University Botanic Garden Research Articles

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Capacity of Some Selected Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh

Medicinal plants are very much known for the presence of high amounts of different phytochemicals. Leaves of twelve medicinal plants, Andrographis paniculata, Blumea lacera, Caesalpinia bonduc, Codariocalyx motorius, Hyptis suaveolens, Vitex trifolia, Centella asiatica, Cynodon dactylon, Portulaca oleracea, Hyptis capitata, Acmella paniculata and Lippia alba grown in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden, had been selected to investigate the presence and status of different phytochemicals along with the antioxidant activity. This article revealed that all of these medicinal plants contained high amounts of different phytochemicals. The phenolics contents ranged from 118.98– 288.62 mg GAE/ 100 g FW, flavonoids (95.19– 198.51 mg QE/ 100 g FW), FRAP values (0.4523– 3.4390 µmol Fe2+/ g FW), IC50 values– amounts required to scavenge DPPH radicals (3.376– 38.56 mg/ mL), vitamin- C (10.418– 41.763 mg/ 100 g FW), total chlorophyll (0.7818– 4.2185 mg/ 100 g FW), carotenoids (0.4614– 1.8557 µg/ g FW), and among which, H. suaveolens and H. capitata from the Lamiaceae family showed the best performances regarding the most of the parameters. Based on the results of the present investigation, it may be concluded that these medicinal plants possess excellent amounts of different phytochemicals and are a good source of antioxidants, which indicates their potential in various ethnomedicinal studies and therapeutic uses. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(2): 373-380, 2024 (June)

Medicinal and Aromatic Weed Diversity in Botanic Garden and their Sustainable Utilisation for Conservation

Total 81 weeds belonging to 59 genera and 31 families growing in the University botanic garden at Sagar were found medicinally important. Various parts of all the weeds have been analyzed for their medicinal utility. Out of 81 weeds, leaves of 64 plants are found useful for various disorders. This is followed by root of 25 plants which are medicinally important. Disease wise analysis has also been carried out. Analysis reveals that for cut, wounds, boils and burns about 29 weed plants are used, whereas 21 weed species each are used for asthma and skin diseases.

Microclimate Impacts of Land Cover Types in Halu Oleo University Botanical Garden and Its Surroundings

Halu Oleo University (UHO) Botanical Garden is one of the green open spaces that contribute to maintaining climate stability and environmental comfort in Kendari City, along with the high land use change due to increased population and city progress. The study aimed to determine the effect of land cover types on microclimate in UHO Botanical Garden and its surroundings. The research was conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. The research was conducted on three types of vegetation land cover. The variables measured were microclimate, including light intensity, temperature, relative humidity, and temperature humidity index. Measurements were conducted in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The method used was descriptive quantitative and statistical analysis using the analysis of variance and the least significant difference (LSD) test. The results showed that the microclimatic conditions of UHO Botanical Garden in tree-dominant land cover are more comfortable and significantly different from grass-dominant and settlement-dominant, but they are not significantly different between grass-dominant and settlement-dominant. This fact indicates the importance of the conservation of tree vegetation and the need for supervision so that there is no diversion of functions into settlements to maintain the preservation and sustainability of UHO Botanical Garden as one of the green open spaces that control climate stability and environmental comfort in Kendari City. Keywords: botanical garden, microclimate, settlement, temperature humidity index, vegetation

In Situ Conservation of Dry Meadows

Grassland ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable as they are threatened by both intensive agriculture and abandonment of land use, which leads to overgrowth with scrub vegetation and forest. Given that meadows are habitat types of very high biodiversity, their loss significantly reduces local biodiversity. That is why the University Botanic Gardens Ljubljana has been renting a 2 ha dry meadow at the edge of Ljubljana capital city since 2001, for the purpose of in situ conservation in the urban area. We have been observing the meadow since 1997. In 2023, in addition to the complete inventory of species, we also carried out an inventory and analysis of the community in the meadow using the Braun–Blanquet method in 25 relevés. We recorded 163 plant species in the meadow during the entire growing season, and a total of 82 were recorded in the relevés. Eighteen of the species recorded are on the red list of protected plant species in Slovenia. In the relevés, 15 species types were constant (occurring in 60%) and as many as 21 were unique. The species Peucedanum oreoselinum (L.) Moench was recorded in all relevés (25), followed by the species Bromopsis erecta (Huds.) Fourr. (24), Galium verum L. (24), Briza media L. (23), Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) PB. (22) and Salvia pratensis L. (21).

