International Congress of Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Which future for the Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ?

Villar d’Arène Col du Lautaret 6-9 September 2006 Rambertia, 1904

Background The first “Congrès des Jardins Alpins” took place at Rochers de Naye (Rambertia, Montreux, Switzerland) on the 17-18th August 1904 and the second congress was organised at Pont de Nant (Thomasia, Bex, Switzerland) on the 5-6th August 1906. Pr. Jran-Paul Lachmann, creator and director of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret planned to organise the third congress at the Lautaret in August 1908. Unfortunately, his illness and death in 1908 did not permit to organise this congress.

Thomasia, 1906 Proceedings of the

International Congress of Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Which future for the Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ?

Villar d’Arène Col du Lautaret

6-9 September 2006

2007

International Congress of Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

CONTENTS

Welcome international strategies...... p.63 X. Cret, mayor of Villar d’Arène...... p.5 M. Delmas (Paris, France) B. Doche, Grenoble University...... p.6 • Climate change : the role of botanic gardens...... p.67 Introduction P. Smith (Kew, England) • Why a congress on Alpine and Arctic Education and presentation Botanical Gardens at Villar d’Arène/ Lautaret?...... p.7 • The educational role of the Haut Chitelet Organizing committee Alpine Garden...... p.72 • History and diversity of High Mountain R. Pierrel (Nancy, France) Botanic Gardens in the European Alps.....p.9 • Teaching across the borders : a A. Gröger (Munich, Germany) collaborative project on education for alpine • The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret : botanic gardens and primary schools in 4 roots and branches...... p.15 European countries...... p.76 S. Aubert (Grenoble, France) C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) • Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in the Dynamics of collections Trenta Valley (Slovenia)...... p.81 •Ex situ conservation at the Conservatoire N. Praprotnik (Ljubljana, Slovenia) Botanique National Alpin...... p.20 • Mountain plants in the Reykjavik Botanic N . Fort (Gap, France) Garden in Iceland...... p.84 • Collections management, conservation E. Thorvaldsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland) and research on alpine threatened • Towards a collection of plants from South species at Viotte Alpine Garden...... p. 25 America...... p.86 C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) S. Aubert (Grenoble, France) • Profile of the world’s northernmost botanic Networking garden at Tromsø, Norway...... p.30 A. Elvebakk (Tromsø, Norway) • Networking of Alpine Botanic Gardens : an • Artist residence at the Jardin Botanique introduction to the tools...... p.92 Alpin du Lautaret...... p.35 A. Gröger (Munich, Germany) Ph. Danton (Grenoble, France) • International Exchange of Horticulturists : highlighting the example of Munich Research activities Botanic Garden and Katse Alpine Garden, Lesotho...... p.96 • Research activities at the Jardin Botanique J. Wainwright-Klein (Munich, Germany) Alpin du Lautaret...... p.40 S. Aubert (Grenoble, France) • Creating a network, two case studies : The Italian Seed Bank Network, The European • Impact of Botanical Gardens on their Environmental and Botanic Garden environment : case study of the Jardin Education Network...... p.100 Botanique Alpin du Lautaret...... p.45 C. Bonomi (Trento, Italy) R. Douzet (Grenoble, France) • ENSCONET : European Native Seed • The problem of Heracleum mantegaz- Conservation Network...... p.105 zianum in the Swiss Alps...... p.49 M. Delmas (Paris, France) F. Bonnet (Pont de Nant, Swizerland) • Collections and their use in research. Invited conference : Project of creation Example of abundant compounds in of Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques certain alpine plants...... p.52 Claude Gay on the Robinson Crusoe island, R. Bligny (Grenoble, France) Juan Fernandez archipelago, Chile...... p.108 Ph. Danton & Ch. Perrier (Grenoble, France) • Phénoclim, a research project on phenology in the Alps...... p.57 Conclusions...... p.112 A. Delestrade (Chamonix, France) • Botanic Gardens and their implication in the Participant list...... p.115 International Congress of

J.-P. Lachmann, creator of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Xavier CRET mayor of Villar d’Arène

Welcome in Villar d’Arène for this congress dealing with the future of the Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens. Please let me express my pride, on behalf of the Faranchins (habitants of Villar d’Arène), for hosting this meeting with many European countries represented. I would like to introduce you to the Commune of Villar d’Arène. It is a high altitude commune of more than 8.000 hectares located from 1.600 up to 4.000 masl. More than ¾ of the territory are located in the Ecrins National Parc or in a natural reserve. Around 300 people live here all year long and 1.500 tourist beds are available. The orientation of the Commune is now towards tourism, developing the winter season with various activities, the most attractive of which being the famous off-piste ski resort in La Grave. The summer tourism is organised around mountaineering and hiking, with the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret as a major centre of activities. But one should not forget a major point: the existence of strong mountain agriculture as compared to many other mountains. In fact, around 20 farms still exist in the Communes of Villar d’Arène and La Grave. For centuries, this agriculture has been responsible for the landscape of the mountains (e.g. terraces), with an obvious effect on the increase of the botanical diversity. The role of agriculture on biodiversity is currently analysed by searchers and students at the University of Grenoble in connexion with the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier and his dynamic director, Serge Aubert. The interest of this study called VISTA is high and it will permit, hopefully, to stimulate the French and European authorities to support this agriculture that is essential for the maintenance of the richness of the alpine flora. This is just an example among others and it demonstrates the interest to continue the human and financial efforts for these laboratories that are Alpine Botanical Gardens. I wish an excellent congress to all the participants.

International Congress of

Bernard DOCHE vice-president of University Joseph Fourier

Welcome to the International Congress of Mountain and Arctic Botanical Gar- dens in Villar d’Arène ! Yannick Vallée, President of Université Joseph Fourier (UJF), was not able to be present, due to his duties in Paris as the leader of the presidents of French Universities. I am very happy to replace him and to come to Villar d’Arène for the beginning of this Congress. I’m a biologist (ecologist rather than botanist and also, in the first part of my carrier, a vegetation cartographer). Like Serge Aubert and Rolland Douzet, the organizers of this Congress, I work in the Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine localized in Grenoble. During 20 years, I have studied the dynamics of Ericaceous Plant populations (Calluna vulgaris, Rhododendron ferrugineum). Since 6 years, I am Vice-President of UJF in charge of human resources. After 6 years of this political mission in “human resources”, I can say : the “human populations” are more difficult to manage than Ericaceous populations. The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret belongs to UJF since 107 years, and a lot of competent and passionate people have worked for and in this Garden. During this century, different problems are happened (two wars, some difficult seasons and in December 1999, an important gust of wind : the roof of the chalet flied away……) but always these passionate people have improved the quality of the garden. I would like to thank the previous staff (Gérard Cadel, José Lestani) and the new staff (Richard Hurstel, Rolland Douzet, Serge Aubert, Richard Bligny). The Botanical garden has always been the “shop window” for UJF, particularly since about 6 years : the actual staff has improved the communication on Botanical garden within and outside the University. UJF is located principally in suburbs of Grenoble (like 3 others Universities) but it has also 6 sites located about 100 km around Grenoble, like the Station Alpine at Lautaret Pass (2000 m). UJF has about 1.100 technical and administrative staff working for 17.500 students (1 350 Ph D) and for 70 Laboratories and research institutes. Now, I propose to speak about a “more interesting” theme for you : the biogeographical situation of Lautaret Pass and Station Alpine. Two gradients characterize the French Alps : - the first gradient is oriented West / East : it is an “humidity gradient” with the Outer Alps (Grenoble) being wetter than Inner Alps (Briançon). At the same altitude, for the same exposition and with the same rocks, the plant communities are different. In montane and subalpine levels of Outer Alps Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba or Picea abies dominate in the forests. On the other hand in the inner Alps, Pinus sylvestris, Larix decidua, Pinus cembra dominate. The Botanical Garden is situed on the boundary transition zone / Inner Alps (all the East side of Lautaret Pass is in Inner Alps). - the second gradient is oriented South/North : it is a temperature gradient with an evolution of climatic influences (mediterranean influences in Southern Alps and more continental influences in Northern Alps). The Alpine station is located at the cross of all these influences, which explains, in addition to the geological diversity, the biodiversity around the Lautaret pass. To finish, the Lautaret and Galibier Passes are known by all the cyclists, as famous “étapes“ of the Tour de France, also 100 years old. I hope for you an interesting Congress with a nice weather during your visits.

Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Why a congress on Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens at Villar d’Arène & Lautaret?

Organizing committee Serge AUBERT, director of the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, chair of the committee Richard BLIGNY, CNRS & Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Philippe DANTON, Botanist attached to the Museum of Paris, Grenoble Rolland DOUZET, Station Apine Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Andreas GRÖGER, Alpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden

The context • Which type of exchanges do we want to have? Which type of network : internet, • Many congresses deal with national or association (cf International Association international gardens but not specifically of Alpine Gardens)? with Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens (AABG). • Which specific topics/problems for AABG : seasonality, staff, collections, etc. • Two congresses of alpine gardens had been organised in 1904 and 1906 and the • Which status for (alpine) botany and next congress was planed at Lautaret research? Which contribution the botani- but the illness of Pr Jean-Paul Lachmann, cal gardens can make? creator and director of the Jardin Alpin • Which status for the AABG? Rela- du Lautaret, did not permit to organise it tions with the universities, the National in 1908. Parcs, the associations, the Museums, the • Previous congresses (1992; 1996; 2000) Conservatories, etc.? have been organised at Villar d’Arène/ • Which role of the AABG in research, in Lautaret on the research on physiology public education, in the context of new and ecology of alpine and arctic plants. demands/needs (erosion of biodiversity, climate change, etc.) The questions • Which role of the AABG in conserva- • Which network for AABG, given that tion? Relation with the Conservatoires Bo- many networks already exist at national taniques (in France and Switzerland)? (eg Association des Jardins Botaniques de France et des pays francophones) or international (eg BCGI) levels?

Introduction International Congress of

Saxigraga aquatica. Drawing by Philippe Danton during the artist residence at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006. Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

History and diversity of High Mountain Botanic Gardens in the European Alps

Andreas GRÖGER Alpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

Résumé De 1865 à 1915, ce sont 25 jardins qui ont été établis en altitude dans les Alpes. Seuls 7 perdurent aujourd’hui. Parmi les caractéristiques de cette permanence sont à noter l’affiliation à une université ou à un grand jardin botanique et l’accessibilité du site. Un personnel permanent y a été employé, avec un travail sur le long terme combiné à une approche scientifique. De même aujourd’hui, un peu plus de 25 jardins alpins existent dans les Alpes, avec une diversité de statuts, d’affiliations, de tailles, d’équipement, de budget, de personnel, etc. Le point commun de ces jardins est leur mission de présentation de la flore alpine, de sa diversité, son unicité et sa beauté.

During the 19th century, alpine on natural populations was created by tourism started and the interest in alpine private collectors. Especially in Great Bri- botany was no longer merely scienti- tain the cultivation of alpines came into fic. Enthusiasm for alpine plant species fashion. Wild collected plants were sold in began to infect the broad public. As a wholesale quantities. In the 1890s, whole consequence, the decline of natural wagon loads were transferred from Aus- populations of attractive alpine species tria, Switzerland and Bavaria to the British became noticeable. The symbol plant Isles. of the Alps, the Edelweiss (Leontopodium Some alpine species were also exhausti- alpinum), vanished in a lot of localities. vely collected for industrial use, i.e. for the Soon in localized areas also species such production of liqueurs, pharmaceuticals as Alpenrose (Rhododendron hirsutum, R. and cosmetics. Species like the Genipi ferrugineum), Primrose (Primula auricula), Wormwood (Artemisia umbelliformis, A. Gentians (Gentiana acaulis, G. clusii) nivalis, A. nitida), the Spikenard (Valeriana and Nigritella nigra were depleted to sa- celtica) and gentian species (Gentiana tisfy tourist demands. Additional pressure lutea, G. purpurea, G. pannonica) were

Introduction International Congress of collected on a large scale by professional Mission statements in the early days root diggers. One of these professional Part of the function of these gardens was diggers could collect up to 200 kg of roots that of a natural reserve for endangered daily. alpine species. Also the utilization for research purposes was pronounced in the Private initiatives were the motor for alpine foundation of several alpine gardens. But gardens a core issue of all the alpine gardens was To stop this decline, the first species the educative role. protection laws were passed. Protected Karl von Goebel (1901) formulated the areas, such as the system of National mission of the Schachen Alpine Garden Parks in the USA, did yet not exist in as the following : “From the very begin- Europe. But private initiatives tried to ning, I found it important that the mission increase the public awareness. It was of the alpine garden should not be a mere at the end of the 19th century, that in scientific one ... the alpine garden should several countries botanical associations offer to all nature lovers the opportunity were founded, which were dedicated to see and enjoy the splendid flora of the especially to the protection of the alpine Alps gathered in one point, and to easily flora. The Association” pour la protection acquire a knowledge of the most impor- des plantes” was located in Switzerland, tant alpine plant species.” This mission ”Pro Montibus et Sylvis” in Northern Italy, statement is still valid for the Schachen and the activites of the ”Verein zum Alpine Garden. Schutze und zur Pflege der Alpenpflanzen” focused on the area along the German- Long-term maintenance, a major problem Austrian border. for alpine gardens One of the major objectives of these From 1865 to 1915, some 25 gardens were associations was the foundation of high established in montane to alpine eleva- mountain gardens. Their projects were tions of the European Alps. Only 7 of them nearly always realized in a joint action have persisted until today; the others va- with local authorities, scientific institution nished within a few years. The main reason and private sponsors, thus reflecting was that their maintenance proved to the broad public interest that alpine be quite expensive and labour-intensive, gardens received in this period. But as thereby overloading the financial capa- so often is the case, the initiative was cities of the correspondent associations. mainly taken by a handful of key figures. Accessibility also turned out to be cru- Henry Correvon (1854 – 1939, Association cial. Alpine gardens situated next to pass pour la protection des plantes) was the roads, cable car and rack railway stations crucial person in Switzerland. He founded or nearby tourist attractions, were succes- four Swiss alpine gardens (Weisshorn, sful. Another characteristic of alpine gar- La Linnaea, La Rambertia, Arolla) and dens, which persisted in the long term, is participated in the foundation of several the association to a university institute or others. In France a similar role was taken to a larger Botanic Garden. by Jean-Paul Lachmann (1851 - 1908, The crucial advantage of this affiliation University of Grenoble), who was engaged is that staffs are employed on a perma- in the establishment of three gardens nent basis and work can be planned on (Chamrousse, Lautaret, Villard d’Arène). a longer time scale combined with a In Austria and Germany the grand scientific background. The percentage of promoters of alpine gardens were Richard seasonal, frequently changing personnel von Wettstein (1836 - 1931, University of is low. Research interests and correspon- Vienna) and Karl von Goebel (1855 - 1932, dent excursions lead to a permanent sup- University of Munich). They participated ply of new plant material. Alpine gardens in the foundation of the alpine gardens are used by their affiliated institutions as Bremerhütte, Raxalpe, Rax-Habsburghaus a very special showcase of their activities and Schachen. and are included in their publicity.

10 Introduction Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

diversity, uniqueness and beauty of the Nowadays, especially the larger high alpine flora. First of all, they want to ena- mountain gardens in the European Alps ble the visitor to recognize plant species of are of this type. Lautaret represents a very the direct surroundings. Then, they present special case, in which an alpine garden species that are rare in their natural en- is a scientific institution on its own. Alpine vironment and need special protection. gardens, subsidized by municipal councils, And as a higher aim, they give an insight have a long tradition in Italy. A small per- into the ecology of alpine species, either centage of alpine gardens is funded by by description of special adaptations, by tourist enterprises, such as hotels, cable presenting co-occurring species, by dis- cars or tourism syndicates. So, status and tinguishing them from related species, or institutional affiliation of alpine gardens by comparing them with the floristic ele- is nowadays still quite diverse. And with ments of other mountainous ecosystems. that, their organizational background va- ries a lot, from size, equipment to general Until now, the interactions between Al- finances and staff numbers. pine Botanic Gardens have been very loose. The major objective should be to in- Collections diversity in alpine gardens duce tighter co-operations and lead to a The collections and their presentation also joint presentation to the public. Future of vary significantly. Generally it is of course Alpine Gardens will depend considerably the differing climate and geology that al- on how Alpine Botanic Gardens present low the cultivation of very different spe- themselves as modern efficient centres of cies. But additionally, the concepts are competence for alpine flora. differing, and with them the collections composition. References Some alpine gardens are restricted ex- • Bernini A, Piaggi E (1997) 37 Giardini Botanici delle clusively to native species, others offer a Alpi e degli Appennini. Pavia, Italy wide geographic range of alpine species, • Goebel K (1901) Der Alpengarten auf dem some only present real alpines, other also Schachen. Bericht des Vereins zum Schutze und Pflege include tree collections, some are pre- der Alpenpflanzen 1: 36-48. Bamberg, Germany senting their collections geographically, . others by their natural plant communities. Rarely, alpine plant species are presented in their systematic groupings, what was absolutely common some 100 years ago. Sometimes, plants are presented in other functional or thematic groups, such as medicinal plant species, species protected by law, etc. All in all, the plant diversity harboured in alpine gardens is considerable. This is one of the excellences the community of alpine gardens has : that not one resembles the other. The composition and presentation of the collections are so variable that visitors can enjoy very different colourful insights into the alpine flora.

