИЕ НАУК ДЛЯ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ИСТОРИЧЕСКОГО ГЕРБАРИЯ

(Rev.: The Herbarium of Robert Erskine, Archiater and Physician-in-Chief to Peter the Great / edited by A.K. Sytin and D.D. Slastunov. SPb, Lubavich, 2022, 375 p.) Summary: The book under review is the first critical edition of the Herbarium belonged to Robert Areskin, a fellow-fighter of Peter the Great, his Physician-in-Chief and President of the Apothecary’s Garden in Moscow. The Herbarium was created in 1709 and composed of plant species from the vicinity of Moscow. This is Russia’s first botanical collection of western type. The present critical edition is a part of the huge research project “From the Kunstkamera to Herbal Science. The Development of Botany in Russia in the First Half of the 18th Century” conducted by Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences with the financial support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research. It demonstrates how productive the joint effort of botanists, historians, historians of science, librarians, archivists and museum custodians can be. The contribution of web designers, database developers and specialists in digital image processing neither can be underestimated. The review emphasizes the success of this interdisciplinary team and congratulates the editors on the way they revealed Herbarium’s scientific, historical and cultural value.

From Dormant Collections to Repositories for the Study of Habitat Changes: The Importance of Herbaria in Modern Life Sciences.

In recent decades, the advent of new technologies for massive and automatized digitization, together with the availability of new methods for DNA sequencing, strongly increased the interest and relevance of herbarium collections for the study of plant biodiversity and evolution. These new approaches prompted new projects aimed at the creation of a large dataset of molecular and phenological data. This review discusses new challenges and opportunities for herbaria in the context of the numerous national projects that are currently ongoing, prompting the study of herbarium specimens for the understanding of biodiversity loss and habitat shifts as a consequence of climate changes and habitat destruction due to human activities. With regard to this, the National Biodiversity Future Center (active in Italy since 2022) started a large-scale digitization project of the Herbarium Centrale Italicum in Florence (Italy), which is the most important Italian botanical collection, consisting of more than 4 million samples at present.

Introduction of rare woody plants in the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The Arboretum of the Botanical Garden of the Komi Institute of Biology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the northernmost in Russia, which contains more than 500 taxa of woody plants, including 14 rare and endangered species of various categories and protection status. Six of them need regional protection (Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Ulmus laevis, Pinus sibirica, Tilia cordata, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster melanocarpus), the rest are in state protection (Euonymus nana, Cotoneaster cinnabarinus, Cotoneaster lucidus, Staphylea colchica, Juglans ailanthifolia, Rhododendron fauriei, Picea glehnii, Taxus baccata, Microbiota decussata) The largest number plants included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic (2019), characterized by a wide ecological amplitude, have been studied more and more. Attraction to the collection of rare woody plants of the Red Book of Russia is limited by harsh climatic conditions. Ten species of plants of state protection are represented by single specimens and are only maintained in the collection. Winter hardiness of plants is determined every season and phenological observations are carried out. Conservation and attraction of rare plant species to the collection in the conditions of the Komi Republic should become an integral part of the biodiversity conservation strategy.