The effect of root fertilizing with organic mineral fertilizer BioEcoss on the vegetable pepper plants development in the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory

The article presents the results of studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of BioEcoss fertilizers in various concentrations in hot vegetable pepper cultivation. The experiment was conducted in 2022/2023 in a glazed winter greenhouse, geographically located in the Kuban State Agrarian University Botanical Garden, Krasnodar. The object of research is the variety of hot vegetable pepper “Pikovaya Dama” (“Queen of Spades”). It was found that the introduction of the studied organomineral fertilizer in any studied concentration (from 1% to 3%) accelerated the plants flowering onset and fruits biological ripeness compared with the control, increased productivity and average fruit weight. The highest fertilizer concentration in the experiment (3%) contributed to earlier fruit harvest dates (earlier than the control for 18 days), fruiting period extension, increase in fruits number on branches of the first and second order to 10 pieces (at the control – 7), fruits average weight increase. The yield in this variant of the experiment was 0.66 kg / m2, which was higher than the control by 0.42 kg / m2, other variants with the addition of a less concentrated solution – by 1.4-2.1 times. The use of fertilizers in any concentration contributed to 100% marketability of fruits.

SUCCULENTS FROM THE EUPHORBIACEAE FAMILY PRESENT IN THE GREENHOUSE COLLECTION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN "AL. BUIA" FROM CRAIOVA

Through the collections it owns, the "Alexandru Buia" Botanical Garden contributes to the protection and preservation of natural heritage. In the greenhouses of the Craiova Botanical Garden there is a rich collection of exotic species, of great scientific and decorative value, obtained over time from seeds or cuttings in the framework of the exchange of plant material between the Botanical Garden and other similar institutions in the country or abroad. Knowing these exotic plants in all aspects and disseminating information both to specialists and to the general public is one of the objectives of a university botanical garden. Succulents represent an interesting group of plants, cultivated in the greenhouses of the Craiova Botanical Garden, of which the species from the Euphorbiaceae family are presented in this communication.

A Comparative study of the flowering phenology of wild growing geophytes in two different mesoclimatic areas in the Carpathian Basin

Plant phenology - timing of cyclical or seasonal biological events - has proven to be a very sensitive indicator for climate change impacts. The phenology of many plant species has been advanced by warming, with earlier spring species being more sensitive. To understand better the driving factors of the changing phenology we investigated the phenology of different wild growing geophytes in the Carpathian Basin for three consecutive years. The study has been carried out as an ex situ experiment in two different mesoclimatic sites, one in the Gödöllő Botanical Garden of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (average temperature 11,35 °C), other in the Eötvös Loránd University Botanical Garden, Füvészkert in the central part of Budapest (average temperature 13,16 °C). During the experiment 5 replicates of 5 wild growing geophytes were examined. The results show an advance of 3.64 days in Budapest, with strong variation across species. The earliest flowering species didn’t bloom (Galanthus nivalis) or died (Eranthis hyemalis) by the 3rd year in the site Budapest. If global warming continues, this advance and negative effects on wild growing plant species might be more serious in the future.

Rare and endangered plant species of the Kuban State University Botanical Garden

The paper presents the results of research on rare and endangered plant species growing on the territory of the Educational Botanical Garden of the Kuban State University. A systematic list of 88 plant species from 62 genera and 40 families listed in the regional Red Book has been compiled. A taxonomic analysis was carried out showing the predominant families, as well as the distribution of the studied flora into monotypic, oligotypic and polytypic families. The analysis of life forms according to the I. G. Serebryakov system showed that perennial grasses predominate, the smallest number of species refers to annual grasses. Ecological analysis was carried out on two groups of ecomorphs: in relation to light and moisture. Among the heliomorphs, heliophytes predominate. Xerophytes predominate among hygromorphs. According to the data of the zoological analysis, it was revealed that out of 88 species of the collection of rare and endangered plants of the Kuban State University Botanical Garden, 34 species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The zoological characteristics of the studied flora of the KubGU Botanical Garden are given. In order to identify changes in the state of flora, as well as clarity of replenishment of the collection of the Educational Botanical Garden of the Kuban State University, a comparative characteristic of changes in the categories of plant species growing on the territory of the Educational Botanical Garden in the period from 1994 to 2017 was carried out.

