What are botanical gardens? Give examples.

Answer:

Botanical Gardens are specialized institutions that maintain collections of living plants for scientific research, conservation, education, and public display.

Key Features:

1. Purpose:
   • Scientific research and plant taxonomy
   • Conservation of rare and endangered plant species
   • Public education about plant diversity
   • Display of ornamental and economically important plants
   • Maintaining seed banks and plant germplasm
2. Organization:
   • Plants are systematically arranged according to taxonomic classification
   • Each plant is clearly labeled with:
     • Scientific (botanical) name
     • Family name
     • Common name
     • Native habitat
     • Special characteristics

3. Collections may include:
   • Native plants of the region
   • Exotic species from around the world
   • Medicinal plants
   • Ornamental plants
   • Economic crops
   • Endangered species
   • Taxonomic sections representing different plant families
4. Functions:
   • Reference: Serve as living museums for plant identification
   • Education: Training students and botanists
   • Research: Study of plant physiology, ecology, and taxonomy
   • Conservation: Ex-situ conservation of threatened species
   • Exchange: International exchange of seeds and plant material

Examples of Major Botanical Gardens:

In India:

• Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah (West Bengal) - Famous for its Great Banyan Tree
• National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow - Focus on medicinal and aromatic plants
• Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore - Historical garden with diverse collections
• Lloyd Botanical Garden, Darjeeling - Himalayan plant species

International:

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (United Kingdom)
• New York Botanical Garden (USA)
• Singapore Botanic Gardens (Singapore)