What do all these gardens have in common? The common bracket, that joins all Alpine Gardens, is their mission whether formulated or not. All Alpine Gardens try to function as an attractive showcase for the

Introduction 11 International Congress of

Fig. 1 & 2. Alpine Garden Schachen in 1901 (left) and in 2001(right).

Fig. 3. Alpine Garden Neureuth (in 1903), abandoned after World War I.

12 Introduction Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 4 & 5. Alpine Garden Chanousia, abandoned after World War II, re-established in 1978.

Fig. 6. Alpine Garten Rambertia created in 1896, here in 2004, with the rack railway station in the background (© S. Aubert).

Introduction 13 International Congress of

founded name country location elevation status

1865 Col du Tricot F Col du Tricot, Mont 2400m abandoned Blanc, Savoie 1875 Blaser A next to Matrei, Tirol 2090m abandoned

1884 Wendelstein D Wendelstein, Bayern 1800m abandoned

1885 Weisshorn CH Val d’Anniviers, Wallis 2300m abandoned

1886 Jardin de la CH St. Bernard, Wallis 2470m abandoned Murithienne, St. Bernard

1886 Jardin de la CH Zermatt, Wallis 1620m abandoned Murithienne, Zermatt

1889 La Linnaea CH Bourg-St.-Pierre, 1690m existent Wallis 1890 La Thomasia CH Pont-de-Nant, Wallis 1260m existent

1892 Chamrousse F Alpes Dauphinoises 1850m abandoned

1896 (1919) Lautaret F Col de Lautaret, 2075m existent Hautes Alpes

1896 La Rambertia CH Rochers de Naye, 2045m existent Vaud 1897 (1978) La Chanousia I (F) Piccolo San 2200m existent Bernardo, Valle d’Aosta 1898 Davos CH Davos-Platz, Grigioni 1560m abandoned

1899 Villard d’Arène F Villard d’Arène, near 1670m abandoned Lautaret 1899 Neureuth A Neureuth, Tirol 1260m abandoned

1900 Rostania I Val Pellice, Piemonte 1265m ?

1900 Bremerhütte A Gschnitztal, Tirol 2390m abandoned

1900 Raxalpe A Rax, Niederösterreich 2010m abandoned

1900 Schatzalp CH next to Davos, 1865m abandoned Graubünden 1901 Schachen D Wettersteingebirge, 1850m existent Bayern 1902 La Presolana I Monte Scanapa, Alpi 1350m abandoned Orobie 1903 Rax-Habsburghaus A Rax, Niederösterreich 1770m abandoned

1903 Arolla CH Mont Collon, Wallis 1960m abandoned

1905 Hasentälchen CH M. Rigi-Scheidegg, 1560m abandoned next to Luzern 1907 (1986) Lindauer Hütte A Montafon, Vorarlberg 1765m existent fig. 7. High mountain Botanical Gardens in the European Alps, founded between 1865 and 1915, situated in altitudes higher than 1.200 m asl. Years in brackets: date of reconstruction (Bernini & Piaggi 1997, modified).

14 Introduction Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret: roots and branches

Serge AUBERT Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

Résumé Le Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (2100 m) existe depuis plus d’un siècle. Il a été créé à la fin du XIXème à un moment où fleurissaient plusieurs jardins alpins en Europe. La grande biodiversité naturelle de la région du Lautaret (plus de 1500 espèces, soit près du tiers de la flore française) et l’existence d’une grande voie de communication passant au col du Lautaret ont motivé le choix de ce site par Jean-Paul Lachmann, professeur de botanique à l’Université de Grenoble. Il avait déjà essayé de mettre en place un jardin alpin à Chamrousse près de Grenoble (dès 1892) mais l’absence de route avait entraîné l’abandon de ce jardin. Aux missions d’accueil/formation du public et conservation de la flore alpine, J.-P. Lachmann avait souhaité ajouter une mission de recherche sur le modèle des grandes institutions botaniques. Le Jardin Alpin du Lautaret a bénéficié de la passion et des compétences des personnels de l’Université et des bénévoles qui s’en sont occupés, ainsi que du soutien des acteurs du développement touristique de la région. Ainsi, l’hôtelier Alexandre Bonnabel, le premier animateur du développement du tourisme au Lautaret, participa à la création du premier Jardin en 1899 en finançant une partie des travaux et en logeant le jardinier. Lorsde l’aménagement routier au col du Lautaret en 1919 (construction de la nouvelle route d’accès au col du Galibier), le Touring Club de France (TCF) et la Compagnie Paris-Lyon- Méditerranée (PLM) payèrent l’essentiel du déplacement du jardin et la construction d’un chalet. Plus récemment, les collectivités territoriales participèrent au financement des constructions (accueil ; système d’arrosage intégré ; chalet-laboratoire). Aujourd’hui, les missions initiales du Jardin se poursuivent tant du côté de la formation que de la recherche. La création récente d’une Unité Mixte de Service (UMS 2925 Station Alpine Joseph Fourier) soutenue par l’Université Joseph Fourier et par le CNRS permet d’envisager de nombreux projets, en particulier la construction d’un bâtiment d’accueil du public et de recherche, incluant une salle de conférences pour le public et les congrès.

Introduction 15 International Congress of

The history of the Jardin Botanique the garden at the Lautaret with the Alpin du Lautaret is connected to the his- competences of the University, when the tory of botany at Grenoble University and tourist success of the site was increasing; to the history of tourism in the area of the • the railway company Paris-Lyon- Lautaret. Méditerranée (PLM) had created a chalet- restaurant 500 m away from the very pass The firstJardin Alpin du Lautaret of Lautaret in 1914. This company also A first Alpine Garden was created by Pr. understood the interest of the garden for Lachmann in 1894 at Roche-Béranger/ the guests of the restaurant which soon Chamrousse in the mountains of Belledo- also developed a luxurious hotel. ne (ca 1800 masl). Despite its proximity to The new Jardin Alpin du Lautaret was Grenoble this garden was quickly aban- inaugurated in 1919 and it was situated doned due to the lack of an access road. at its current location next to the chalet- The choice of the Lautaret pass (2058 restaurant PLM (figure 3). The garden was masl) was closely linked to its unique lo- now bigger and it included a chalet (for- cation. mally called chalet-laboratoire and now • The natural plant biodiversity of the called chalet Mirande) used for : area (first recognised by the botanist • the accommodation of the staff; Dominique Villar in the XVIIIth century) • the research activities which where with more than 1500 species in 400 km2, ie supported by Grenoble University and nearly 30% of the French flora (figure 1); by the TCF through the money of the • The presence of a good road permitting foundation Blonay ; an easy access to 2000 masl; • the creation of a small museum of • The Lautaret pass was already famous ethnography (Le musée de l’économie and popular. domestique alpine du Lautaret) by Hippolyte Müller, the creator of the Musée Pr Lachmann thereforre created the first dauphinois in Grenoble in 1906; Jardin Alpin du Lautaret along the road of Lautaret pass, next to the hospice-re- • a museum of mineralogy created by fuge Napoléon and at the site of what is Lory (University of Grenoble). now the starting point of the road over The combination of science, culture and the Galibier pass (figure 2). A remarkable tourism was particularly well represented collaboration permitted the creation of and it is a model for the current projects this garden. The hotel keeper Alexandre of development of the site. Bonnabel who started to develop the Alpine gardens are small gardens and tourism at the Lautaret pass (creation of they usually depend on a very limited a big hotel) understood the interest that number of people. Pr. Lachmann and would be generated by a garden at the Mirande had a key role in the creation pass : he paid for the surveying and offe- and development of the Jardin Alpin du red lodging for the gardener. Lautaret, as well as their gardener/botanist Robert Volut. The next gardener/bo- The second Jardin Alpin du Lautaret tanist Auguste Prevel was in charge of The construction of a new road to the Ga- the garden until 1944 when he was killed libier pass from 1918 corresponded to the by the German troupes. The garden was death of this first Jardin alpin du Lautaret. then abandoned until 1950 when the new The garden was moved and its activity gardener/botanist Robert Ruffier-Lanche was developed by the Grenoble Univer- along with the attached professor Lucie sity (Pr. Marcel Mirande) with the support Kofler initiated a new development. The of two major tourist structures : death of Ruffier-Lanche in 1974 also resul- • the Touring Club de France (TCF) ted in a decline of the garden. From 1980 was involved in the tourist development a new director Gérard Cadel, attached and understood the necessity to keep professor at Grenoble University, and a

16 Introduction Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens new gardener, José Lestani, reorganised Lautaret); ca 250 species of trees and the garden with the help of an associa- shrubs of the world (Arboretum Robert tion to which the University had delega- Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble); seed bank ted the financial management. with ca 1.300 species most of which collected wild in the Alps; herbarium of Recent evolution and projetcs the area of Lautaret and Grenoble; bank A major development was the creation of of pictures of plants of the Alps and of the chalet-laboratoire in 1989, initiated by various mountains of the world (ca 20.000 Richard Bligny and designed to permit up images); to date research in alpine plant physio- • education on alpine ecosystems and logy and ecology. This chalet-laboratoire their diversity and vulnerability. can host around 12 people : students and researchers from laboratories in Grenoble At the Lautaret, a major project is the and other cities in France (Paris, Nancy, construction of a building for both scien- etc.) and abroad (Germany, USA, Spain, tific purpose (in relation with the- satu Chile, etc.). The different contributors ration of the chalet-laboratory both for to the payment of this laboratory and bench surface and accommodation), its equipment represent a remarkable public education (exhibition rooms, room example of synergy between research equipped with binocular lenses for ob- institutes (Centre National de la Recher- servations, library). A conference room che Scientifique - CNRS, and Grenoble (ca 70-80 persons) will permit to organise University) and local political institutions conferences for scientific meetings and (notably Département des Hautes-Alpes; public conferences. Région Rhône-Alpes, Région Provence- Among the other projects are : Alpes-Côte-d’Azur). • an artists residence initiated and Nowadays, the Jardin Botanique Alpin du consisting in the invitation of two artists Lautaret is part of the Station Alpine Jo- experts in plant drawing and/or painting seph Fourier, Unité Mixte de Service (UMS) for 1 or 2 weeks at the Lautaret (initiated 2925, labelled by CNRS and by Grenoble in 2006 with Ph. Danton & F. Hallé, see p. University. This UMS also comprises the 35). In this context, a public collection of chalet-laboratoire and the Arboretum drawings/paintings has been initiated; Robert Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble. Its mis- • the publication of an illustrated flora sions are : of the Lautaret area (20 km around the • development of a research platform Lautaret pass) in preparation; at the Lautaret for research on alpine • the development of a summer school plants and ecosystems including various for scientists approaches (biochemistry, genetics, ecophysiology, ecology); References • development in Grenoble of a • Aubert S, Bignon A, Bligny R, Choler Ph, Douzet R platform for the cultivation of plants, ie (2005) Lautaret Alpine botanical Garden - guidebook, construction of green houses for research ed. Station Alpine Joseph Fourier purposes, for pedagogical collections • Lachmann J-P (1904) Les Jardins alpins. Allier Frères. Grenoble (teaching), as wall as for the needs of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and the Arboretum Robert Ruffier-Lanche; • international level of competence in alpine botany associated with a specialised library (floras of the mountainous regions of the world) ; • development of botanical collections : ca 2.300 species of plants of the mountains of the world (Jardin Botanique Alpin du

Introduction 17 International Congress of

Fig. 1. The biodiversity in the area of the col du Lautaret : left, subalpine meadow with Trollius europeus and Narcissus poeticus; right, alpine scree on gypsum with Campanula cenisia, Linaria alpina and Brassica repanda.

Fig. 2. The first Jardin alpin du Lautaret (1899-1918) created and directed by Pr. Jean-Paul Lachmann (dir. untill 1908). Images : archives of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret & collection A. Bignon.

18 Introduction Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 3. The second Jardin Alpin du Lautaret (1919 till now) directed by Pr. Marcel Mirande untill 1930. Images : archives of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret, Musée dauphinois & collection A. Bignon.

René de Litardière Paul Ozenda Gérard Cadel Richard Bligny Serge Aubert (dir. 1930-1955) (dir. 1955 - 1981) (dir. 1981-1999) (dir. 1999-2005) (dir. since 2005)

Robert Volut Auguste Prevel Robert Ruffier- Lucie Kofler José Lestani Richard Hurstel Rolland Douzet (1900-1919) (1930-1944) Lanche (1950-1973) (1950-1960) (1981-2002) (since 2002) (since 1991) Fig. 4. The directors of the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret from 1930 with their dates of activity as director (top) and the head gardners and botanists since 1950 with their dates of activity (bottom).

Fig. 5. The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret nowadays.

Introduction 19 International Congress of

Ex situ conservation at the Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin

Noémie FORT Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin, Gap, France

Résumé Les Conservatoires Botaniques Nationaux sont des organismes publics relevant du Ministère français de l’Ecologie. Ils ont pour objectif : (1) l’étude de la flore et des habitats naturels, (2) l’identification et la préservation des plantes et des habitats les plus rares et les plus menacés. Le Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin de Gap-Charance est en charge du territoire alpin où il mène des actions dans la conservation ex situ, le développement d’une banque de graines, la conservation in situ. Le cas de Gladiolus palustris est présenté.

French Conservatoires Botani- French Southern Alps and it has develo- ques Nationaux are public organisms of ped an other office in Chambery, in the wakefulness and preservation of natural Northern Alps. It developp its missions on flora and habitats created by the French seven departments of the French alpine Ministry of ecology. area : Ain, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Isère, They constitute a real network covering Drôme, Hautes-Alpes and Alpes de Hau- the whole French territory according to te-Provence and works on this territory’s biogeographical areas. flora. They have for major objectives : From knowledge to conservation, the CBNA is using a real skills sequence that • know the status and the evolution of begins with field work (botanic invento- both wild flora and natural habitats; ries) and bibliography analysis. This data • identify and preserve the rarest and are stored in a data base linked with GIS most threatened plants and habitats. system in order to get a cartographic representation and their analysis is a fun- CBNA and ex situ conservation damental tool to hierarchize the most Presentation of CBNA vulnerable and rare species the CBNA is The CBNA’s head office is in Gap, in the working on. This process is at the basis of

20 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens the elaboration of red lists, as the CBNA samples of population. Each tri-layer bag is doing in the Hautes-Alpes for the “Atlas conditioned and preserved is associated des plantes rares ou protégées des Hau- with a collect on which we have precise tes-Alpes”. informations : collector, date, localisation, Within these prioritary species, some more and species. elaborate work can be done in the field More than 2.000 batches of seeds are such as monitoring of populations, or in preserved, representing more than 500 the laboratory such as seed and plant ob- species. These data are managed with servations and experimentations. These Excel software, but a data base connec- elements are fundamental tools to build ted to the flora data base and a SIG is a conservation strategy well adapted to being developed and will be effective each species. within a year. In every French Conservatoire Botanique, Seed bank management also consists in and obviously at the CBNA, this strategy following-up the viability of the preserved relies on both in situ conservation (conser- seeds, that’s why the CBNA develops a vation of components of biological diver- research activity around the germination sity in their natural habitats) and ex situ of these seeds by the means of germina- conservation (conservation of compo- tion tests in Petri dishes. These tests are nents of biological diversity outside their also used to produce seedlings. natural habitats). Cultural bank Ex situ conservation at the CBNA It’s a conservatory garden of 930 m² re- Within the framework of its missions, the creating the various existing ecological CBNA has developed ex situ conserva- conditions on our territory of work (alpine tion activities, following the specifications greenhouse, basins, shade and sunny ha- of the genes/seeds banks edited by IP- bitats). This garden allows the preserva- GRI and by the Royal Botanic Garden of tion of alive individuals removed from the Kew. Ex situ conservation at the CBNA is existing threats in the natural environment represented by a seed bank and a cultu- and the regeneration and multiplica- ral bank (experimental botanical garden) tion of seeds’ batches preserved in cold and concerns the rarest and most threa- room. tened species defined after analysis of This place is particularly advised for the the flora data base. ex situ conservation of the plants which The conservation work of the CBNA is used produce few seeds or seeds which badly at specific level, and also at intraspecific support dehydration. level by preserving the various popula- Until today 258 species were put in culture tions of a species. on this site. Seed bank Ex situ conservation in Gladiolus palustris The process of entry includes : Gaudin conservation • seed collection, in the field; The species and conservation • seed observation, sorting and cleaning strategy in Haute-Savoie in the laboratory; Gladiolus palustris Gaudin is a central-Eu- • seed drying (15°C, 50% of relative humi- ropean species of the wet meadows of dity then 15°C 20% of relative humidity); Molinion type. In France, it is present only • seed conditioning (kraft-polyethylene- in 5 departments including Ain and Hau- aluminium tri-layer hermetic bags); te-Savoie, located on the action territory of the CBNA that’s why it constitutes a • seed conservation (at 4°C in a cold priority species for the CBNA. This species room or at -18°C in a freezer). is particularly threatened by the draining A strict protocol for each task is a gua- of the wetlands, urbanization, habitats rantee for the best conditions of conser- closing, changes in agricultural practices, vation and the best rendering of the picking, and is in regression, in particular in

Dynamics of collections 21 International Congress of

Haute-Savoie. dividuals vegetatively multiplied using the In collaboration with a manager of natu- natural bulb production of the species. ral spaces in Haute-Savoie, ASTERS, the Contribution of ex situ conservation CBNA began in 1999 a conservation plan work of this taxon on one of its last French refu- Ex situ conservation work was fundamen- ges, the Haute-Savoie departement. This tal because they brought knowledge ele- plan relies on the following strategies : ments for natural conditions comprehen- • ex situ conservation : conservatory col- sion : for example the good germination lection of seeds, germination experimen- percentages obtained for the seeds re- tal programs, culture experimental pro- veals that the population uses the sexual grams, conservatory cultural collection, reproduction (what is not systematic with etc. Iridaceae) and that the seeds have a • in situ conservation : land animation of strong germinative capacity, plants ac- the known localities, management of the quire sexual maturity (and are able to re- known localities, restoration of the habitat produce) when 3 or 4 years old, etc. of the species, reintroductions. Research activities on culture and multiplication produced vegetal material that Ex situ conservation of Gladiolus will be used for reintroductions and rein- palustris forcements of natural population. A table of harvest was drawn up on a Moreover, the observation of cultural po- sample of the different known spots with pulations helped us to determine a rele- an aim to do a conservatory collection of vant protocol of plantation for reintroduc- seeds representing the genetic diversity of tions : vegetal material nature and age, the species in Haute-Savoie (Table 1 & 2). way of planting, planting period, tools Observations of a linear embryo little de- etc. veloped in the seeds led us to suspect the Finally, in collaboration with ASTERS, who existence of a physiological dormancy. worked on land animation and manage- A series of germination tests enabled us to ment of Gladiolus palustris populations, determine the germinative characteristics reintroductions were planned in two sites of the taxon and highlighted the impor- where this species had disappeared be- tance of pre-treatments like stratification cause of habitat closing. This process, ad- and pre-steeping of the seeds and the in- ministratively difficult, was validated by the hibiting character of the teguments. French Ministry of Ecology and work began These results directed the protocol of in the autumn 2005. In autumn 2006, a rein- culture of this species : we preferred rea- troduction on a second site will take place. lize autumn sowings better than spring Seed banks and conservatory gardens sowings. are conservation tools. But they are also A cultural population of Gladiolus palustris experimentation laboratories serving was developed in the garden and the in-

N° Date of munici- Code Place Q u a n t i t y accession collection pality INSEE known as Total Freezer Cold room 990192 8/11/1999 Sciez 74263 Les Reulands 1 707 1 138 569 (n° 74/08) 990192 9/1/1999 Samoëns 74258 C e s s o n e x 310 310 0 (n° 74/14) 114 8/17/2000 Sciez 74263 Les Reulands 3 989 2 659 1330 (n° 74/08) 115 17/08/00 Perrignier 74210 Tuilière Nord 144 144 0 (n° 74/05) Table 1. Assessment of the seminal accessions of Gladiolus palustris (15/10/2001) at the CBNA.