Specifics of Forming the Territories of Botanical Gardens as the Landscape Objects

Introduction. Botanical gardens are the special research institutions fostering the conservation and introduction of various plant species. They have gone a long way in their development and play an important role in organisation of people’s recreation within the urban nature-based framework. The research revealed, that in the botanical gardens the research activities are combined with the considerable work on the architectural planning and landscape-spatial arrangement of territories, all contributing to the rational layout and functioning of the botanical gardens. The aim of the present research is to analyse and identify the main principles of forming the territories of botanical gardens in the south of Russia, find out their functional set-up and modern trends of development, which have not been studied before.Materials and Methods. The comparative analysis of the state of territories of botanical gardens per time and space, the integrated system analysis of the architectural planning and landscape evolution features of the territories of botanical gardens of the south of Russia and the principles of their design from perspective of the landscape architecture, were carried out. When conducting the evaluative research of the territory of the Botanical Garden of the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don, the graph analytics methods were used, as well as the authors’ graphic materials on reconstruction of the SFU Botanical Garden structure.Results. The main historical stages in the timeline of botanical gardens’ formation in Russia were determined. The evolution of the architectural planning and landscape arrangement of the botanical and dendrological gardens in the southern region of Russia was analysed for the first time. The results of the study allowed making a conclusion about the insufficient consideration of the recreational role of the territories of botanical gardens and principles of their arrangement as the landscape objects during their design and creation. The main principles of forming the territories of botanical gardens in the southern region of Russia were formulated. By the example of the Botanical Garden of the Southern Federal University of Rostov-on-Don, the features of its territory formation, creation of the collection stock, arboretum, etc., were revealed. The disadvantages and advantages of zoning its territory, from perspective of forming it as a landscape object, were determined. Conceptual proposals for the transformation of its territories were given.Discussion and Conclusion. The authors have systemised the data per historical periods of the botanical gardens’ formation and evolution in Russia, which enables considering the revealed features during the reconstruction of such territories. For the first time the specifics of the southern region botanical and dendrological gardens’ formation, as the landscape objects intended for recreational purposes, have been studied. The formulated principles of functional zoning of the botanical gardens of the south of Russia will enhance their architectural-artistic and landscape image. Based on the materials of this study, the conceptual design solutions for the territory of the Southern Federal University Botanical Garden of Rostov-on-Don have been provided.

The reconstruction impact on the urban ecosystem park plantings on the example of the Oles Gonchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden

The article is devoted to the study of the reconstruction impact on park plantings located in the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden. The reconstruction of the botanical garden was carried out in 2018 and consisted of the removal of 74 old trees, sanitary pruning of some plantings, and the laying of asphalt paths. To determine the impact of the reconstruction on the greenery of the DNU Botanical Garden, four test plots were laid down: plots a and b in the reconstruction area, plots c and d in the unreconstructed area. The following physical parameters of the soil were measured at the test sites: soil penetration resistance, electrical conductivity and moisture. The research was conducted in April – May 2021. Soil penetration resistance is an informative indicator sensitive to anthropogenic impact, its measurement is fast and allows obtaining significant amounts of information in a short time. Electrical conductivity is related to soil moisture and salt content. These indicators, combined with phytoindication methods, allowed us to draw conclusions about the impact of the reconstruction on the soil and green spaces. The landfills differed significantly after reconstruction in terms of the profile distribution of average soil penetration resistance values. The reconstruction area soil is characterized by the appearance of peak soil penetration resistance values at depths of 35–50 cm and 85–90 cm. Polygons a and b have much higher values of topsoil penetration resistance than polygons c and d. The coefficient of variation of soil penetration resistance profile distribution at the test sites in the reconstruction zone also demonstrates a specific character – it has a pronounced peak at a depth of 25–40 cm and gradually decreases with depth. The conclusion about the reconstruction impact on the soil penetration resistance of the botanical garden soil changes was made based on the results of the General Linear Model, which was estimated by the Radj2 index. The distribution of soil electrical conductivity values has a pronounced bell-shaped character. At all the test sites, there is a tendency for electrical conductivity increasing which is positively correlated with moisture. By means of the phytoindicative scales the hemerobia index was determined, which demonstrated a statistically significant linear relationship (p < 0.001) with soil electrical conductivity.

