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The Botanic Garden. Science, Culture, and NatureBackground
In 1957, the Garden suffered the effects of the flood. The Garden underwent a process of considerable decadence and deterioration. In 1987 Universitat started the refurbishment works, which allowed the Garden to recover the living plant collections. On 15th June 1991, the Garden opened its doors to the public. DescriptionA wide range of vegetal examples can be observed in the Botanic Garden. At the entrance is the Botanical School, where plants are systematically ordered according to their time of appearance on Earth, thus explaining the origin and evolution of the plants. The northern half of the Garden is dedicated to the so-called monographic collections. These are plant groups which, for some reason, are related by their phylogenetic, biogeographic, or use origin. There is a greenhouse, the largest one, where plants from tropical humid climates are grown. Other greenhouses shelter collections of tropical palms, plants sensitive to the cold, ferns of different origins, carnivore and epiphyte plants, such as tropical orchids or Bromeliaceae plants. For shade plants, a large latticework shed was built, where begonias, ferns, and some palm trees can be found in conditions of little indirect light. An open-air area is devoted to plants from warm deserts of America and Africa. In another area, different ecosystems are reproduced, common to the Valencian region, such as the high mountain, the coast, or the thicket thermal zones. There are several collections with plants which, to a greater or lesser extent, have been useful to human beings. There are medicinal and aromatic plants, textile plants, foraging plants or plants used for human consumption, fruit trees, and trees used for timber production. The most remarkable research lines are related to the study of biodiversity,
the Since 2000, the botanic garden has additional research premises that were allowed for in the refurbishment plan started by Universitat de València in 1987. Within the basic research (conservation biology and biodiversity), research work is conducted in optimum conditions on biosystems, molecular biology, anatomy and histology, phytosociology, geobotanics, and bioclimatology. To that end, in addition to the specialised laboratories, there is a library and a herbarium with all the collections which were formerly scattered around different university centres. The herbariumStoring more than 250,000 sheets, the herbarium has become a reference collection for botanical research in the Western Mediterranean. Most of the materials are Iberian and from Eastern Spain, but there are also samples from the whole of the Iberian peninsula, northern Africa, the Mediterranean islands, and Southern Europe, either from the Universitat’s own crops or from exchanges with other European herbariums. The LibraryThe library is specialised in vegetal biology, preservation, gardening, agriculture, and ethno-botany. It has a remarkable collection of old botany documents from the 18th and 19th centuries; Some come from Josep Pizcueta’s library, donated to the Garden in 1906 while others were purchased in recent years. Some collections are noteworthy, such as the modern botany journals specialised in biosystems, vegetation, and preservation. Through either acquisition or exchange, these collections add to those in the Garden’s journal library. The library has recently received personal donations of off-prints, books, and journals.
The seeds bankThe germoplasm bank is one of the main assets of the Garden. Its objective is to preserve seeds and spores to ensure long-term feasibility. It is equipped with cooling chambers where seeds and spores are stored, a specialised laboratory, and germination chambers where trials are made. All this is intended to support research on the conservation of the endemic, rare, and endangered flora of the Western Mediterranean, developed in the Garden for a number of years and still one of its main activities. Teaching activitiesThe building has also been designed for meeting the very high educational demand and the needs of botany lovers. The didactic and environmental education supply also includes instructors and a laboratory for practical work, courses, and workshops. Culture at the Botanic GardenWith a view to bringing science close to society, the Botanic Garden actively develops cultural activities such as lectures, music events (jazz, classical music), art and science exhibitions, audiovisual shows on nature, and round tables. Special events are also held at the Botanic Garden, like the celebrations of Saint John’s Night, the Science Fiesta, or the Day of Trees.
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The Botanical Garden of Universitat is the oldest university botanical
garden in Spain. The first initiatives of Universitat for the creation
of a botanical garden as an academic and research centre date back
to the 16th century, although its present location dates back to 1802.
Ever since, the Botanical Garden has gone through moments both of splendour
and decadence. In 1812, Napoleon's troops invaded València and
devastated the garden. It was later recovered and it experienced a
splendid era during the second half of the 19th century, when the large
greenhouses and the latticework shady garden were built.
preservation of rare and endemic botanical species, and endangered
species, as well as vegetal ecology.
BOTANIC GARDEN