DIVERSITY OF LIVING PLANT COLLECTIONS IN GERMAN SPEAKING COUNTRIES – ASSESSMENT, PROBLEMS AND THE CONCEPT OF ‘NATIONAL COLLECTIONS’

The sustainability and diversity of collections have been one focus of pilot projects carried out by Bonn Botanic Gardens on behalf of the Verband Botanischer Gärten (VBG). In this context, data about age, size, determination, documentation, cultivation conditions, availability and use of 565 special collections reported from 117 Botanic Gardens, other institutions and private collectors in Germany, Austria and the German speaking part of Switzerland was raised by questionnaires, databased and published printed and electronically (www.genres.de/zefod). This data shows the unequal representation of phytodiversity in collections i.e. in taxonomical collections the families Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae and Ericaceae are preferred, while other groups are not or rarely collected.
This is the same with collections of functional types (succulents & xerophytes and carnivorous plants are preferred), geographical or other collection types.
To increase the diversity, quality and sustainability of collections, a national collection scheme has been developed by Botanic Gardens according to the models in other countries.
The concept integrates botanical living collections of any type (taxonomical, geographical, etc.) and holder.
Collections have to fulfil criteria concerning horticultural maintenance, genetic purity, determination, documentation, and availability.

International Conference on Urban Horticulture

F. Klingenstein, W. Lobin

National Living Plant Collection Scheme, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, botanical gardens

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.643.1