Phytochemical Compounds and Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts of Bamboo Against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Plants contain bioactive compounds which can be used to develop novel antibiotics. There is need to search for new antimicrobial compounds to address the problem of microbial resistance against antibiotics. Little research has been done on phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Bambusa vulgaris. The study was designed to screen phytochemical compounds present in the roots and leaves extracts and to test antimicrobial activity of the extracts of Bambusa vulgaris against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Plants were collected from Maseno University Botanic Garden. Roots and leaves were dried separately, ground into fine powder and extracted using Soxhlet method. Phytochemicals: flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids and glycosides were tested. Thin layer chromatography plate was coated with silica gel. n-Hexane and Ethyl acetate were used as solvents in the ratio 2:3 respectively. Plant extracts were prepared; 25%, 50%, 75%, and100% (stock extract) and Positive control (Amoxicillin). The bacteria were inoculated into the nutrient agar. Antimicrobial activity of acetone extracts of leaves and roots were carried out by disc diffusion method. Diameter of inhibition zones was measured using a ruler. The leaves extracts were found to contain saponins, flavonoids, glycosides tannins and terpernoids. The root extracts contained saponins, glycosides and tannins. TLC revealed that there were 7 spots in the leaves and 4 spots in roots extract. Increase in concentration of the leaves and roots extracts of Bambusa vulgaris significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Leaves extracts showed a higher inhibition activity compared to roots. The growth inhibition may be attributed to the presence of the various phytocompounds. The study has shown that Bambusa vulgaris leaf methanol extract has antimicrobial activity against gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and hence can be used as source of bioactive agents to control these pathogens.

Ruderal vegetation (Ruderalophyton) of transformed habitats of the Rostov-on-Don urban ecosystem, Russia

Aim. To investigate the features of the abiotic (soils) and biotic (flora and vegetation) components of ruderal communities (Ruderalophyton) of the urban ecosystem in the conditions of the Rostov agglomeration.Material and Methods. The morphoecological analysis of the flora (144 species of vascular plants) was shown. Data were obtained of the characteristic growth features of roadside communities of the Southern Federal University Botanical Garden (floristic diversity of 53 species) and of ruderal communities of new residential building plots in the peripheral part of the city and abandoned houses in the central part of the city.Results. Abiotic conditions for the habitats of ruderal plants are no longer natural because the local Chernozem root‐inhabited and humusaccumulative surface horizons have been almost completely stripped away. At the same time, cenotically the communities are multicomponent and floristically saturated with high projective coverage. During the process of anthropogenic vegetation evolution, a new type of cenosis has formed, which is adapted in ecological succession processes to all components of the urban ecosystem.Conclusion. The ruderal vegetation of the Rostov agglomeration is particularly resistant. It develops urban horizons, which are characterized by a high proportion of anthropogenic inclusions; household, and industrial waste, which is often contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants. Plant communities developing on such substrates are multicomponent, floristically saturated and have formed a high degree of projective cover.

Formulation and Assessment of a Ricinus communis Leaf Extract-Based Shampoo for the Treatment of Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis, a dermatophytic fungal infection affecting the scalp, represents a significant global public health concern, with particular prominence in regions characterized by limited economic resources. Unlike antibacterial medications, the options for antimicrobial treatments targeting fungal infections are relatively scarce. Furthermore, several of the existing antifungal compounds are hazardous, chemically unstable, and have poor pharmacologic properties. Therefore, it is imperative to explore alternative therapeutic avenues, particularly those derived from traditional medicinal practices and herbal compounds that have demonstrated antifungal efficacy in laboratory settings. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate a shampoo containing Ricinus communis leaf extract as an adjunctive therapy for Tinea capitis using a laboratory-based experimental design. Ricinus communis leaves were harvested from Kabarak University botanical gardens, dried, and ground into a coarse powder, followed by Soxhlet extraction with methanol. The extract was concentrated to dryness and used in the formulation of a shampoo. The shampoo was evaluated for color intensity, clarity, fluidity, ability to produce foam, homogeneity, and odor. The in vitro antifungal activity on a fungal isolate of Microsporum canis species that causes Tinea capitis was performed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of the prepared shampoo and the methanolic extract at 100%, 50%, and 25% concentrations. Ketoconazole 2% shampoo was used as a positive control. The quantitative bioassay was performed using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that the methanol extract and the formulated shampoo have an inhibitory effect against Microsporum canis. There was no statistical difference in the zone of inhibition caused by the formulated shampoo with that caused by 2% ketoconazole shampoo (P-value = 0.59957; P-value > 0.05). Therefore, the prepared shampoo demonstrated remarkable antifungal activity against the Microsporum canis sample that is comparable to 2% ketoconazole shampoo highlighting its significance as an adjuvant therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Tinea capitis.

