Strelitzia reginae. Source: Jon Fern, 2009
The National Botanic
Gardens are situated in Glasnevin, Dublin, and were established in 1795 by the Royal Dublin Society. The
Gardens specialise in botany, science, horticulture and education.
Glasnevin saw the introduction of many exotic plants from foreign
countries, and a number of cultivars were created. Since 1878, the National
Botanic Gardens has been a public institution. As such, it is now
managed by the Office of Public Works. With partners all over the
world, The Gardens work in key areas of conservation. Plants are tended and in
some cases rescued. The Herbarium now holds more than 17 000 species
from around the globe.
The National Herbarium is a comprehensive catalogue of all the species of flora in Ireland. In total, there are 750 000 species of indigenous plants on file. Non-native species, including invasive aliens, are being recorded all the time, so the National Herbarium is continually growing. The worldwlide collection preserved at Glasnevin covers species from areas as diverse as rainforests, deserts, marshlands, mountains and grasslands. Many of the scientists stationed at the National Botanic Gardens are involved in overseas work and have their own personal projects.
The dried plants are kept in the herbarium, which has two main sections: a series of compactors hold the world herbarium, while the Irish collection is housed in a series of cabinets. There are 75 million specimens in total at the herbarium, of which 80,000 are Irish specimens. The Irish herbarium is the most important collection at the National Botanic Gardens since it is a record of all Irish flora. The world herbarium is incomplete and consists of collections of interest to various botanists who made studies in different locations around the globe. The Irish collection is considered to be complete, however, in that all species currently known to exist in Ireland are represented. Naturalised plants are being added, however, and so the collection is continuing to grow. There have been no major new species found in recent years, but it is believed by the curators that they exist. Numerous collectors have made donations to the museum and these are kept in their own section.
The National Herbarium is a comprehensive catalogue of all the species of flora in Ireland. In total, there are 750 000 species of indigenous plants on file. Non-native species, including invasive aliens, are being recorded all the time, so the National Herbarium is continually growing. The worldwlide collection preserved at Glasnevin covers species from areas as diverse as rainforests, deserts, marshlands, mountains and grasslands. Many of the scientists stationed at the National Botanic Gardens are involved in overseas work and have their own personal projects.
The dried plants are kept in the herbarium, which has two main sections: a series of compactors hold the world herbarium, while the Irish collection is housed in a series of cabinets. There are 75 million specimens in total at the herbarium, of which 80,000 are Irish specimens. The Irish herbarium is the most important collection at the National Botanic Gardens since it is a record of all Irish flora. The world herbarium is incomplete and consists of collections of interest to various botanists who made studies in different locations around the globe. The Irish collection is considered to be complete, however, in that all species currently known to exist in Ireland are represented. Naturalised plants are being added, however, and so the collection is continuing to grow. There have been no major new species found in recent years, but it is believed by the curators that they exist. Numerous collectors have made donations to the museum and these are kept in their own section.
Two Genera of Note
The genus Platycerium contains around eighteen fern species in Family Polypodiaceae. These ferns are known a Stagshorn or Elkhorn ferns due to their antler-like appearance. The genus is epiphytic and native to temperate and tropical regions of South America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and New Guinea. Platycerium sporophytes have tufted roots growing from a short rhizome bearing basal and fertile fronds. Basal fronds are sterile; shield (or kidney) shaped and laminate against the host tree, protecting the roots of the fern from desiccation or mechanical damage.
The uppermost margin of most Platycerium species resembles an open crown of lobes adapted to catching falling forest detritus and water. Fertile fronds have spores on their underside, projecting from the rhizome. The spores are clustered in sporangia positioned either on the lobes or between frond lobes.
Some species of the Platycerium genus have one rhizome. Other species grow in colonies with rhizomes branching or new rhizomes forming from root tips. In some conditions spores will germinate on neighbouring trees. Platycerium gametophytes are a small chordate thallus.
Platycerium have evolved into four groups. Some Platycerium are adapted to arid conditions; the drought-tolerating mechanism Crassulacean Acid Metabolism has been reported particularly for P. veitchii.
Platycerium superbum can be found in cultivation, especially in tropical gardens. Stagshorns are propagated by spores on the underside of fertile fronds. A mature Stagshorn can grow more than a meter wide.
Sarracenia is another interesting genus that may be observed at the National Botanic Gardens. Otherwise known as Pitcher plants, species of this genus come from North America. All eight species of this genus are threatened in the wild. They require good light and tend to sit in 2 – 3 cm of water during the growing season. Like the Venus Fly Trap, the Pitcher plants are carnivorous. A trail of nectar lures insects within the ‘pitcher’ where the insect then falls in and is digested. Its presence in Ireland for over 100 years may qualify the Pitcher plant for naturalised status. It is not considered to be invasive. (Daragh Lupton, pers. comm.)
References
Botany: Basic Concepts in Plant
Biology, Hufford, 1978
Trees of Britain and Europe, Aas
and Riedmiller, 1994