22 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

N° accession Production origin Municipality Code INSEE Plant number 0103-99 TG 25/16 Sciez 74263 17 0032-00 TG 99/48 Sciez 74258 90 0037-00 SE 27/16 Sciez 74258 6 0041-00 SE 00/11 Sciez 74258 26 0061-00 SE 00/06 Sciez 74263 3 0005-01 SE 00/08 Sciez 74210 7 Table 2. Assessment of the cultural accessions of Gladiolus palustris (15/10/2001) at the CBNA. TG = germination; SE = horticultural sowing. knowledge acquisition and in situ conser- CBNA will try to improve this direction in vation work. the future. These activities require the development of specific infrastructures and the control References of several technical procedures : seed • Fort N (2005) Bilan des réimplantations de conservation and germination, plant re- Gladiolus palustris Gaudin. CBNA, Rapport technique, Programme de conservation du glaïeul des marais en production and culture, etc. Haute-Savoie, 10p Fundamental for very threatened or en- • Fort N, Carasso V et al. (2005) Bilan des travaux dangered plants, ex situ conservation re- franco-italiens de Conservation ex situ. Rapport Projet presents in other cases a principle of pre- Interreg IIIA ALCOTRA ‘Conservation et gestion de la caution with its advantages but also its flore et des habitats dans les Alpes Occidentales du Sud, 65p + annexes. limits and constraints. • Vinciguerra L (2001). Actions conservatoires ex situ. That is why, except for a limited list of CBNA, Rapport n°2. Programme de conservation du very threatened plants, the CBNA leads glaïeul des marais en Haute-Savoie, 54p + annexes an ex situ conservation activity turned • Collectif (2000) Le glaïeul des marais, Etude de above all towards the development of faisabilité. Conservatoire Rhône-Alpes des Espaces the knowledge on species biology, to in- Naturels, Conservatoire de la Nature Haut-Savoyard, Agence pour l’Etude et la Gestion de l’Environnement crease the efficiency of its actions of in & Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin situ conservation. • Vinciguerra L (2000) Actions conservatoires ex Finally ex situ activities are also commu- situ. CBNA, Rapport n°1. Programme de conservation nication and sensibilisation tools and the du glaïeul des marais en Haute-Savoie, 17p

Dynamics of collections 23 International Congress of

Fig. 1. The Conservatoire Botanique National Alpin : aerian view of Charance domain and mountain with location and detail of the head office (top) and infrastructures (bottom) : conservatory garden and seed conservation.

Fig. 2. Somes aspects of the conservation of Gladiolus palustris : seeds (top left), cultural population (bottom left, photo F. Houard 2006, CBNA), and reintroduction (right, photo A. Rouillon, ASTERS, 2006).

24 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Collections management, conservation and research on alpine threatened species at Viotte Alpine Garden

Costantino BONOMI, Michela LONGO and Cristina CASTELLANI Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy

Résumé Le Jardin Botanique Alpin de Viotte est localisé près de Trente à 1540 m d’altitude dans le NE de l’Italie. Fondé en 1938, il est l’un des plus grands et des plus anciens jardins alpins en Italie. Sa mission est de ”cultiver et protéger la flore locale si riche en plantes endémiques, et d’éduquer les jeunes générations à sa conservation”. Le Museum d’Histoire Naturelle de Trente est largement impliqué dans ces missions. Parmi les projets en cours, un programme de vérification des données a commençé en 1998, avec comme objectif une identification correcte des espèces non indigènes. Par ailleurs, une priorité aété donnée à la conservation des espèces endémiques locales depuis 2002, avec la mise en place de la Banque de graines de Trente incluant une pièce sèche à 15% humidité et 15°C et une salle de stockage à -20°C. Les graines de 82 espèces (354 accessions) ont été collectées dans la nature. Un laboratoire de germination a aussi été mis en place, avec 8 incubateurs, ce qui permet de mener un programme de recherche pour étudier les conditions de la germination et les dormances. Deux modèles ont déjà été étudiés : Aquilegia thalictrifolia (dormance morpho-physiologique) et Hypochaeris facchiniana (forte dormance physiologique). L’ensemble de ces recherches permettra de mener des programmes de réintroduction. Le volet éducatif est développé plus loin (p. 76).

Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden is which are kept as an arboretum; the gar- located on Mt. Bondone, close to Trento den has been in continuous activity since at 1540 m asl in NE Italy. It was established its foundation (Pedrotti, 1992). Prof. Vitto- in 1938 (Fig.1) and is one of the largest rio Marchesoni was one of the leading fi- and oldest alpine gardens in Italy (Ano- gures for the development of the garden nym, 1939; Gola, 1942). It extends for ap- and in 1958 he stated the mission of the prox 10 hectares 2 of which are cultivated garden and essentially focused on two with rock and flower beds (Fig. 2) and 8 of aspects : plant conservation, in his words

Dynamics of collections 25 International Congress of

”to cultivate and therefore protect the re- interesting to note that this name was not gional flora so rich in rare and endemic found in the garden records. A similar si- species”, and education, in his words ”to tuation was found in the genus Iris. Appa- arise nature loving feelings in young minds rently identical individuals were labelled in order to make them stewards of plants with different names : I. urumovi, I. milesii. and their conservation” (Marchesoni, The data verification allowed to identify 1957, 1958). This mission statement is not these individuals as I. spuria. Again this too different from BGCI internationally ac- name was not present in the garden re- cepted definition of a botanic garden : cords. It is very significant to quote what ”institutions holding documented collec- William Dykes wrote in 1913 about I. spu- tions of living plants for the purposes of ria : ”...omissis... it germinates readily and is scientific research, conservation, display one of the greatest offenders in Botanical and education” (Cheney et al., 2000). Gardens, where its vigorous self-sown seedlings oust the original occupants of the Collections management : data verifica- beds and then in their turn provide seeds tion programme which are distributed under the names of In order to hold a documented collection the plants whose positions they have oc- of living plants, data verification is an es- cupied.” (Dykes, 1913). This is what proba- sential feature to maintain the accuracy bly happened with both G. tibetica and I. that a botanic garden needs. However, in spuria, that arrived in the garden through small botanic gardens, such as the alpine the seed exchange under different na- ones, this is a demanding task particu- mes. Continuous data verification is there- larly for non native species, owing to the fore necessary to ensure that the plants in few resources available, technical litera- cultivation are a reliable living reference ture and qualified personnel among the collection. And this is ultimately the basic others. Misidentifications can therefore prerequisite for a botanic garden. As far arise (Werner, 1962) and spread from one as the seed exchange is concerned, in or- garden to another via seed exchange der to ensure the sustainable use of Plant (Dykes, 1913). In order to check the identi- Genetic Resources in compliance to the ty of the plants in cultivation Viotte Alpine Convention on Biological Diversity, the Botanical Garden launched a verification garden joined IPEN network (International program in 1998. To date, roughly one Plant Exchange System) in late 2005. third of the taxa in cultivation was found to be incorrectly identified. Most of them Plant conservation : seed banking could be referred to their correct taxon, threatened species while only a small percentage remained As far as conservation is concerned, Viotte dubious. Two case studies are presented focused its attention on ex situ conserva- here. tion of threatened species, particularly on In the genus Gentiana similar looking in- narrow endemics, in 2002 (Fig. 4 and 5). dividuals (Fig. 3) were labelled in the gar- In this year a specific conservation project den with the following 7 different names : led to the development of a long term G. affinis, G. alba, G. flavida, G. gelida, seed conservation facility. A seed bank is G. kurroo, G. pannonica, G. wutaiensis; one of the most cost effective conserva- this situation seemed suspicious and was tion strategy : it allows to store in a small investigated in details. The integrated space a large quantity of seeds represen- use of the monograph (Halda, 1997), key tative of the genetic diversity of the natu- taxonomic resources (Hooker & Jackson, ral populations (Smith et al., 2003). Tren- 1885 - 1995), regional floras (Wu & Raven, tino seed bank is hosted in a dedicated 1994-2000; Komarov, 1963-2000) and hor- facility developed at the local Natural ticultural aids (Cullen, 1986-2000; Huxley History Museum in the town of Trento. The & Griffiths, 1992; Brickell, 1999) allowed to following technical solutions were adop- refer these 7 individuals to the same spe- ted in its design. The first component is a cies that was identified as G. tibetica. It is geographic resource office, equipped

26 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens with technical local maps, GPS and GIS vation status could be correctly evalua- facilities to serve the planning of the col- ted applying the 2001 IUCN categories lecting missions and the subsequent ac- (IUCN, 2001). Specific germination tests cessioning process. A 40 cubic meters dry were employed to check for the presen- room is at the heart of the seed bank and ce of dormancy and to find out the ger- is designed to lower the seed moisture mination requirements. The first species content. It is equipped with two sorption showed a deep physiological dormancy driers that maintain 15% RH and regulate (Fig. 6) that was quantified with a specific a fresh air intake. A cooling system keeps ”incremental chilling” experiment, the lat- the temperature to an average of 15°C ter exhibited a morpho-physiological dor- and provides constant ventilation in the mancy, requiring three sequential cues to room. A seed cleaning and testing lab is germinate : warm stratification (to allow equipped with a dust extracting cabinet, embryo development), cold stratification a seed blower, sieves, dissecting micros- (to remove physiological dormancy) and copes and analytical balances to serve eventually alternated temperature cy- basic cleaning needs. Eight lighted, coo- cles. This germination research will be pro- led incubators serve initial viability and gressively extended to all target species germination testing that is carried out and will be the first step to build up a bulk before long-term storage. The packaging stock of plants for display in the garden area is located in the dry room and is and possible reintroduction programmes equipped with a water activity meter that in the wild. confirms the effective drying before- sto rage. The cold store is also located within Conclusions the dry room and is currently entrusted to All the different activities illustrated so far two deep freezers. A priority list of target are part of the garden mission and contri- species to conserve initially was selec- bute to the local implementation of va- ted according to both global and local rious targets of key international agree- criteria including : threatened species at ments such as the Action Plan for Botanic world level, listed in the 1997 IUCN red list Gardens in the European Union (Cheney (Walter & Gilllet, 1998) and occurring in et al., 2000) and the Global Strategy for Trentino (26 species), all stenoendemic Plant Conservation (CBD Secretariat, species occurring in Trentino (41 species), 2002) all species of the annex II of the Directive 92/43/EEC (6 species) and species listed References as CR and EN in the local red list (Pros- • Anonym (1939) Il Giardino Botanico Alpino alle ser, 2001) and present in Italy at most in “Viotte” di Monte Bondone (Trento). In Notiziario. 3 regions (21 species). Extensive fieldwork Studi Trent. Sci. Nat., 20(1-2) : 177-178 carried out from 2002 to 2005 allowed to • Baskin CC, Baskin JM (1998) Seeds : Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and visit 432 sites and collect 341 accessions Germination. Academic Press, San Diego belonging to 82 species. • Brickell C (1999) The RHS New Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. DK, London Research : investigating seed germination • CBD Secretariat (2002) Global Strategy for Plant requirements Conservation. CBD Secretariat, Montreal The main research focus of the garden is • Cheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson connected with the seed bank activity PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National and is centred on the investigation of the Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise germination ecology of threatened spe- • Cullen J (ed.) (1986-2000) European Garden Flora, cies (Baskin & Baskin, 1998). So far two mo- 6 Vol. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. del species were studied : Hypochaeris • Dykes WR (1913) The Genus Iris. Dover Publications, facchiniana and Aquilegia thalictrifolia. New York In a preliminarily phase their distribution • Gola G (1942) Proposte circa un giardino alpino al Bondone sopra Trento. Studi Trent. Sci. Nat., 23(1) : was accurately recorded, the population 3-9 size was assessed, hence their conser- • Halda J (1997) The Genus Gentiana Sen, Dobrè.

Dynamics of collections 27 International Congress of

• Hooker JD, Jackson BD (1885 - 1995) Index Kewensis Plantarum Phanerogarum. 2 tom + 18 suppl. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Available on line @ http://www.ipni.org • Huxley A, Griffiths M (1992) The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening, 4 voll. MacMillan, London • IUCN (2001) Species Survival Commission IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria Version 3.1. IUCN - The World Conservation Union • Komarov (1963-2000) Flora of the USSR. English translation. 30 vol. Koeltz, Königstein • Marchesoni V (1957) Il Giardino Alpino alle Viotte sul Monte Bondone. Finalità e confronti con altri giardini alpini. Natura Alpina, 8(3) : 69-75 • Marchesoni V (1958) Il Giardino Alpino delle Viotte Fig. 1. Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden at the time of sul Monte Bondone. Bollettino S.A.T., 21(5) : 3-7 its foundation in 1938, looking north with the Brenta • Pedrotti F (1992) Il Giardino Botanico Alpino alle dolomites in the background (left). Viotte del Monte Bondone (Trento). In Raimondo F. M., Orti Botanici, Giardini Alpini, Arborei Italiani. Grifo, Palermo : 417-422 • Prosser F (2001) Lista Rossa della Flora del Trentino. Osiride, Rovereto • Smith RD, Dickie JB, Linington SH, Pritchard HW, Probert RJ (Eds.) (2003) Seed Conservation : turning science into practice. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew • Walter KS, Gilllet HJ (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of threatened plants. IUCN Publishing service, Cambridge • Werner (1962) Digitalis. Die Kulturpflanzen Beih. 3, 167-182 • Wu Z, Raven PH (ed.) (1994-2000) Flora of China. Voll. 15, 16, 17, 18, 24 Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. available on line @ http://flora.huh.harvard. edu/china/

Fig. 2. The Garden in summer 2005.

Fig. 3. Gentiana tibetica (left), labelled in the garden as G. affinis, G. alba, G. flavida, G. gelida, G. kurroo, G. pannonica, G. wutaiensis.

28 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 4 Callianthemum kernerianum, a narrow endemic species only occurring on the summit of Mt. Baldo, cultivated in the rock bed in the Garden (left), stored in the Seed Bank in the form of viable seeds (right).

Fig. 5. Silene elisabethae and its seeds, another narrow endemic only occurring in the wild to the west of lake Garda.

Fig. 6. Germination trials on Hypochaeris facchiniana. Most seed are still dormant during a test at 25°C after 4 weeks of cold stratification (left) while nearly all germinate after 20 weeks at 4°C (right). Image middle right shows the differential character from H. uniflora: inner receptacular scales not fringed at the margin.