Species diversity and therapeutic potential of plants belong to Phyllanthaceae occurring in Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden

Species diversity and therapeutic potential of plants belong to Phyllanthaceae occurring in Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden

Palms in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden and first record of occurrence of nine species for the exotic flora of Bangladesh

Palms in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden and first record of occurrence of nine species for the exotic flora of Bangladesh

MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE DENDROLOGY COLLECTION OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF ONU IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM "PHARMACY"

Introduction. The quality of educational results in pharmaceutical botany in Ukraine is insufficient. This is evidenced by the results of the first stage of the Unified state qualification exam “KROK‑1” (“STEP 1”) in recent years. The improvement of the quality of education will be facilitated by the compilation of a clear list of types of medicinal plants, which applicants must study, and the acquaintance of future pharmacists with live plants stored in collections, in particular, the botanical garden of Odesa University. Aim. The purpose of the work was to identify and characterize a part of the dendrological collection of the open ground in the arboretum of the National University Botanical Garden, important for studying in the course of pharmaceutical botany by students of the second (master’s) level of education within the OPP «Pharmacy». Methods. For the first time, the dendrological collection of the open soil of the botanical garden was investigated for species used in scientific medicine. In order to identify the latter, the program recommended by the Ministry of Health, basic textbooks on pharmaceutical botany, pharmacognosy, the state register of medicinal products of Ukraine, the 2nd edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine were analyzed. The analysis of the species list was carried out according to traditional floristic methods. Main results. In the dendrological collection of the botanical garden, 123 species from 42 families and 87 genera were found, which are considered in the textbook on pharmaceutical botany. Among them, the leading families are Rosaceae, Pinaceae, and Cupressaceae. Among life forms, trees dominate, with bushes being 2.3 times less frequent. Plants from the Circumboreal, Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian floristic regions predominate. Four species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Juniperus excelsa, J. foetidissima, Sorbus aucuparia, Taxus baccata) and 8 require protection on the global scale (Abies numidica, A. pinsapo, Aesculus hippocastanum, Cedrus atlantica, C. libani, Eucommia ulmoides, Ginkgo biloba, Sequoiadendron giganteum), two are close to them (Platycladus orientalis, Pistacia vera). More than half of these species are used in scientific medicine. There are 72 species (11 gymnosperms and 61 angiosperms) from 58 genera and 34 families which are studied under the OPP «Pharmacy». Trees also predominate among them, but the numberof trees is only 1.6 times higher than of bushes. Among them there is 1 species from the Red Book and 6 species that are under threat of extinction on the global scale. The woody plants diversity is higher on the old territory of the botanical garden than on the new one. Zhakkar’s coefficient is 0.64. Official woody plants were identified, which are not in the collection of the botanical garden, but can grow here in accordance with the requirements for the surrounding environment. 17 species are proposed to expand the collection in order to more fully meet the educational needs of students of higher education in the specialty «Pharmacy».

Ethnobotanical study of the family Marantaceae R. Br in Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden

The Marantaceae family is a diverse group of plants that has drawn the interest of scientists and researchers worldwide due to their distinctive morphological characteristics, ecological and economic relevance. The Bangladesh Agricultural University Botanical Garden is home to an abundance of Marantaceae species, making it a useful resource for examining the diversity and significance of this plant family. This present study was designed to survey and document the family Marantaceae with an overview of the family emphasizing its morphological, economic, and ethnobotanical relevance based on a literature review. During the study, we found 25 species (two of which have two varieties each) belonging to 8 genera of which Goeppertia contributed the most species, with 16, followed by Maranta with 4 (including varieties) and Thalia with 2; the remaining 5 genera each contributed one species. Our findings reveal the remarkable diversity and significance of Marantaceae plants in this region, highlighting the necessity for their conservation and protection.

