COURSE STB 325

(BIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES II)

TOPIC: BOTANICAL GARDENS

Botanical or botanic gardens are areas of land controlled and staffed for the cultivation
of a diversity of plant species, grown not for commercial purpose but rather for research
and recreation.

They usually include facilities such as libraries, herbaria, laboratories, and museums.

Botanical gardens where only tree species are cultivated are called arboretums or
arboreta.

There are about 1800 botanical gardens and arboreta in about 150 countries.

These gardens attract about 300 million visitors annually.

Uses of a Botanical Garden.

1. Taxonomic Studies: Botanical gardens provide valuable information on various plant

species.

2. Botanical Research: Botanical gardens supply wide range of plant species, seeds,
flowers, fruits for botanical research.

3. Conservation: Botanical gardens conserve and propagate rare species and genetic
diversity.

4. Education: They supply facilities for courses in local flora, horticulture, plant
propagation and breeding, etc.

5. Public Services. They assist the public in identifying the local and exotic plant species.

6. Aesthetics: They attract people who have made gardening their hobby.

7. Employment: They create job opportunities for a large number of young botanists and
plant researchers.

8. Recreation: They provide a conducive environment for fun seekers and picnickers.

Layout of a Botanical Garden.

Botanical gardens are generally laid out according to the scientific relationships of
their plant collections.

The trees and shrubs are assembled together in an arboretum section of the garden.

Alternatively, trees and shrubs are used to enhance landscape effects by interspersing
them throughout the garden, in their respective taxonomic groups, with herbaceous
collections.

Hotbeds and greenhouses can be constructed to raise seedling plants that are to be set
outdoors as soon as the weather is warm enough.

Botanical gardens may range in size from a few hectares to as many as 1,000.

Units of a Botanical Garden

A botanical garden is composed of two main units: experimental and production units.

 Experimental Unit

This section of the botanical garden is equipped with research facilities for scientific
research, plant cultivation for teaching, plant breeding, environmental education,
conservation of threatened species and education of the population. Experiment on
plant species and introduction of new plants are also carried out here. It also includes
preservation of plants in herbariums and galleries for exhibition.

 Production Unit

The production unit supports nursery crops. New plant species that have been
developed by the experiment unit can be mass produced in this unit for sale to growers.
Plant shops can be designed in this unit for selling flowers, herbs, and vegetable
seedlings suitable for transplanting.

Essential Facilities Needed in a Botanical Garden

These facilities include:

1. Adequate water supply.

2. Deep water pond.

3. Shallow water pond

4. Shelter for nursery

Types of organisms that could normally exist in the pond of a botanical garden are:

algae e.g Spirogyra; protozoa eg Amoeba and Paramecium; diatoms; insects eg pond
skater; amphibians eg frogs and toads.

The Botanical Garden, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

University of Ibadan botanical garden consists of smaller Gardens operating as sections

with the following: Orchard, Ornamental Garden, Children’s Garden Medicinal Garden,
Aquatics, Arboretum, Rock Garden, Nursery and the open field for social events.

 Orchard

This is being carved out of the horticultural garden for the growing and maintaining

of a variety of fruit plants. Presently, there are pawpaw, coconut, Avogadro pear and
oranges on the field. More fruit trees such as guava, mango, local pear, and banana are
intended to be introduced as the available space and resources can support.orchads.

 Ornamental Garden

The ornamental Garden has a collection of beautiful flowers although it is expected to

be equipped with more plants especially the fragrant ones.
 ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A GREEN HOUSE

A reliable frame, covering, flooring, benches and ventilation. Additional features may
include a heating system and some automated processes, like irrigation through a
reliable water supply.

Frame: The frame can be made of any number of materials, the commonest
are aluminum, wood, rigid PVC and galvanized steel.

Coverings: Also called glazing, the panels that cover greenhouses are specially
designed to admit as much of the sun's radiation as possible. They also provide
insulation and retain heat The panels can be made of heavy glass or plastic

Flooring: The floor can be made of wood, concrete, compressed soil or any suitable
material. Large greenhouses have a foundation.

Benches: Benches or stages are essential for providing an area to support growing
potted plants.

Ventilation: Suns rays can cause the greenhouse to become overheated which can lead
to the plants becoming stressed.

It is well known that hot air rises, the easiest route for any hot air to exit is through the
roof ventilation.

Plants and Organisms Cultured in Green House

Vegetables like lettuce, spinach, onions, Amaranthus, water leaf.

Spices like ginger, garlic, onions, tumeric, curry, thyme, pepper.

Fruits like lemon, tomatoes, melon, okro, egg plants.

Flowers like marigold, rose, periwinkle, cana lily, sunflower, zinnia, hibiscus.
Insects like bumblebee, honey bee.

ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN

Zoological garden is also known as zoo or zoological park or menagerie. It is a facility

where animals are kept within enclosures or cages, cared for and displayed for public
viewing.

Purposes of Zoological Garden:

Some of the purposes of zoological garden are:

1. Conservation of endangered species.

2. To serve as breeding centers.

3. Research purposes.

4. Educational purposes.

5. To protect animals from poaching.

6. Source of income

7. Entertainment of visitors.

8. Employment opportunities.

9. Foreign exchange earner.