Dynamics of collections 29 International Congress of

Profile of the world’s northernmost botanic garden at Tromsø, Norway

Arve ELVEBAKK Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden, Tromsø University Museum, Norway

Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanic niature valley through it. This became our Garden has a very short history as it was “Himalaya“. Everybody became enthu- formally opened as late as 1994, after a siastic by this achievement, and his mis- few years of preparation. Its birth in about sion was then continued, to include also 1990 was a rather bold initiative, because the Primulaceae collection, a nice pond, there were no positions nor any infrastruc- a beautiful amphi-theatre and the Arctic, ture promised. A committee a couple of another miniature valley surrounded by decennia earlier had put forward a too boulders and imitating a snowbed-ridge ambitious concept which only resulted in gradient. a preliminary seed exchange. However, This development and the focus on arc- when funding for landscape formation at tic and alpine plants made the Universi- the site of a former student housing faci- ty leadership realize the potential of the lity on the University Campus appeared, Garden, and one scientific and one gar- a serious choice had to be taken : should dener position were granted. Still the Gar- we follow the plans of a landscape archi- den was fighting the weeds and fighting tect who proposed a formal landscape to survive with very poor barrack facilities design with a park profile or do something for the summer staff which included seve- very different? Luckily we chose the alter- ral students in addition. native. The next crucial step was the employment Bjørn Magne Thon had then just esta- of Finn Haugli as a leader. This was a bold blished himself as a local alpine plant decision as he was not a botanist, but a nurseryman. He was given the then rather dedicated plantsman who had develo- controversial mission to build a rock gar- ped his private garden for years, and his den, at that time scarcely attempted in wish to be transferred from his very diffe- Norway. The result was a hill constructed rent position as a professor at the Faculty of very large granitic boulders, with a mi- of Medicine was luckily accepted by the

30 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

University. During his period from 1997 to imitating eroded layered rock outcrops. 2006 the Garden had a very strong deve- This allows for numerous specialized habi- lopment, focusing on being well-kept and tats, particularly for small species requiring by displaying very nice collections of alpi- well-drained sites. One hill is for Androsa- ne plants, in nice settings and often in lar- ce with related genera, and small, rather ge quantities. This positive development exclusive Primula species. facilitated the establishment of two hou- The other is for Saxifraga species of the ses, and in late 2006, another gardener sections Micrantha and Ciliata. We are position and a decent annual funding. now introducing several exciting species Prior to this, Finn Haugli experienced the of the latter, all poorly known and exclu- highlight of his career in the Garden by sive in horticulture, and they need some arranging the symposium ‘Alpines on Top testing before concluding whether the hill of the World’ in 2004. The symposium at- is an optimal habitat. The Saxifragaceae tracted many participants, particularly collection already houses an impressive among the most high-esteemed alpine collection of well-thriving plants, mainly garden specialists in England, Scotland, cultivars (hybrids and selections) of the Sweden and the Czech Republic. Their three sections Porphyrion, Saxifraga, and strongly positive evaluations, particularly Ligulatae, many of them kindly introdu- about the Saxifraga, Primula, Himalaya ced to Tromsø by the late Peter Smith, and South American collections was a former chairman of the British Saxifraga great inspiration. Society. These cultivars and additional When the present author took over as ones on their way to the Garden will be a new leader in 2006, the Garden was maintained along with supplements of very well developed with more than 20 additional species. We believe that the thematic collections, mostly geographi- Saxifraga collection, gradually supplied cally or taxonomically defined. Previously more systematically with other genera wi- smaller plants had grown to considerable thin its family, will maintain its international sizes, also impressing visitors. How should reputation. the present profile be maintained and Within Primulaceae, a particular effort is linked to further developments? After all, being made to include more species with the Garden has no research profile, no wild-seed origin. It is always a problem in conservation program and is still lacking large collections both at private, nursery its own nursery facilities. Besides, a perma- and botanic gardens that offspring expe- nent staff of three is very modest for a gar- rience genetic drift from cross-pollination den of its size and ambitions. with plants from other other geographical areas or from other, but related species. Collections given priority : Saxifragaceae Seeds of such garden origin is then dis- and Primulaceae tributed further, sometimes with dubious The first aspect in future developments names. In building a reference collection is to strengthen more our already esta- both for taxonomic and phylogenetic stu- blished specialities. Taxonomically based dies, wild-origin material of Primulaceae collections such as Saxifragaceae and will be given priority, as most species are Primulaceae are now being defined as long-lived, and can successfully be divi- entering their species accumulation pha- ded clonally, and kept apart from similar se. A rather large number of new species plants of garden origin. Section Crystallo- are now being introduced together with phlomis is an example of a group which new habitats made available. This invol- thrives particularly well at Tromsø, and ves the construction of two rock lands- which still presents many taxonomic chal- capes made by the Czechs David Holu- lenges. bec and Petr Hanzelka in 2006. They are both of a new type involving both large Himalaya and smaller, mostly lichen-covered rocks. The Himalaya hills are now overcrowded They are flat and oriented vertically, thus and need to be extended. Large garden

Dynamics of collections 31 International Congress of populations of Meconopsis species will be of being referred to as “tundra“, althou- maintained, although we still need to buy gh they are climatically more similar to them from local nurseries. Successful gar- southern parts of the Arctic. den genera with us, such as Cremantho- Today, Polemonium boreale, Saxifraga dium will be given focus, along with No- hirculus ssp. compacta, and Papaver lap- mocharis, not much represented today. ponicum are among the most striking spe- Also in the Himalaya collection, plants of cies. Several Ericaceae species are now wild origin will be given priority. This is par- introduced, along with rather large gar- ticularly the case for seeds collected at den populations of species such as Ra- altitudes above 5000 m. Plants originating nunculus glacialis and R. sulphureus, and from neighbouring mountain chains are some amphi-Beringian species. We are also included. also including several species and taxa of the genus Dryas, so important both in The Southern Hemisphere the Arctic and neighbouring alpine areas. The landscape here will be lifted centrally The collection will be used to tell a story to allow for a stronger contrast between about arctic plant life, an important topic north- and southfacing slopes, and to al- both to residents and visitors to northern low for more specialized crevice habitats. areas. This has been made on a restricted scale in the African and South American collec- Other collections tions this year. We also have an exciting Other collections (Rhododendron/Erica- selection of New Zealand Aciphylla and ceae, Ranunculaceae, Gentianaceae, Ranunculus species, although our ambi- North America, the Alps, Caucasus etc.) tions are strongest concerning the South will also be developed, but by lower prio- American collection. Here, the collections rity. A new rock wall will be the home for of Calceolaria, Calandrinia and Oxalis wild Tulipa species and other species from are already large and diverse. Different arid climates, and will also hide forthco- plants within the Calceolaria lanceolata/ ming plant nursery facilities. However, ano- polyrrhiza complex pose taxonomic chal- ther two collections need to be emhasi- lenges. Their clones are also becoming zed here as maintaining their importance, large and require more space than origi- although they do not have an arctic-al- nally planned. pine character. This is the herb collection, along with a collection of plants collected The Arctic from old gardens in North Norway. Both This is an obvious focus collection, and these collections have been developed the ‘arctic valley’ is now being revitalized by Brynhild Mørkved. They are locally very to house many new arctic species. This is popular, and also widely used in educa- among the most attractive landscapes ting schoolchildren. in the Garden. We plan to give it a more scree character, although suitable rocks and gravel material is not easily availa- General development strategies ble. The coming Panarctic Flora Checklist Although a vast investment has been is used to define species occurring north done already in bringing rocks into the of the arctic treeline, which includes the Garden, many additional efforts need to great majority of species occurring in the be done before we can conclude that mountains in the Tromsø region. Neither the first phase of creating its rock lands- the lowland nor the mountains of these cape is finished. It is also a challenge to areas are coined “arctic“ by us, although maintain order with a small staff, and we they are situated far to the north of the have the impression that some weed ca- Arctic Circle. The lowlands are forested tegories are more serious within our moist with a boreal climate due to the effects climate, than in more southern gardens of the mild ocean current, and the mostly which experience summer drought. steep mountains have no local tradition In addition to introducing new species,

32 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens particularly of the collections in priority, plants from all over the world, is a strategy. the Garden really needs a better infras- Linked to this is the production of written tructure for information about the plants. material, hopefully in the format of a new A modest café is being run, mostly by the journal attracting external authors, and Friends of the Garden, with a very limi- being produced locally at irregular inter- ted selection of written material on sale. vals with a thematic profile. These strate- To develop one of our houses to include gies involve a closer integration with our both a café and a small botany-based host institution, Tromsø University Museum, shop including gifts and written material, regrettably still being situated some dis- both concerning our Garden and alpine tance away from the University campus.

Fig. 1. Improving the rock landscape in the Prinulaceae collection in 2006.

Fig. 2. The Mossy Saxifrages, with a very large collection of arendsii cultivars.

Dynamics of collections 33 International Congress of

Fig. 3. Rock landscape in the Arctic collection.

Fig. 4. Species in the Himalayan collection : Cremanthodium reniforme and C. rhodocephalum.

34 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Artist Residence at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Philippe DANTON Botanist attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris & Association Robinsonia, Grenoble, France

Résumé Dans le cadre du projet d’extension muséale « Grand Lautaret » porté par la Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, nous avons proposé la création d’une Collection Publique de dessins botaniques liée au Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret. Pour constituer cette collection, nous avons imaginé de proposer à différents illustrateurs botanistes de participer chaque année à des Résidences d’Artistes sur le site du col du Lautaret en échange de dessins réalisés grâce aux collections vivantes du jardin. Au mois de juillet 2006, la première de ces résidences eut lieu avec deux dessinateurs invités : Francis Hallé et Philippe Danton.

Among the French artistic world, fine illustrator of the wonders discovered including museums, galleries, exhibitions, during their trip in Equinox America. prizes and awards, etc., the botanical Nowadays drawing is considered as the documentary drawing is not represented. poor member of graphic arts. Either imag- Only editors have recently re-discovered inative or documentary it is only seen as this art and the interest of the public, a technique necessary for the noble arts through the edition of ancient (and often painting, sculpture and architecture. copyright-free) works of famous artists. This At school, it is not seriously considered art, which has always been associated to and at the university it remains confined scientific disciplines, and with botany in to the “Beaux Arts”. particular, a wealth of opportunities are Although it is admitted that “a good draw- open. ing is better than a long talk“, this simple Plant illustrators have always been at the mode of communication, immediate and heels of botanists and plant biologists. Just trans-cultural, is abandoned in favour of think of the famous Alexander von Hum- the speech so inappropriate for the de- boldt which name is associated with the scription of complex objects. With a con- name of Aimé Bompland, botanist and comitant simplification of the world which

Dynamics of collections 35 International Congress of

with its species originating from the mountains of the world, represents an inexhaus- tible source of subjects. The idea is to start an artist residence consisting in the invitation of two drawing artists during 1 to 2 weeks every summer during the blooming season, in order to illustrate some of the species cultivated in the gardens. The selection of the artists (from France and abroad) will be made by a scientific and artistic committee (currently under constitution) with the objective to have the highest quality possible. As a counterpart of this invitation the artist will give 2 drawings to the public collection. The accumulation to these works will permit, from year to year, to constitute the Pu- blic Collection Dominique Villars, referring to the famous botanist and illustrator of the flora of the Dauphiné province in the 18th century (fig. 1). The Collection will be conserved at the library of Grenoble Uni- versity Joseph Fourier. The collection will be exposed, published and media cove- Fig. 1. Iconotype of Berardia subacaulis Vill. rage will be given in order to promote the Prospectus de l’Histoire des Plantes de Dauphiné. botanical drawing as well as the Station Dominique Villars (1779). Alpine Joseph Fourier and its partners. During July 2006 this Artist Residence has deserves reflection. been initiated with two botanists and illus- However, the documentary botanical trators : Francis Hallé from Montpellier and drawing continues to survive, as under Philippe Danton from Grenoble. Each of apnoea. At each breath, it meets again them has given two drawings made from its public. plants cultivated in the Gardens (see figu- The project that has been proposed to res 2 & 3). the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier therefore wishes to insist on the existence and Initiate a Public Collection linked to the importance of a healthy and quality bo- Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret tanical documentary drawing. It aims to A prestigious collection of scientific offer him a place where it can be high- drawings exists in France, the « Vélins du lighted and shown as a media conjugat- Muséum », unfortunately not enough ing art and science. shown and therefore known by the pu- This project is organised around three sim- blic. The originality of the support (veal ple ideas : skin) and famous artists (Nicolas Robert, Claude Aubriet, Gérard van Spaendonk, • Favour botanical drawings; Pierre-Joseph Redouté, etc.) made the • Initiate a Public Collection linked to the fame of this collection initiated in 1630 on Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret the initiative of Gaston de France, Duc • Promote the current botanical d’Orléans. The collection is conserved at drawing the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle de Paris since the French Revolution and it Favour botanical drawings comprises more than 7.000 works. The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret, Entering into a Public Collection is rewar-

36 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ding for the artist and it helps to make his ful for the scientists. work known, as long as the Collection is The Catalogue could be published in two known and dynamic. A juridical status forms : a version deluxe (portfolio at the should be found to the Public Collection size of the original works) numbered and including the rights associated to the ar- signed by the authors (sold by subscrip- tistic property. tion and deposed in the big libraries), and Linking the creation of such a Public Col- a classic version. Other formats are possi- lection to the Station Alpine Joseph Fou- ble such as posters, post cards, agendas, rier, in the frame of the project of public etc. This Public Collection will represent a centre/museum « Grand Lautaret » repre- cultural and scientific signature of theSta - sents an unique opportunity with the fol- tion Alpine Joseph Fourier, coherent and lowing advantages : complementary of the signatures deve- • an extraordinary site and a tourist at- loped for 100 years at the Jardin Botani- traction : the Lautaret pass ; que Alpin du Lautaret and 15 years at the Chalet-Laboratoire. • a centenary garden with ambitious Partnerships may be developed with and innovative projects of extension ; various institutions and firms in order to • a strong institution, the University Jose- contribute to the financial support of the ph Fourier in Grenoble ; various aspects of the project (residence, • local partners : municipalities, depart- Catalogue, exhibitions, etc.). Similarly, ments, regions ; partnerships with media at local, national • a dynamic team in charge of the Sta- and international level may be possible. tion Alpine Joseph Fourier. Finally an Award of Botanical Illustration could be created. It would be given every Concerning the fame, it will come slowly, 5 years when the Catalogue is published. as long as quality, imagination, fidelity and some other qualities are conserved. Good management of a Collection re- quires to take care of the substance and the form. The substance is nearly endless as long as the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret exists. The form is an important issue and some rules and criteria should be defined (format, support, techniques,- ty pes of representations, etc.) for the works that will enter the Collection. This will faci- litate the conservation and display of the works. This Public Collection Dominique Villars will be associated to the exhibition at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret of the works of the invited artists, and to the edition of a Catalogue every 5 years containing the 10 new works of the Collection.

Promote the current botanical drawing Through the annual exhibition of the work of 1 or 2 artists and the edition of a Ca- talogue every 5 years, the Station Alpine Joseph Fourier and its partners will make more than what has been made in the recent years for the promotion of this art both appreciated by the public and use-

Dynamics of collections 37 International Congress of

Fig. 2. Francis Hallé - Evolutive tendences of architectures in the genus Saxifraga. 1 S. longifolia, 2 S. tridactylites, 3 S. hieracifolia, 4 S. exarata, 5 S. geranioides, 6 S. biflora. Drawings made at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006.

38 Dynamics of collections Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 3. Philippe Danton - Geranium cinereum Cav. ‘Ballerina’ - [G. cinereum Cav. x G. subcaulescens L’Hér. ex DC. Drawing made at theJardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret in July 2006.

Dynamics of collections 39 International Congress of

Research activities at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Richard BLIGNY1,3, Sandra LAVOREL1,2 & Serge AUBERT 1,2 1Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; 2Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine; 3Labora- toire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, Université de Grenoble & CNRS, France

Résumé La recherche est une des missions des jardins botaniques. Le Jardin alpin du Lautaret a été créé en 1899 avec le double objectif d’accueil du public et de recherche sur les plantes et les écosystèmes alpins. Aujourd’hui, la recherche concerne : (1) l’expertise botanique dans le domaine de la flore alpine : participation à divers programmes de recherche nationaux et internationaux (projets européens VISTA & INTRABIODIV) pilotés par le Laboratoire d’écologie alpine à Grenoble, (2) les échanges de graines issues de l’index seminum (plus de 1300 espèces essentiellement collectées dans la nature) pour des recherches dans les domaines de la phylogénie moléculaire et de l’archéobotanique, (3) la fourniture de matériel végétal issu des collections du Jardin pour des recherches en phylogénie et en biochimie, (4) la participation à un programme de suivi phénologique au niveau des Alpes françaises (Phenoclim, CREA), (5) l’hébergement d’expériences en conditions semi-contrôlées.