Growth dynamics and Resource allocation of Bistorta amplexicaulis (D. Don) Greene: an alteration across different habitats and altitudes

Bistorta amplexicaulis is an essential medicinal plant found in the Kashmir Himalaya. Ethnobotanical studies have revealed that this particular species is used to treat fractures, muscle injuries, heart problems, abnormal leucorrhoea, menorrhagia and inflammation of the mouth and tongue. The current study aimed to determine the variation in growth traits and fluctuations in the allocation patterns with respect to different habitats across the altitudinal gradient. In order to adapt to unpredictable and stressful conditions at higher altitudes, phenotypic plasticity plays a crucial role. Our findings revealed considerable variability in the phenotypic traits, indicating that altitude has a defined effect on this specific species’s morphology and reproductive traits. Low altitude plant populations of Kashmir University Botanical Garden (KUBG), Dara and Tangmarg were more robust and taller (98.4±2.36, 83.58±2.69 and 74.08±1.59 cm, respectively) than the populations of Pissu top and Bangus (23.96±3.38 and 30.43±1.12 cm respectively) at higher altitudes. The habitats of KUBG, Dara, and Tangmarg proved to be substantially better for the growth of B. amplexicaulis, as per the Principal component analysis (PCA). The regression analysis demonstrated a negative relation between altitude and plant height. Traits such as leaf length/ breadth, Rhizome length/ breadth and inflorescence length showed a strong correlation with plant height. Our results provide an inclusive description of the phenotypic variability of this significant medicinal plant in response to the habitat variability across different altitudes.

Plant Species Composition and Conservation Values at Dilla University Botanical and Ecotourism Garden, Dilla, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a diverse topography with higher plant species composition and estimated to the higher proportion of endemic plant species. Currently, several factors drive natural forest destruction in the country, extensive agricultural land expansion triggered by increasing human population is probably the dominant force. The Dilla University Botanical and Ecotourism Garden was established targeting to rescue threatened flora from extinction, contribute towards conservation, and research on biodiversity and sustainable education as well as ecotourism development. The study was aimed to generate basic scientific information by identifying and documenting the formerly available plant species in to the garden and provide information for farther plant collection planning and research. Systematic sampling method was used to collect the vegetation data from 52 plots of 20 m × 20 m (400 m2) quadrats. To collect data for herbaceous plants, five 1 m × 1 m subplots were laid in each of the main plot, where four were at the corners and one at the centre. Vegetation classification was performed using R-programme version 3.6.1 software packages. Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index was used to calculate species diversity, richness, and evenness. A total of 408 plant species, including trees (30%), shrubs (25%), herb (30%), grass (6%), and 9% of other species, were collected. The identified species belong to 287 genera and 105 families. Out of this, 27 species of plants are endemic to Ethiopia and 72 plant species were screened as a medicinal plant used for the treatment of human diseases. Based on IUCN Red Data List, among the endemic plant species nineteen species were least concern; two were near threatened; two were endangered while four were vulnerable. Three vegetation community types were identified from the hierarchical clustering analysis. The result designates that Dilla University Botanical and Ecotourism Garden has high plant species composition and diversity with a good distribution. The higher composition of this ecologically, economically, and socially important plant species at its early stage makes the garden a unique garden in the country and realize to be a centre for research, education, and tourist destination.

The importance of botanic gardens for global change research—New insights into Cambridge's hidden truffle kingdom

Social Impact StatementBotanic gardens offer unique opportunities for unravelling responses of plant life to climate change. Despite investigations into their aboveground sphere, the belowground realm is usually neglected. Cambridge University Botanic Garden now illuminates the hidden world of one of the most sought‐after culinary delicacies—the Burgundy truffle. The garden's plant diversity, the serendipity of a truffle dog, and our curiosity‐driven research agenda reveal insights into 278 truffle fruitbodies that grew symbiotically with an unusually high number of host species. Our study reinforces the power of botanic gardens to disentangle ecosystem processes and emphasizes the proximity of scientific and public interests in truffles.