Research is one of the missions benefits from the presence of one of the of botanic gardens. The Lautaret alpine best botanists in France (R. Douzet) with a botanic garden (2100 m) was established specific expertise in alpine botany. This ex- in 1899 in order to combine public edu- pertise has been used by various research cation and research on alpine plants and projects including : ecosystems. These activities continue • European project VISTA (Vulnerability now with the following contributions to re- of ecosystem Services to Land Use Chan- search. ge in traditional Agricultural Landscapes) coordinated by S. Lavorel (2003-2005). Botanical expertise This project involved 9 countries with field The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret sites where ecosystems services (inclu-

40 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ding agricultural production, biodiversity world. This provides unique opportunities or tourist attraction, etc.) were quantified for the provision of plant material for ex- and modelled to project various scenarios periments otherwise nearly impossible to of evolution of the economy and agricul- obtain. In the last 5 years, the following ture in marginal regions. The south facing projects have developed. slopes of Villar d’Arène (in the vicinity of Adaptation to UV radiations the Garden) were chosen as the reference site for alpine areas. The botanist of A PhD thesis (L. Nybakken, Univ. Ǻs, the Garden was involved in the identifica- Norway; 2000-2003) investigated the stra- tion of the hundreds of species of plants tegies of arctic-alpine plants against UV growing in the studied area; radiations with a comparative study on many species growing in Svalbard (Spitz- • European project INTRABIODIV (Intras- bergen, Norway), in Norwegian mountains pecific biodiversity of alpine plants) coor- (Finse biological field station, Norway) and dinated by P. Taberlet (2004-2006). This at Lautaret, where UV are 3 times higher project analysed the genetic intraspecific than at Svalbard. A specific study used diversity of 30 alpine and subalpine plants Papaver dahlianum endemic to Spitzber- of the Alps in order to characterise the gen and cultivated in the Jardin botani- evolution and the adaptative potential to que alpin du Lautaret since 1970 (figure environmental changes. The botanist of 2). This permitted to analyse the acclima- the Garden took part in the sampling in tion capacities of this species (Nybakken the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps; & al. 2004), which has acquired similar • Four PhD projects dealing with the resistance as the species growing in the functional and evolutionary ecology of Alps. subalpine meadows (F. Quétier, N. Gross, Reproduction systems F. Viard-Cretat, F. Grassein); • Trollius • Research project on Arabis alpina. This aims to analyse the genetic diversity of this A research project is developed by L. subalpine and alpine species as a func- Desprès (Laboratory LECA, Grenoble; sin- tion of the altitude, geography and habi- ce 2000) on the mutualistic relationships tat of the plant. Sampling was conducted between globeflowers Trollius (Ranuncu- in the French Alps in the area of the mas- laceae) and their pollinating flies. Stu- sifs Ecrins, Galibier and Queyras. dies focus on Trollius europaeus which is abundant in the meadows around the Lautaret pass and only pollinated by the Exchange of plant material fliesChiastocheta . Other species of Trollius Through its Index seminum the Jardin Bota- have been introduced in the garden for nique Alpin du Lautaret exchanges seeds both research and display to the public, with more than 300 botanical gardens in notably T. pumilus, T. ledebourii, T. acau- the world. The number of species availa- lis, T. chinensis (figure 2). Some species are ble is around 1.300, most of which col- only pollinated by Chiastocheta, not pol- lected from wild populations in the Alps linated by Chiastocheta or pollinated by (in the area of the Lautaret). The index is Chiastocheta and other flies. Molecular available on the web (www.ujf-grenoble. phylogenies and biochemical studies are fr/JAL) and many researchers working on used to study the evolution and speciali- various studies (phylogeny, archeobo- sation of the mutualistic relationships (Des- tany, etc.) have benefited of particular près & al. 2003; Desprès & Cherif 2004). seeds (see table 1)or other samples. • Lloydia serotina Use of the collections of the garden This alpine Liliaceae grown in the Jardin The Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret Botanique Alpin du Lautaret was used for displays more than 2300 species origina- the study of its reproduction system (Ma- ting from most of the mountains of the nicacci & Després 2001.

Research activities 41 International Congress of

Plant conservation conditions are installed in the Jardin Bo- tanique Alpin du Lautaret (figure 3). These • Eryngium alpinum experiments correspond to the following A study is developed on this endangered projects : alpine plant by I. Till-Bottraud (Laboratory • impact of UV radiation of the growth LECA, Grenoble) since 1999 in collabora- and physiology of trees (larch), a project tion with the National Parks Ecrins, Vanoi- coordinated by the Laboratoire de se and Mercantour. This includes genetic pollution atmosphérique (INRA, Nancy); variability, population dynamics and re- • plant/plant interactions in subalpine production systems. In this context, plants meadows (laboratory LECA, Grenoble; cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin PhD studies of N. Gross, F. Viard-Cretat, F. du Lautaret have allowed investigations Grassein) on the germination of pollen tubes in vivo (Gaudeul & al. 2000; Gaudeul & Till-Bot- • ecophysiology of alpine meadows in traud 2004; figure 1). relation to global warming (laboratory LECA, Grenoble; PhD study of F. Baptist) • Androsace septentrionalis A long-term project for the study of po- References pulations of endangered alpine species is • Aubert S, P. Choler P, Pratt J, Douzet R, Gout E, , R. carried out by I. Till-Bottraud (Laboratory Bligny R (2004) Methyl-b-D-glucopyranoside in higher plants. Accumulation and intracellular localisation LECA, Grenoble; since) in collaboration in Geum montanum L. leaves and in model systems with the Conservatoire Botanique Natio- studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. J. Exp. nal Alpin de Gap-Charance. Among the Bot. 55 : 2179- 2189 7 species analysed is Androsace septen- • Baptist F (2nd year phD, dir. S. Aubert/Ph. Choler) trionalis with one population in the Jardin Traits fonctionnels végétaux et économie du carbone chez les espèces dominantes des communautés her- Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (figure 1). bacées d’altitude : implications sur les flux bio-géo- chimiques à l’échelle des écosystèmes • Potentilla delphinensis • Després L, Pettex E, Plaisance V, Pompanon F A new population of this rare species has (2002) Speciation in the globeflower flies Chiasto- been re-discovered in 2003 in the area cheta spp.(Anthomyiidae) in relation to host plant, of the col du Lautaret by the botanist biogeography, and morphology. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 22 : 258-268 Rolland Douzet, in collaboration with the • Després L, Cherif M (2004) The role of competition botanist of the Parc National des Ecrins, in adaptive radiation : a field study on sequentially Bernard Nicollet (figure 1). ovipositing host-specific seed predators. Journal of Animal Ecology 73 :109-116 Biochemical adaptations • Gaudeul M, Taberlet P, Till-Bottraud I. (2000). Ge- netic diversity in an endangered alpine plant Eryn- The collection of Rosaceae of the Jardin gium alpinum L. (Apiaceae), inferred from amplified Botanique Alpin du Lautaret was used to fragment length polymorphism markers. Mol Ecol 9, better understand the significance and 1625-1637 role of methyl-β-glucopyranoside (Aubert • Gaudeul M, Till Bottraud I (2004) Reproductive ecology of the endangered alpine species Eryngium & al. 2004, see p. 52). alpinum L. (Apiaceae) : Phenology, gene dispersal and reproductive success. Ann. Bot. 93 :711-721 Participation to a phenology project • Grassein F (1th year phD, dir. S. Lavorel/I. Till-Bot- Since 2005 the Jardin Botanique alpin du traud) Mécanismes de variations des traits fonction- Lautaret takes part to a large program of nels dans les praires alpines phenology monitoring in the French Alps • Manicacci D, Després L (2001) Male and her- maphrodite flowers in the alpine lily Lloydia serotina leaded by the Centre de Recherches sur les (Rchb.). Can J. Bot. 79 : 1107-1114 Ecosystemes d’Altitude CREA (see p. 57). • Nybakken L, Aubert S, Bilger W (2004) Epidermal The following species are studied : UV-screening of arctic and alpine plants along a lati- Larix decidua, Sorbus aucuparia, Tussila- tudinal gradient in Europe. Polar Biology 27 :391-398 go farfara. • Quétier F (3rd year phD, dir. S. Lavorel) Vulnérabi- lité des paysages agricoles traditionnels en Europe : application à un paysage agropastoral de haute Hosting of experiments in the garden montagne, Villar d’Arène, Hautes Alpes. Thèse Uni- Various experiments in semi-controlled versité de Grenoble I

42 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

• Quétier F, Thébault A, Lavorel S (2006) Plant traits • Viard-Cretat F (2rd year phD, dir. S. Lavorel) Va- in a state and transition framework as markers of riations des stratégies de régénération des espèces ecosystem response to past and present land-use dominantes le long d’un gradient d’extensification in subalpine grasslands. Ecological Monographs (in de l’utilisation des terres en prairies subalpines. Thèse press) Université Montpellier II

Scientist University/Institute Species Sample Research project

Stations in the Fugi parasitic of anthera of Antonovics J. Univ. Virginie, USA Caryophyllaceae Hautes-Alpes Caryophyllaceae

Bizoux J.-P. Univ. Gembloux, Belgium 4 species seeds PhD thesis on the genus Viola

arctico-alpine Bronken P. Univ Tromso, Norway leaves Study of genetic distances species Leaves collected in Genetic comparison between two Bronken P. Univ Tromso, Norway Empetrum rubrum Tierra del Fuego subpolar species of Empetrum

Kristiansen K. Univ. Göteborg, Sweden 8 species seeds Archeobotanical identifications

Carter G. Univ. Sheffield, UK 10 species seeds Archeobotanical identifications

Inst. Fédéral Agron. Nyon, 6 species of Delabays N. seeds Allelopathy in the genus Artemisia Switzerland Artemisia Gymnadenia Gustafsson S. Univ. Uppsala, Sweden leaves Genetics of phenology conopsea Hellwig F. Univ. Jena, Germany 4 sp. of Centaurea seeds Phylogeny of Centaurea Herrera C.M., 4 species of Phylogeography of the genus Univ. Jaén, Spain leaves Alamillo J.B. Aquilegia Aquilegia in the Iberian peninsula Samples collected Hidalgo O. Univ. Barcelone, Spain Valeriana carnosa Phylogeny of the genus Valeriana in Tierra del Fuego

Huix J.O. Univ. Girona, Spain 8 species seeds Interactions plants/ants

Jaaska V. Univ. Tartu, Estonia 3 sp. of Lathyrus seeds Phylogeny of the genus Lathyrus

Jimenez C. Univ. Barcelone, Spain Stipa austroitalica Leaf samples Study of the genus Stipa

Circium capitules with Phylogeny and adaptation of the Johannesen J. Univ.Mainz, Germany spinosissimum parasites plant and its parasite Martin L. Univ. Paris X, France; Univ. 25 species of the Study of the plants associated with seeds Nicod P.Y. Genève, Switzerland Alps the first humans in the Alps

Nuñez D.R. Univ. Murcia, Spain Prunus brigantina seeds Genetics of the genus Prunus

arctico-alpine Nybakken L. Univ. Ås, Norway samples Comparative study of UV screening species Identification of a new species of Porovicz L. Univ. Prague, Tchec Rep. Salix foetida plants parasite

Shibata T. Ohashi, Japan Alpine species seeds Research on medicinal plants

Picris hieracioides Slovak M. Univ. Bratislava, Slovakia plants Genetics of the genus Picris ssp villarsi

PhD thesis on the genus Viola sect. Suita A. Univ. Cracovie, Polan 5 species of Viola seeds Melanium

Jardin Botanique de Stachys Tamkovitch T. seeds PhD thesis of medecine Piatigorsk, Russia macrantha Table 1. Plant material and seeds provided by the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret for various research programs during the period 2002-2005.

Research activities 43 International Congress of

Fig. 1. Some plant models cultivated in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and used as models for research projects. From left to right : Potentilla delphinensis, Androsace septentrionalis, Eryngium alpinum, Papaver dahlianum.

Fig. 2. The species of the genus Trollius cultivated at the Garden and used for a research project on plant/ insect interactions. From left to right : T. europaeus and its pollinators Chiastocheta, T. pumilus, T. acaulis (top), T. chinensis, T. ledebourii (bottom).

Fig. 3. Experiments in semi-controlled conditions hosted in the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret.

44 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

The impact of an alpine botanical garden on its environment. Case study of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

Rolland DOUZET Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

Résumé L’implantation d’un jardin botanique dans un milieu naturel entraîne des interactions avec l’environnement bien différentes de celles d’un jardin urbain. En effet le jardin agit directement sur les milieux naturels environnants via les espèces étrangères qui y sont cultivées et via, par exemple, les rejets qu’il va générer. Deux de ces aspects ont été étudies au Lautaret avec la collaboration du Parc National des Ecrins dans le cadre du programme européen “Natura 2000“. Le premier concerne l’état des lieux des espèces invasives issues du Jardin Alpin. Il a consisté en un recensement et une cartographie des espèces en vue d’un suivi sur le long terme. On a ainsi pu montrer que peu d’espèces se sont réellement échappées et ce malgré un nombre d’introduction estimé à près de 10.000 espèces, et qu’une seule, Polemonium caeruleum, semble réellement menaçante. Le second volet est l’étude d’une tufière située en aval du jardin et dont le fonctionnement a cessé récemment, peut-être à cause des rejets d’eau du Jardin Alpin. L’étude a consisté en une cartographie du réseau hydrographique du site et à une analyse chimique de l’eau en différents points. Elle a montré que les eaux du jardin semblent avoir contaminé celles de la tufière via des zones marécageuses, créant une dilution, en particulier du calcium, qui aurait entraîné un arrêt du fonctionnement de la source pétrifiante. Des solutions ont été proposées mais aucune ne semble pleinement satisfaisante.

Unlike “traditional” botanical • the introduction of alien species on the gardens, that are predominantly urban, natural environment; alpine garden are implanted in a natu- • the rejects of water by the garden tor- ral environment. This implantation leads rents on the natural environment. to generate many interactions with this Those studies were carried out in collabo- natural environment. Two impacts have ration with the staff of the Ecrins National been studied. Park during their campaign of evaluation

Research activities 45 International Congress of of the European project “Natura 2000”. immediately around the garden (Papaver croceum, Veronica gentianoides, Poly- The impact of the introduction of alien gonum alpinum, etc.) and are eliminated species on the natural environment when the natural vegetation comes back Since the implantation of the garden at - or along streams and torrents (that carry the pass in 1899 and at its actual empla- seeds) lower down the garden. It is espe- cement in 1919, more than 10.000 species cially true for Caltha fistulosa, Cephalaria have been introduced. A question was to gigantea, Mimulus guttatus, Polemonium estimate the impact of such massive in- caeruleum, Primula auriculata and Ra- take on the local flora and meadows. nunculus caucasicus. They present the The study consisted in a prospection of the same ecology (megaphorb) and have ta- Lautaret area to look for introduced spe- ken the place of native species along the cies and to map them in order to have an streams as Caltha palustris or Ranunculus initial state of the problem. aconitifolius but do not move away from The prospection showed that very few them. Only Polemonium caeruleum can species escaped from the garden and long resist to the return of natural vege- among them, few have a real implanta- tation and seems to be more aggressive tion. Those species are given in table 1. and may be the only dangerous species The cartography shows that most of the (the further study to come will uphold or species were escaped through the torrents not those conclusions). Another problem lower down the garden and were present around the garden is overgrazing witch only along those torrents in very dense po- creates many perturbations and soil ero- pulations. The study shows that the invasion. The vegetation becomes more open sive species do not penetrate the natural and more sensible to colonisation by alien vegetation consisting of Festucetum spa- species. It’s especially true in the Seslerie- diceae and Polygono-trisetion and swam- tum, that is a natural habitat more open py areas (Caricion davallianae), certainly and with much less competition between because in those associations the relation species or even facilitation. It seems to be between species are of strong competi- the case for Senecio adonidifolius which tion and a “newcomer” has many diffi- tolerates this more restrained habitat. culties to penetrate such vegetation. That A monitoring of these species will show if is why most of the escaped species are some measures must be taken or not. located only on disturbed areas like those

Alien species Geographical origin Level of invasion Aconitum napellus subsp. vulgare Alps and Pyrenees ++ Alchemilla mollis Carpathians mountains + Caltha fistulosa Asia +++ Cephalaria gigantea Caucasus ++ Cicerbita plumieri montains of Europe + Inula salicina Eurasia + Mimulus guttatus W. America ++ Papaver croceum Asia + Polemonium caeruleum Circumboreal ++++ Polygonum alpinum Alps ++ Primula auriculata Caucasus ++ Ranunculus caucasicus Caucasus +++ Senecio adonidifolius Massif Central and Pyrenees ++ Veronica gentianoides Caucasus +

Table 1. List of the alien species around the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret

46 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

The impact of the rejects of water by the been noticed (but the fertilization by the garden torrents livestock and the garden is punctual and Petrifying springs are rare natural habitats can be overlooked). Other factors could that are protected at European scale. increase this phenomenon for example Some national park rangers noticed that the overgrazing and the trampling by the such a spring, lower down the garden, livestock which cause a diminution in the stopped its activity recently. The rejects of air circulation in the limestone and can water by the torrents of the garden could stop the petrification process. have been involved in this process. Some solutions have been proposed but The study consisted in a schematic map- no one seems to be fully satisfactory, es- ping of the hydrographic network of the pecially because the site is hardly acces- place and then a complete chemical sible for mechanical digger for example, analysis of the water at different places. or for aesthetic reasons (the Lautaret pass The water of the garden is snow-melting is a protected area). water that comes from the other side of Another petrifying spring, which is work- the valley (the Combeynot massif). It is ing, is protected and can be seen in the a very low mineralized water (nearly dis- area of the alpine garden. tilled!) as confirmed by chemical analy- zes. References The hydrography shows that the water • Douzet R (2002) Influence des rejets d’eau du from the torrents of the garden and the Jardin Alpin du Lautaret sur le fonctionnement d’une tufière : water of the spring dot not mix directly, www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/arch/ant2005/Impactea.pdf but they are very near and connected • Douzet R (2002) Cartographie des espèces by swampy areas so the mix of the wa- végétales naturalisées aux environs du Jardin Alpin ter may be possible. It is confirmed by the du Lautaret. chemical analysis that shows a drop of the www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/arch/ant2005/carto.pdf calcium concentration in the water of the • Komarov (1963-2000) Flora of USSR. English translation. 30 vol. Koeltz, Königstein spring. This dilution of the calcium could explain the decrease of the petrification. No eutrophisation of the springs has

Fig. 2. Limits (in red) of the zone of inventory and mapping around the garden. Yellow, area of the garden. Blue spot, Lautaret pass.

Fig. 1. A view of a zone with a mix of invasive species : Caltha fistulosa, Polemonium caeruleum, Ranunculus caucasicus and native species including Heracleum sphondylium subsp. elegans and Rumex arifolius

Research activities 47 International Congress of

Fig. 2. Mapping of Aconitum napellus subsp. vulgare (top) and Polemonium caeruleum (bottom). Area studied (yellow dots) around the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (yellow area). Blue dot, Lautaret pass.

Fig. 3. Aspect of the petrifying springs, active on the right, “dead“ on the left, with details at the bottom.

48 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

The problem of Heracleum mantegazzianum in the Swiss Alps

François BONNET1, Florian DESSIMOZ2 , Olivier BROENIMANN2 , Christophe RANDIN2 and Antoine GUISAN2 1 Jardin Botanique Alpin “La Thomasia“ & 2 ECOSPAT Group, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

occurrences versus all available presen- he Giant Hogweed (Heracleum T ces and the second, on a set of absence mantegazzianum), an invasive giant herb sites stratified according to the strata of a native from Caucasus, was first introdu- previous available model (Fig. 3). We tes- ced in Switzerland (Geneva) in 1895 and ted two different estimations of the giant cultivated in alpine botanical gardens hogweed’s population size : a design- because of its spectacular inflorescence. based estimation and a model-based es- Since then, it escaped repeatedly from timation. We first proceed to the Thomp- gardens, becoming invasive and leading son design-based estimation through a to ecological, economical and health random-stratified adaptive sampling. This problems (Fig. 2). In this study, we eva- estimation provided current population luated the invasion status of this alien in- size of the focal species. The future poten- vasive species in the Western Swiss Alps, tial population size of the focal species by modelling its potential distribution and was achieved with the models resulting estimating current and future density from the field sampling. For management and cost estimations. These assessment cost, communes included in the study measures provide useful tools for an ac- area were set as management units and tion plan in conservation biology. In the assessed individually. A binary model continuity of a previous study in 2004, using threshold value optimising ratio of we used a model-based sampling de- omission to commission errors provided sign to improve occurrences data and future potential costs. Finally, this filtered ultimately improve predictive models of binomial model permits us to underline the species distribution. Since we did not which communes should receive special find as much occurrences as expected, attention for eradication. different models were carrying out with different available data sets. The first pre- H. mantegazzianum was observed in nu- dictive maps were based on naturalized merous sites and management units in

Research activities 49 International Congress of the Western part of the Swiss Alps. Its ex- species’ present distribution. For this latter, pansion phase and the high surface pre- remote sensing through aerial photogra- dicted to be prone to invasion in the stu- phs might be a useful tool for detecting dy area might suggest further ecological new populations (Mullerova 2005) althou- and health hazards induced by this alien gh restricted to open area because fo- invasive plant. Unpredictable human- rests prevent detection. Dynamic models mediated dispersal needs to be seriously would be also able to simulate future co- avoided in drawing attention of people lonisation scenario to assess the time nee- on such a problematic attractive weed. ded to invade the whole area. A prelimi- In the case of invasive species, potential nary study of the plastid DNA variation in predictive GAM models might be power- some populations of H. mantegazzianum ful for coordinating some eradication was done revealing numerous variations. plan undertaken by communes. The cho- Genetics analyses should allow studying sen model should be used for assessing interesting evolutionary processes on po- invasion risks in the study area and preci- pulation dynamic of the giant hogweed sion of such model needs to be enhan- during its colonisation phase and underli- ced iteratively allowing proper prediction ning number of introduction locations. and monitory of the spread of this invasive plant. Our aim was to map the potential distribution of H. mantegazzianum and to estimate population size and costs for re- moving of the focal species. The current study found convergent results concerning current and future density and cost estimations.

Perspectives The communes will be informed of the results of the current work. In further studies, an adaptive sampling based on strata of the new model may be conduct again, enhancing chances to sampling unk- nown populations. A new sampling year should also provide more information on

Fig. 1. The jardin botanique alpin La Thomasia.

50 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 2. An example of invasion by Heracleum mantegazzianum.

Fig. 3. Observed (left, green spots) and potential (right, red zones) distribution of Heracleum mantegazzianum in the Western Swiss Alps.

Research activities 51 International Congress of

Collections and their use in research. Example of abundant compounds in certain alpine plants

Serge Aubert1,2, Philippe CHOLER1,2, Rolland DOUZET1, Anne-Marie Boisson3, Elisabeth GOUT3 and Richard BLIGNY1,3 1 Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; 2 Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine; 3 Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire Végétale, Université de Grenoble & CNRS, France

Résumé Le méthyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (MeG) est un composé nouveau chez les plantes, caractérisé chez les feuilles de la plante alpine Geum montanum (Aubert & al. 2004). L’utilisation de la collection de plantes alpines du Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret et des plantes de la région du col du Lautaret a permis de montrer que toutes les dicotylédones testées sont capables de synthétiser cette molécule. Les plantes qui accumulent la molécule à plus de 1 µmol.g-1 matière fraîche appartiennent essentiellement à la sous- famille des Rosideae des Rosaceae, ainsi qu’à quelques genres de Fabaceae. Le MeG s’accumule tout au long de la vie de la feuille et il peut représenter plus de 20% des sucres solubles sans être remobilisé lors de la sénescence. La résonance magnétique du carbone 13 a montré que le MeG est synthétisé dans le cytoplasme à partir de glucose et de méthanol. Le méthanol est un composé toxique libéré dans les parois végétales, qui peut diffuser dans les cellules. Le MeG pourrait servir à la détoxification sous forme de composé inerte stocké dans la vacule. Il pourrait aussi être impliqué dans l’osmorégulation et la protection contre le froid.

Geum montanum grows in the Identification of MeG subalpine and alpine belts of the Alps. We analysed the metabolite profiles ofG. 13 This herb is abundant in the area of the montanum leaves using C-Nuclear Ma- Lautaret pass and it has big leaves. This gnetic Resonance (NMR). This technique is why this species has been chosen as a permits to identify and quantify all the model to study plant adaptations to ex- soluble metabolites containing carbon treme environmental conditions, in parti- atoms and present at concentrations hi- -1 cular the resistance to high light and cold gher than 1 µmol.g wet wt (Shachar-Hill stress (Manuel et al., 1999). & Pfeffer 1996). A typical 13C-NMR spectrum from G. mon-

52 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens tanum leaves collected at the Col du The Rosaceae in which MeG was natu- Lautaret is shown on Fig. 1. Among the rally abundant synthesised MeG at a hi- various solutes accumulated in this alpi- gher rate (up to 6.5-7.5 µmol/day/g wet ne plant, sucrose, glucose, and fructose wt) compared to the non-accumulating were the major carbohydrates, with cell species. The rate of MeG accumulation contents estimated to 65-70, 23-25, and in the tested monocots was not measu- 20-22 µmol/g wet wt, respectively. Of rable by 13C-NMR, or very low. Gymnos- particular interest were seven resonan- perms, pteridophyts and mosses did not ce peaks centred at 58.00, 61.58, 70.35, synthesise MeG, even in the presence of 73.99, 76.69, 76.71, and 104.00 ppm not methanol. Fig. 3 shows some example of yet reported in leaf extracts. These peaks species in the Rosaceae family tested in were attributed to methyl-β-D-glucopy- table I and cultivated in the Jardin Bota- ranoside. The concentration of MeG in nique Alpin du Lautaret. The collection 1-month old leaves harvested at the be- of alpine plants originating from various ginning of July was 17-19 µmol/g wet wt. parts of the world offered a unique opportunity to analyse the significance of Taxonomic distribution of MeG MeG accumulation and metabolism. The leaves of a variety of plants were collected during summer season in the Jardin Distribution of MeG in G. montanum during Botanique Alpin du Lautaret and in the a growth cycle surrounding fields, and in the Arboretum Fig. 2 shows that MeG was also detected Robert Ruffier-Lanche in Grenoble. The in G. montanum rhizome and root but it natural MeG content of leaves and their was abundant only in leaves where it in- ability to synthesise this glucoside in the creased during ageing, accounting for presence of methanol was investigated. up to 20% of soluble carbohydrates be- Table I shows that different members of fore senescence in overwinter leaves. the subfamily Rosoideae of Rosaceae MeG was poorly reallocated to rhizome accumulated more than 1 µmol MeG/g and other organs. In senescent leaves, wet wt. A substantial accumulation was sucrose and glucose declined, reflecting observed in 9 out of the 10 genus tested, a probable reallocation of these sugars, usually at higher levels in plants growing but not MeG. Similarly, the highest levels at high altitudes and/or latitudes. Howe- of MeG were observed in overwinter lea- ver, no accumulation was observed in ves of the alpine Rosaceae Dryas octo- the five tested species of the genus Al- petala whereas it remained very low in chemilla. Among plants belonging to a the subterranean organs of this plant. given genus, MeG accumulated much more in some species than in others. For Synthesis and localisation of MeG in example, the leaves of only 7 species of plants Geum among 10 tested accumulated 13C-NMR analyses using 13C-labelled subs- MeG. The tested species of other subfami- trats showed that MeG was synthesised in lies (Spiraeoideae, Maloideae and Prunoi- the cytosol of cells, directly from glucose deae) did not accumulate MeG above 1 and methanol molecules. There was no µmol/g wet wt. In contrast, MeG was not contribution of the C1 pathway. In ad- detected in the leaf extracts of 250 other dition, analyses of the metabolite profile plants belonging to the main families of of intact purified organelles demonstra- the French flora. Only one exception was ted that MeG was subsequently stored in noticed : the Fabaceae (e.g. Oxytropis the vacuole, without being re-exported campestris Trifolium alpinum, and Pisum from the vacuole or further metabolised. sativum). Table I also indicates that all the The possibility that MeG could also be syn- dicots tested, including non photosynthe- thesised in the cell wall (where methanol tic suspension-cultured cells, incorpora- is produced from pectin de-methylation ted methanol to glucose, as detected in processes) and then incorporated to cells the presence of labelled [13C]methanol. was discarded since excretion of car-

Research activities 53 International Congress of bohydrates has never been observed in References these tissues. • Aubert S, Choler P, Pratt J, Douzet R, Gout E, Bligny R (2004) Methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in higher plants : accumulation and intracellular localization Discussion in Geum montanum L. leaves and in model systems This work raises several questions. studied by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Journal First about the transport of MeG across of Experimental Botany 55, 2179-2189 the tonoplast : does MeG utilise a glucose • Gout E, Aubert S, Bligny R, Rébeillé F, Nonomura transporter? If so, is there an exchange AR, Benson, AA, Douce R. 2000. Metabolism of methanol in plant cells. carbon-13 nuclear magnetic across the tonoplast between newly syn- resonance studies. Plant Physiology 123, 287-296 thesised MeG and glucose stored in the • Manuel N, Cornic G, Aubert S, Choler P, Bligny vacuole? What about the regulation of R, Heber U (1999) Adaptation to high light and MeG storage? water stress in the alpine plant Geum montanum L. Second, the physiological significance Oecologia 119, 149-158 of MeG accumulation. Like many other • Shachar-Hill Y, Pfeffer P (1996) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in Plant Physiology. Rockville (USA) : methylated molecules (quaternary am- American Society of Plant Physiologists monium, tertiary sulfonium, methyl-inosi- • Streb P, Shang W, Feierabend J, Bligny R (1998) tols, etc.), MeG could be involved in os- Divergent strategies of photoprotection in high motic stress tolerance. MeG could also be mountain plants. Planta 207, 313-324 involved in hydroxyl radical scavenging. In this context, MeG accumulation was observed mostly in mountain Rosaceae which are exposed to high light intensities resulting in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (Streb et al., 1998). However antioxidants usually accumulate in the cytoplasm, while MeG accumulates in the vacuole. Moreover, although MeG represents an important part of soluble sugars in some species, it is probably not a storage com- pound for carbon since : 1) it does not significantly accumulate in the storage organs such as rhizomes, 2) it does not show a reallocation pattern in leaves over a vegetative season, in contrast to sucrose and glucose; 3) leaves kept in prolonged dark, or senescent leaves, hydrolyse sucrose and glucose, but not MeG which, therefore, does not contribute to prevent cells from autophagy upon carbon starvation. The last hypothesis suggests that the synthesis of metabolically inactive MeG, stored in vacuole, may discard free methanol and protects cell metabolism. Indeed, methanol is a potential solvent of membrane lipids. In addition, its oxidation produces formaldehyde, a very reactive component highly toxic to cell metabolism. Finally, the metabolisation of methanol via the folate-mediated single-carbon metabolism (Gout et al., 2000) might also interfere with the regulation of this pathway.

54 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 1. Representative proton-decoupled in vitro 13C-NMR spectrum of G. montanum leaf extracts. Perchloric acid extract was prepared from adult (1-month old) G. montanum leaves harvested during the first week of July at the Lautaret pass (2100 m a.s.l.) at 10 h a.m. Insets, expanded scales (magnification, X2) showing two of the seven resonance peaks of MeG, corresponding to the methyl group (58.00 ppm) and to the C1 (104.00 ppm) of glucose. The positions of the other MeG resonance peaks are indicated by solid circles. The molecule MeG is represented on top left. Peak assignments are as follows : MeG, methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; s, sucrose; g, glucose; f, fructose; mal, malate; n.i., not identified; ref, reference (100 µmol maleate).

Fig.2. Seasonal variation and organ-specific distribution of MeG, sucrose, fructose, and glucose in Geum montanum leaves. Quantification was done from metabolite profiles obtained using 13C-NMR. Values are means ± SD (n=3).

Research activities 55 International Congress of

Table 1. Accumulation of methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside in different plants. The plants selected in this table were those naturally containing 13C-NMR detectable MeG, and those incubated in the presence of [13C]methanol in which MeG was measured or not detected (nd). The names of 250 other analysed plants distributed in the main families of the French flora, in which MeG was not detected, are not mentioned. In particular, MeG was not detected in ten Rosaceae from the subfamilies Spiraeoideae and Maloideae. In red, plants cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret.

Fig.3. Examples of plants used for this study cultivated at the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret. From left to right : Geum coccineum (Balkans), Geum heterocarpum (a rare plant in the Alps), Woronovia elegans (Siberia).

56 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Phénoclim, a research project on phenology in the Alps

Gwladys MATHIEU and Anne DELESTRADE Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’Altitude Observatoire du Mont-Blanc, Chamonix, France

Résumé Le Centre de Recherches sur les Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA) a lancé et coordonne depuis l’automne 2004 le programme de recherche Phénoclim qui a pour objectif la mise en place d’un réseau de suivi à long terme de la phénologie de la végétation dans les Alpes, en lien avec les changements climatiques. Une des particularités de Phénoclim est de s’intéresser à l’effet des conditions locales (situation géographique, altitude, exposition) sur l’impact du changement climatique sur la végétation. Les observations phénologiques sont menées par un réseau d’observateurs (professionnels et amateurs) dans les Alpes françaises et le Valais suisse. Huit espèces d’arbres et 2 espèces herbacées sont inclues dans le suivi, avec 7 stades phénologiques notés, du début à la fin de la période de végétation. Soixante-cinq sites d’étude de la végétation, situés entre 250 et 2150 m d’altitude, ont été suivis en 2006. Sur ces 65 sites, 35 ont été équipés d’une station de mesure de température, spécialement conçue pour le projet, afin de pouvoir corréler température et date d’occurrence des événement phénologiques. En complément de l’étude scientifique, Phénoclim comporte un important volet pédagogique, de sensibilisation et d’éducation à l’environnement, qui s’adresse aux particuliers et écoles des Alpes françaises et du Valais suisse. Plusieurs espaces protégés, dont le Jardin Alpin du Lautaret et le Jardin Alpin de Champex, prennent part au programme. Pour permettre les échanges entre le public, les observateurs et le CREA, une partie du site Internet du CREA est dédiée à Phénoclim (www.crea.hautesavoie.net), avec une visualisation des données et une analyse des résultats accessibles à tous. Une extension du programme dans le futur, à d’autres espaces protégés et jardins botaniques sur l’arc alpin est envisagée.

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The Research Centre of Alpine tude and climate and ultimately to assess Ecosystems (CREA) has launched in 2004 the long-term impacts of climatic varia- a research programme called “Phéno- tions on vegetation. clim”. Phénoclim focuses on vegetation phenology as an indicator of climate The Phénoclim network change in the Alps. Vegetation observations are carried out The interest in phenology, the study of the by a network of observers, coordinated timing of life-cycle events of organisms1, by the CREA. The network was launched has grown quickly in the last decade. in autumn 2004, and covers a large part Recent studies have extensively demons- of the French Alps and a small part of the trated the importance of phenological Wallis canton in Switzerland. It aims at in- studies to describe and understand the cluding other alpine regions in the near effects of climate change on ecosystems. future. In 2006, Phénoclim had 86 parti- A meta-analysis conducted by C. Parme- cipants (83 in the French Alps, 3 in Wallis san and G. Yohe (2003) on 677 species canton). from a large range of taxa (woody plants, Two types of observers are involved in herbaceous plants, birds, insects, amphi- Phénoclim : professionals working in diffe- bians and fishes) showed a significant rent types of protected areas (botanical mean advancement of spring events gardens, national parks, regional parks) by 2.3 days per decade for 62% of the and participants from the general public species during the last century, and this (environmental organizations, individuals change is related to an increase in tem- and primary and secondary schools) (Fig. perature2. The most important message 1). The CREA is still expanding the Phéno- is that the observed changes in climate clim network, e.g. by increasing the num- have already significantly impacted natu- ber of protected areas in the network. ral systems3,4. It gives a first indication and warning of the potential large changes The Phénoclim protocol that might occur if mean temperature The participation of the general public continues to increase by 1.4 to 5.8°C glo- implies a relatively simple field protocol, bally this century or 2 to 6.3°C as predic- easy to understand and in particular doa- ted for Europe5-7. ble by children. Phenological changes have the poten- Study area tial to contribute to the climate change The study area is the Alps. In 2006, 65 stu- impact debate because many historic dy sites of vegetation were monitored, all observations exist (gathered by nume- over the French Alps and a small part of rous phenological monitoring networks)8- the Wallis canton – Switzerland, between 9. There is actually a need to ensure the 250 m and 2150 m a.s.l. The study sites are continuation of existing networks and to relatively well distributed with respect to invest in the expansion and creation of altitude with 34 sites located between new networks to provide better global 250 and 1000 m and 31 sites located coverage and cover areas where few between 1000 and 2150 m (Fig. 2). Howe- observations are available. The latter is ver, the latitudinal gradient is not yet well the case of mountainous regions. represented with more study sites located The objective of Phénoclim was therefore in the Northern Alps (47 sites) than in the to correct for the lack of phenological ob- Southern Alps (18 sites). The objective is to servations in the French Alps by setting up sample all the alpine ranges, with a better a new monitoring programme. The main representation of Northern vs. Southern research objective of Phénoclim was to Alps, inner vs. external Alps, which have measure phenological changes as indi- different climatic influences (e.g. Mediter- cator of climate change in the Alps, and ranean, oceanic, continental). We plan more specifically to understand better furthermore to monitor vegetation pheno- how vegetation responds to local condi- logy along altitudinal gradients of about tions such as geographic exposition, alti- 1000 m at 6 locations throughout the re-

58 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens gion (this is already done in the Bauges min and stocked on a memory card, that and the Mont-Blanc massif in France). can be changed manually. The card’s Species memory can store data up to a period of 40 days. Thirty three stations are installed Phenoclim monitors the phenology of 10 in vegetation study sites of Phénoclim and species (Table 1). They represent different we plan to install 100 temperature stations plant functional types : in total. • 5 tree species : Picea abies, Larix deci- These stations will provide temperature dua, Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, data which are closely related to the Sorbus aucuparia, Fraxinus exelsior; temperature experienced by the plants, • 2 shrub species : Corylus avellana, Sy- depending on local conditions (altitude, ringa vulgaris; slope, geographical situation) and will • 2 herbaceous species : Primula veris, allow correlating phenology to climatic Tussilago farfara factors. They will also provide information Three species are monitored per study on snow depth and duration (Fig. 4). site, with 3 marked individuals per site. Monitoring is done on the same indivi- Results duals during several years as the species First, Phénoclim should allow us to better studied are all perennial. These species understand the relationships between are common in the Alps, easily recogniza- phenology and local variables such as ble by non-specialists, present on a large altitude, slope, exposure to the sun and range of altitude and studied as climate geographic localisation. Figure 5 and change indicators in other phenology re- 6 show the altitudinal dependence of search programmes9-11. flowering (45 individuals) and leaf unfolding (55 individuals) for Hazel and of bu- Phenological observations dburst for Ash (78 individuals) and Larch Seven phenophases are monitored (3 in (48 individuals) in spring 2006. In both ca- spring and 4 in autumn) (Table 2). Obser- ses there is a clear delay of the timing of vations are carried out every 8 days by the the phenophases with altitude. The impor- same group of persons. These phenopha- tance of the delay depends on the spe- ses provide a measure of the beginning of cies (Hazel flowering : 4.3 days per 100 m, the vegetation activity and senescence Hazel leaf unfolding : 3.6 days per 100 m, 10-13 in relation with temperature variations . Ash budburst : 3.3 days per 100 m, Larch Meteorological data budburst : 3.3 days per 100 m). Further In mountainous areas, weather conditions analyses will lead to a better understan- often vary at small temporal and spatial ding of the responses of species to clima- scales. The existing network of weather tic factors and to evaluate the differen- stations is then too fragmented to be ces of response between species. used when studying detailed relationships Second, the relationship between phe- between phenology and climatic factors nology and climate variation and chan- at a small scale14-15. Meteorological data ges can be assessed when time series are for Phénoclim will be provided through the longer. Figures 7 and 8 show the interan- implementation of a temperature stations nual variability of the timing of budburst network, designed for this project (Fig. 3). for Silver Birch (21 individuals) and Larch These stations are composed of a 2 m high (29 individuals) between spring 2005 and pole on which 4 temperature sensors are spring 2006 (comparison based on the fixed vertically at different heights (5 cm in same individuals monitored during these the ground, right on the earth, 30 cm and 2 years). There is a general delay in 2006 2 m above the ground). A second 1 m compared with 2005, due to the diffe- high pole is connected to the station and rence in temperature with a cold spring contains an electronic card and batteries in 2006. Note that the differences obser- for energy supply. Temperature of the air ved for Birch are the same for all the in- and the ground are registered every 15 dividuals (2.5 days per 100 m in 2005 and

Research activities 59 International Congress of

2006), whereas for Larch, the delay in the used in the gardens for public awareness timing of budburst increases with altitude and education and to built educational (7 days of difference between 2005 and programmes with neighbouring schools. 2006 at 1000 m asl, but 16 days of difference between the same individuals at Acknowledgements 1900 m asl, which correspond to 2.3 days This program had received financial sup- per 100 m in 2005 and 3.6 days per 100 port from Région Rhône-Alpes, FEDER, Ré- m in 2006). It will be interesting to make gion PACA, Fondation Somfy, Fondation the same comparison over several years Nicolas Hulot, Patagonia. and then examine the general patterns towards delay or advance, to have an References indication of climate change impact. As 1. Van Vliet AJH, Schwartz MD (2002). Phenology and the programme started only two years climate : the timing of life-cycle events as indica- ago, the results presented here give just a tors of climatic variability and change. International general indication of the results expected Journal of Climatology 22 : 1713-1714 from Phénoclim. 2. Parmesan C, Yohe G (2003) A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421: 37-42 Conclusion 3. Root, T.L. & al. (2003). Fingerprints of global warm- The preliminary results show the interest of ing on wild animals and plants. Nature 421 : 57-60 a project involving actively the general 4. Walther G-R & al. (2002).Ecological responses to public. With a simple protocol, we could recent climate change. Nature 416 : 389-395 obtain valuable data. The quantity of 5. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change data collected and the size of the area (2001) Climate change 2001 : The scientific basis. covered by the monitoring scheme could Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK compensate for the relatively low preci- 6. Climatic Research Unit (2003) Global average sion of some of the data collected (e.g., temperature change 1856-2003. On line [http:// once a week). Moreover, Phénoclim is a www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/data/temperature] good medium of education for the gene- 7. European Environment Agency (2004) Impacts of Europe’s changing climate. An indicator-based as- ral public. The CREA is developing a strong sessment. EEA Report. EEA, Copenhagen, Denmark educational component for schools in 8. Van Vliet AJH & al. (2003) The European Phenol- addition to the scientific study. Phéno- ogy Network. International Journal of Biometeorol- clim aims at raising the public awareness ogy 47 : 202-212 of environmental and climatic change, 9. Menzel A, Jakobi G, Ahas R, Scheifinger H (2003) in particular through the use of the web- Variations of the climatilogical growing season (1951- site www.crea.hautesavoie.net. We also 2000) in Germany compared to other countries. International Journal of Climatology 23 : 793-812 explain the role of research organization 10. Theurillat J-P, Schlüssel A (2000) Phenology and and the way they are working. distribution strategy of key plant species within the In addition to the public participation, subalpine-alpine ecocline in the Valaisan Alps (Swit- we want to include in Phénoclim more zerland). Phytocoenologica 30 : 439-456 professional organisms working on vege- 11. Defila C & Clot B (2005) Phytophenological trends tation in the Alps and in particular bota- in the Swiss Alps, 1951-2002. Meteorologishe Zeitschrift nical gardens. Phenological observations vol.14-2 : 191-196 are easy to carry out for this type of orga- 12. Chmielewsky FM, Rötzer T (2002) Annual and spatial variability of the beginning of the growing season nisms where permanent staff is working in in Europe in relation to air temperature changes. the field every day during the vegetation Climate Research 19 : 257-264 period. This could be a mean to develop 13. Menzel A, Fabian P (1999) Growing season ex- research activities in the gardens without tended in Europe. Nature 397 : 659 too much investment, to add to the va- 14. Beniston M (1997) Climatic change at high eleva- lues of existing historical phenological tion sites : an overview. Climatic Change 36 : 233-251 data made in different gardens, to share 15. Météo France (2005). Une étude climatologique information concerning phenology and des Alpes apporte un nouveau signe du réchauffe- ment du climat to ensure a long-term monitoring scheme On line [http://www.meteofrance.com/FR/actus/ of vegetation. Phénoclim could also be dossier/article.jsp?docid=11700]

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Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens 14

Chamonix 12 10 8 Grenoble Number of study sites 6 Number of study sites 4 2 Nice 0

500 1000 1500 2000 Fig. 1. Phénoclim network in 2006 - Map of the observers (in blue : professionals Mean altitudeMean (m) altitude (m) and protected areas, in red : schools and private individuals). Fig. 2. Distribution of altitude of study sites in 2006.

Type of plants Species Scientific name Nb individuals Altitudinal range Trees Spruce Picea abies 127 448 m – 2136 m European Larch Larix decidua 66 485 m – 2136 m Silver Birch Betula pendula 119 278 m – 1790 m Downy Birch Betula pubescens 8 485 m – 2136 m Ash Fraxinus excelsior 134 250 m – 1600 m Rowan Sorbus aucuparia 29 690 m – 2136 m Shrubs Hazel Corylus avellana 101 250 m – 1330 m Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris 35 300 m – 1400 m Herbaceous Primerose Primula veris 22 250 m – 1370 m Colt’s foot Tussilago farfara 37 485 m – 2136 m Table 1: Studied species, with number of individuals studied per species.

Autumn phenophases Spring phenophases Species Leaf colouring Leaf fall Budburst Leaf unfolding Flowering Beginning (92) 50% (94) 50% (95) Bare (97) Beginning (07) Beginning (11) Beginning (61) Picea abies Larix decidua Betula pendula Betula pubescens Sorbus aucuparia Fraxinus excelsior Corylus avellana Syringa vulgaris Primula veris Tussilago farfara

Table 2. Studied phenophases, with BBCH scale codification equivalent.

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- 5 cm 30 cm

0 cm 2 m

Fig. 3. Phénoclim temperature Fig. 4. Temperature data provided by a Phénoclim temperature station station. (Vallorcine – France, 1920 m a.s.l).

Fig. 5. Altitudinal dependence of spring Fig. 6. Altitudinal dependence of budburst for phenophases for Corylus avellana - flowering and Fraxinus excelsior and Larix decidua. leaf unfolding.

Fig. 7. Altitudinal dependence of budburst- Fig. 8. Altitudinal dependence of budburst- Interannual variability of Betula pendula. Interannual variability of Larix decidua.

62 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Botanic Gardens and their implication in the international strategies

Maïté DELMAS Département des Jardins botaniques et zoologiques, Muséum National d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France

The first botanic gardens were red new knowledge and know how but created in the XVIth century (Pisa 1545, also new facilities to survive (cold frames, Padua 1546, Bologna 1548 and later in glasshouses etc.). New classifications and France with Montpellier (1597) and Paris thematic presentations were devised (1626). to exhibit them and record keeping became more and more organised. As the The evolution of the missions and roles of zoological parks, the botanic gardens botanic gardens became renowned as centres where ele- Under the administration of Universi- ments of the world’s biodiversity could be ties, these gardens were devoted to the observed and studied. teaching of Botany. During the XVIIth Much later, in the middle of the XXth cen- century, alongside the development of tury, the first fears about the major degra- transport and navigation, the number of dation that biodiversity was going to face botanic gardens increased rapidly. They if no action was taken were expressed. became centres for the introduction of Since then, the botanic gardens com- plants and new gardens were created munity have realised they were in a key throughout the world. Faced with a mas- position to engage in the protection our sive increase in plant collections, the first natural environment. It is through Botanic gardens became not only places where Gardens that the first measures were ta- plants of therapeutic interest would be ken to help preserve biodiversity for future found and where their medicinal prop- generations. erties taught but also places where ele- It is now admitted that up to 100.000 of ments of the flora from far away countries the world’s plant species are considered could be discovered. endangered. Botanic Gardens Conser- A new organisation was to be sought. vation International recognises that bota- The tropical and subtropical plants requi- nic gardens hold 33% of all plant species

Research activities 63 International Congress of between 80,000 to 100,000 living plant Congress for Botanic Gardens in Barce- species. Among these impressive ex situ lona, the first ever internationally agreed collections, some plants are rare or en- upon targets in biodiversity conservation dangered in their natural habitats and were planned with the very challenging others are extinct in the wild but cultiva- objective to be achieved by 2010. ted in botanic gardens. Conservation is On the European level, the Action Plan carried out through ex situ conservation for European Botanic Gardens (April programmes using the living collections, 2000) with its 35 objectives and the Euro- through restoration and reintroduction pean Strategy for plant conservation (3rd programmes (using plant materials and Planta Europa Conference, Pruhonice knowledge) and through in situ conserva- June 2001) with 42 targets provide the fra- tion. Altogether, the world’s botanic gar- meworks and directions for plant conser- dens receive more than 200 million visitors vation in Europe. per year; their education and public awareness programmes also play a key role in A National Initiative helping people understand the need to In France in 1995, JBF the French and conserve biodiversity. French speaking countries network of Bo- tanic Gardens elaborated a Charter for The International frameworks for plant Botanic gardens which establishes the conservation tasks for contemporary Botanic Gardens. The International Union for Nature Conser- In France, a number of gardens have de- vation (IUCN) created in 1987 Botanic cided to base their actions on the deon- Gardens Conservation International tology of this charter thus confirming their (BGCI) to link all the botanic gardens will to join in the movement of European around conservation and education and international institutions willing to par- programmes. BGCI was the initiator of a ticipate in the conservation of plant bio- major call for plant conservation, the First diversity. This Charter is organised around Gran Canaria Declaration, 1989. In 1992, different activities : implication in research the Convention on Biological Diversity programmes, in conservation, educa- (CBD), set the scope for Botanic Gardens tion and general public awareness. The in the world. In 2000, at the first World Bo- tanic Gardens Congress in Asheville, the access to the charter is given on a vo- botanic gardens endorsed the Gran Ca- luntary basis; the institution seeking to naria Declaration as a general framework adhere to the agreement subjects itself for the development of a Global Plant to a thorough assessment of its activi- Conservation Strategy (GSPC). The GSPC ties and facilities. The first prerequisite recognised by the CBD became an ur- is that the Botanic Garden participates gent international priority for botanic gar- in providing knowledge and promoting dens. The scope of the Global Strategy conservation an education of plant for Plant Conservation fits in completely biodiversity. The current 22 affiliated bo- with the activities and missions of modern tanic gardens have become part of a Botanic gardens : understanding and network of francophone institutions wor- documenting plant diversity, conserving king on the same scientific and techni- plant diversity, using plant diversity sustai- cal bases and following rules for the ex- nably, promoting education & awareness change of plant material respecting the programmes about plant diversity and fi- national and international conventions. nally participating in capacity building for The charter is based on the more recent plant diversity. An International Agenda definition of a botanic garden : “an insti- for Botanic Gardens in Conservation was tution holding collections of documented initiated by BGCI to help botanic gardens living plants for the purposes of scientific contribute to plant conservation, environ- research, conservation, display and edu- mental education and sustainable de- cation” Peter Wyse Jackson Botanic Gar- velopment. In 2004, at the Second World dens Conservation International, 1998).

64 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

The organisation of the world botanic Botanic Gardens in the EU as well as a gardens model for the exchange of plant mate- BGCI records more than 2000 botanic rial (IPEN) following the requirements of gardens in 150 countries. This impressive article 15th of the CDB. Every three years number covers a great variety of institu- the European Botanic gardens meet on tions from large botanic gardens with im- the occasion of EuroGard to examine portant historical backgrounds, extensive the progress in the implementation of the plant collections as well as research, con- 35 objectives of the action plan. The 25 servation and education programmes to member countries (Iceland, Norway and smaller institutions with limited but specific Switzerland as observers) are represented and accurate collections well anchored by one person elected by the national at the regional and local level and play- network of botanic gardens. ing a key role in education and conservation. Europe itself accounts for more A national network, the example of than 650 botanic gardens organised as a France network : the European Botanic Gardens In France and in French speaking coun- Consortium. The Botanic gardens com- tries, “Jardins Botaniques de France et munity is still expanding with new botanic des pays francophones” (JBF) have brou- gardens being created in many parts of ght together, since 1979 over sixty botanic the world : Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Chiang gardens, alpine gardens and arboreta. Mai, Thailand. Europe is active also with 3 The aim of JBF is to foster a network of ex- new botanic gardens in Spain, the Eden pertise, promote botanic gardens to the Project in the U.K, Bordeaux local authorities and the general public, participate in the conservation of rare Today, two major associations link the and endangered species and enhance a world botanic gardens : the International better understanding of the importance Association of Botanic Gardens (IABG in of plants in our lives through educatio- 1954 is first world network of Botanic Gar- nal activities. The association organises dens. It funded to promote cooperation workshops, field trips and offers help to between botanic gardens, arboreta and new members and supports actively the other institutes holding living plant collec- training of “Jardinier Botaniste”. For more tions of scientific importance, to promote information look at the Web site http:// taxonomic studies for the benefit of the www.bgci.org.uk/jbf-fr/. international community and horticulture, as an art and as a science. Botanic Gar- The GSPC recognises the importance dens Conservation International (BGCI) of genebanks as a contribution to plant which has presently 500+ members in conservation. Spain was among the first 118 countries, offers an extensive help to countries to organise coordinated pro- botanic gardens by developing policies, grammes for the conservation of indige- guidelines and tools to support the best nous plants (REDBAG - Spanish network of practices in plant conservation, environ- seedbanks of wild plants and BASEMAC mental education and sustainable deve- (Macaronesian botanic garden gene- lopment. banking initiative). Since November 2004, European Seed Conservation Network Botanic gardens in Europe (ENSCONET) a coordinating action finan- th At a European level, both networks par- ced under the 6 Framework Programme ticipated in the creation of the European of the EU links 19 partners Institutions in 12 Botanic Gardens Consortium which was countries. established in 1994 to plan Europe-wide In France, a recent initiative links five par- initiatives for botanic gardens and de- tners (ENGREF, ONF, INRA, MNHN, Paris Uni- velop national action plans to contribute versity XI) in a network of Public Arboreta towards implementing the CBD. to coordinate activities and plant collec- The European Botanic Gardens Consor- tions. A first collective project appeared tium has developed the Action Plan for soon after the creation of the network to

Research activities 65 International Congress of help gather information for the study of work packages. International strategies, the effects of climate change. The mem- and action plans for plant conservation bers with phenological observations on set the scope for their new missions. To- a list of species in defined sites send the day, they share common objectives and data to a common database. work together in a spirit of cooperation. Common tools as databases, transfer The importance of networking for botanic formats and publications are at their dis- gardens posal to help them work more efficiently. The Botanic gardens of the world present Joint congresses help them to review ac- a great diversity. Created over a period tions and plan their future tasks. of 400 years, they vary greatly in their size, This International Congress on Alpine and plant collections, resources and geo- Arctic Gardens has been the occasion to graphical position. All these institutions get together members working in alpine worked in isolation until 50 years ago. It is and arctic Botanic gardens and discuss now very encouraging to see that every- the opportunity to create a network of al- where in the world Botanic gardens now pine and arctic botanic gardens. participate in networks doing specific

66 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Climate change : the role of botanic gardens

Paul P. SMITH and Clare TENNER-TRIVEDI Millennium Seed Bank Project, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K.

Résumé Les jardins botaniques ont à jouer un rôle majeur dans la compréhension et dans la gestion du changement climatique. A partir d‘exemples du Millennium Seed Bank Project, nous expliquons comment le Jardin Botanique Royal de Kew travaille avec des institutions partenaires pour mesurer les impacts du changement climatique sur la diversité végétale, pour collecter et stocker des graines comme mesure de prévention et les utiliser pour des mesures de restauration d‘habitats. Ce travail suggère aussi des moyens par lesquels les jardins botaniques peuvent contribuer aux défis posés par le changement climatique.

three main ways : through measuring the There are various apocalyptic cli- impacts of climate change on plant di- mate change scenarios in the scientific versity; by helping humanity to adapt to literature : up to 40% of the Cape’s fyn- climate change by insuring against the bos gone in the next 100 years (Malcolm loss of plant diversity; and by restoring et al., 2002); 60% of Europe’s mountain and creating habitats to ensure they deli- flora at risk of extinction in the next 75 ver ecosystem services to people. years (Thuiller et al., 2005), and so on. The encouraging thing, perhaps, is that there are as many different opinions as there Measuring the effects of climate change are scientists. There is now irrefutable evi- on plant diversity dence that climate change is taking pla- Plant assemblages or habitats are often ce, but we don’t know for sure how fast used by ecologists as surrogates for whole that change will be, or how it will affect ecosystems, because plants are the basis our planet. of life, upon which so much else depends. Against this background, botanic gar- It therefore makes sense to look at plants dens (BGs) can help us to understand and first if we are to understand the impact of meet the challenge of climate change in climate change on ecosystem functio-

Research activities 67 International Congress of ning, and biodiversity as a whole. Plants Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) sug- have two main ways of dealing with cli- gests that some plants adapt to different mate change – they can move or they climatic conditions by changing their be- can adapt. haviour (Daws et al., 2004). For example, We know that certain types of plant are the horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocasta- better at moving long distances than num, which was introduced to Britain from others. For example, plants like dandelions the Balkans in the 16th century, produces (Taraxacum spp.) that produce light, wind seeds that are five times larger in Greece dispersed seeds are able to move further, than in Scotland. In addition, Greek horse more rapidly, than plants like poppies (Pa- chestnuts show some tolerance to desic- paver spp.) that just drop their seeds. The cation, which enables them to survive pe- problem is that for many plant species, riods of drought. The same species living irrespective of their dispersal method, hu- in Scotland produces smaller seeds with mans have disrupted that movement. For less drought resistance. example, Kenilworth racecourse sits in the Perhaps the most useful way that botanists middle of municipal Capetown, and the can assess the impact of climate change 40 hectare field that the horses run round on plant diversity is to measure that im- is one of the few remaining fragments pact in the field. Whenever MSBP seed of sand fynbos (Fig. 2). These 40 hecta- collectors are in the field they collect infor- res contain around 270 plant species, 30 mation about the wild plants that are the of which are nationally threatened and source of the seed. In this way the MSBP three of which occur nowhere else but has collected data from around 20,000 Kenilworth. The three Kenilworth ende- wild plant populations, across the globe mics are a heather (Erica margaritacea), in the past five years. For each of these a reed (Restio micans) and a sedge (Tria- populations we now have a baseline, noptiles solitaria). All have relatively short against which future population fluctua- distance dispersal capability, and none tions and movement can be monitored. of them have anywhere to go. One small In addition, the seed collections themsel- advantage that these plants do have, ves represent a genotypic sample frozen however, is a short generation time. This in time, against which future genetic or might enable them to adapt and keep biochemical adaptation can be measu- pace with climate change that way. Spe- red. This is the first step towards a global cies with both long generation times and early warning system. If we go back and short distance dispersal capability are monitor these populations again in 10 or probably most vulnerable to accelerated 20 years time we will be able to measure climate change. how climate change is affecting different One of the most important ways in which species. BGs can help increase our understanding of the effects of climate change is Human adaptation : insuring against the by measuring plant adaptation and mo- loss of plant diversity vement. Menzel at al. (2006) have taken When policy makers talk about climate phenological records from 542 plant spe- change they use the terms “mitigation“ cies from 21 European countries, and com- and “adaptation“. Mitigation includes pared them with climate data over the strategies such as reducing our carbon past 30 years (1971-2000). These authors emissions, but by “adaptation“ they mean conclude that spring has advanced by human adaptation to climate change. an average of 2.5 days per decade, and How are we going to cope? One of the this is reflected in the flowering and- frui most obvious human adaptation strate- ting patterns of the species studied. Such gies is seed banking as an insurance poli- phenological studies help to measure cy. Throughout history, people have been plant adaptability, and how different cli- putting seeds away for the next season or matic conditions effect different species. for a rainy day. This is the mission of the Some work carried out recently at the Millennium Seed Bank Project, which aims

68 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens to collect and conserve the seeds of 10% crops. Provided we have the seeds, any- of the World’s wild plant species by 2010 thing is possible. (Fig. 1 & 3). About 80% of wild plants produce so called ‘orthodox’ seeds, which Challenges can be dried and stored at low tempera- There are many challenges ahead not ture without losing their viability for deca- just for botanic gardens, but for conser- des or even hundreds of years. The MSB vationists in general. A group of represen- currently holds around 15,000 species of tatives from botanic gardens across the wild plant. By 2010, this will be 30,000. world met earlier this year in Gran Cana- ria to discuss some of these challenges, Human adaptation : restoring and using and suggest ways forward. The results of plant diversity this meeting are captured in the Gran Of course if we persuade people to pay Canaria Declaration II (2006), which ma- the 70 million euros insurance premium kes recommendations for policy makers, that it costs to collect and bank these researchers and conservation practitio- 30,000 species, we need to be sure that ners that relate to climate change. This we can pay out if the worst happens. This workshop was also an opportunity to start means that we have to be certain that to think about some of the things that BGs we can turn these seeds into the living can do in the context of climate change. plant communities that deliver the goods Some of the ideas discussed are presen- and services that we need. To date, MSBP ted in Box 1, below. partner institutions have used around 500 Perhaps the biggest challenge to bota- seed collections in restoration and rein- nic gardens is cultural. The role of bota- troduction programmes. However, we still nic gardens as visitor attractions and in have some way to go. The science of res- public education is well understood by toration ecology is still in its infancy, and everyone. Similarly, the role of BGs in ex our understanding of complex habitats is situ conservation is well established. The incomplete. What we can do routinely is real challenge for botanic gardens and to turn the seeds into plants. Every single for the broader conservation community collection that comes into the MSB is ger- is first in accepting that : mination tested. This means that we are carrying out around 10,000 germination “Many plant communities are dynamic tests every year, and most of the species and adaptable, but their composition will that we test have never been germi- be irreversibly altered by climate change nated by man before. The germination in the future. As a result, we may need protocols that result from our studies are to create and/or manage the ongoing probably the most valuable scientific out- development of novel communities to put of the Project because they are the optimally fulfil the need for ecosystem starting point for restoration. The establis- functions and services.“ (Gran Canaria hment and nurturing that must follow are Declaration II, 2006). equally important, and the reconstruction Then, second that people who work in of complex habitats is even further off, botanic gardens as horticulturalists, plant but we should be optimistic. We are more ecologists and taxonomists have a poten- adept at constructing and managing tially significant role to play in the creation complicated plant assemblages than we and management of these plant commu- think. Next time you’re wandering around nities. Such a shift in thinking may take de- Kew or Wakehurst Place, or even looking cades to achieve, but the authors of this at your own garden, remember that in Bri- paper are convinced that the only place tain we cultivate ten times as many plant where the necessary skills, resources and species as occur here naturally. Man has knowledge exist together is in the world’s been managing plant communities for at botanic gardens. We must all rise to this least 10,000 years, be it a flower garden, challenge. a fruit orchard, a woodland or a field of

Research activities 69 International Congress of

References • Menzel & al. (2006) European phenological response to climate change matches the warming • Daws et al (2004) New Phytologist 162 : 157-166 pattern. Global Change Biology 12, 1-8 • Gran Canaria Declaration II : on climate change • Thuiller W, Lavorel S, Araujo MB, Sykes MT, Prentice and plant conservation (2006) Jardin Botanico Canario C (2005) Climate change threats to plant diversity and Botanic Gardens Conservation International in Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of • Malcolm, J.R., Liu, C., Miller, L.B., Allnutt, T. and Sciences, 102 (23), pp.8245-8250 Hansen, L. (2002) Habitats at risk. Global warming and species loss in globally significant terrestrial ecosystems. WWF, Gland, Switzerland

1. All botanists (taxonomists, ecologists, horticulturalists etc.) should routinely record precise locality, population size and threats every time they collect botanical specimens. 2. Develop and implement standard methodologies for monitoring the impact of climate change on plants. 3. Opportunistically carry out field-based research on natural populations of wild plants. 4. Develop a coordinated monitoring programme on impact of climate change on plants and their adaptability both in managed environments and in the wild, based on observations, research, herbarium information etc. 5. Establish and maintain seed collections as an insurance policy for the future. 6. BG horticulture represents an untapped database of knowledge relating to how plants react when translocated to new regions. For 100’s of years BGs have been experimenting in moving plant species out of their natural “bioclimatic envelope” and therefore BG records represent the best database of knowledge on the tolerances and adaptability of plant species. Keep good records! 7. Carry out testing for adaptation – based on a prioritised list of species. 8. The accumulated knowledge of horticulturists on the propagation and management of living plants have direct relevance to adaptive human responses to climate change, such as species translocation and habitat restoration. Again good records need to be kept. 9. Prioritise ex situ conservation activities based on species most at risk from climate change 10. Provide plant material for city greening schemes, afforestation, community planting etc to mitigate against climate change and to raise public awareness. 11. Provide horticultural skills and expertise to a wider range of stakeholders in a changing environment. 12. Develop guidelines on carbon auditing for botanic gardens and take actions to reduce their emissions. 13. Adapt the International Agenda for Botanic Gardens in Conservation to take into account climate change. 14. Develop clear and validated information and messages for education purposes – focus on linking climate change and extinction, with an aim to ensure a basic awareness of the issues and potential consequences.

Box 1. Roles and actions for botanic gardens (BGs) in relation to the study of, adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change.

70 Research activities Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 1. The Millennium Seed Bank Project, Kew Royal Botanic Garden.

Fig. 2. Kenilworth racecourse in South Africa, a 40ha Fig. 3. Mandena nursery in Madagascar, a partner of area with 22 threatened species. Photo P. Smith. the MSB. Photo P. Smith.

Research activities 71 International Congress of

The educational role of the Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden

Romaric PIERREL Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy, France

Résumé Avec le Jardin d’Altitude du Haut Chitelet, les Conservatoire et Jardins Botaniques de Nancy disposent (en plus du Jardin Botanique du Montet) d’un jardin totalement dédié à la culture et à la conservation des plantes alpines. Situé au cœur du Massif vosgien et en bordure de sa plus importante route touristique, ce site constitue un lieu idéal pour sensibiliser le public à la flore alpine et pour communiquer sur la richesse, mais aussi la fragilité des écosystèmes montagnards. C’est pourquoi, tout en augmentant l’attractivité de ce site par son caractère exotique (présentation de plantes originaires des principales régions montagneuses du monde), il fut décidé de donner une place privilégiée à la flore vosgienne. Les différentes présentations thématiques (plantes médicinales, fougères, arbustes, flore des sous-bois et des prairies d’altitude, plantes de tourbières, etc.) occupent une place centrale dans le jardin, disposent d’un étiquetage spécifique et sont largement valorisées par les paysages naturels (prairies, tourbières, hêtraie d’altitude) qui entourent le jardin. Les différentes actions à caractère pédagogique mises en œuvre, tant auprès du grand public que des scolaires, sont réalisées en concertation avec différents partenaires qui partagent l’objectif d’une meilleure connaissance et d’une plus grande protection du patrimoine naturel du Massif vosgien.

Along with the Le Montet Bota- Gardens is the largest botanical structure nical Garden in Nancy, the Haut Chitelet in Eastern France and plays a key role wi- Alpine Garden forms an institution known thin the national network. as the Nancy Conservatory and Botani- cal Gardens, which has inherited a past A brief history of the Vosges garden of nearly 250 years, as the first Botanical The first alpine garden in the Vosges Moun- Garden in Nancy were founded in 1758. tains was founded in 1903 on the initiative The Nancy Conservatory and Botanical of a professor from Nancy, Camille BRU-

72 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

NOTTE, at “Le Monthabey”. The aim was a good overview of the plant life in the to experiment with the acclimatisation of main mountain regions of the world. With exotic fodder crops to improve the alpine over 500 wild species, the centre of the pastures in the High Vosges, which were garden is given over to collections reser- deemed to provide poor nourishment ved for the plant life of the Vosges Moun- for livestock. In 10 years, over 200 species tains. were planted, a little chalet was built and the garden opened for its first visitors. The Garden’s educational function But war destroyed all hope of expansion Education is a priority at the Haut Chitelet and the garden was occupied by French Alpine Garden which has a wide poten- troops during the First World War. By the tial for providing the public with informa- end of the war in 1918, the experimen- tion about vegetation, landscape, flora, tal crops had disappeared, the garden mountain climate, etc., in the Vosges was surrounded by trenches, the stream Mountains and, more generally, about (which provided water for the peat-bog) the special features of mountain environ- had been diverted and the chalet had ments. In particular, the presence of a been partially destroyed. Despite a num- peat-bog and a vast area occupied by ber of reconstruction projects, the Mon- the alpine beech wood provide an out- thabey alpine garden was never rebuilt. standing opportunity for informing the public about the special nature of these Description of the Haut Chitelet Alpine two natural environments that (along with Garden the nearby stubble fields) characterise The Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is on the certain landscapes in the Vosges Moun- north-west slopes of the Hohneck massif tains. at the heart of the High Vosges, at a hei- Apart from the collections reserved for ght of between 1 210 and 1 228 m. exogenous flora (North America, the At this height, the climate is harsh, combi- Caucasus, the Carpathians, the Hima- ning mountain and Atlantic influences, as layas, Japan, etc.), a special place has shown by the following annual weather been set aside for local flora. Nearly 500 averages : 200 days of rain; 165 days of species have been grouped in the centre snow cover; 2 000 to 2 400 mm of water; of the garden and laid out in a number average temperature 3.5 °C. of theme-based collections : peat-bog The Garden was founded between 1966 plants, stubble field plants, forest plants, and 1969, when a series of camps were ferns, château plants (which are to be organised for young French and German found around châteaux, of which there horticulturalists who spent several weeks are many on the Alsace side of the Vos- in summer, gradually constructing the ini- ges), medicinal plants of the Vosges, etc. tial layout. The development work continued year after year, new rockeries were The approach used built, the little chalet was replaced by two Two partners, Ballons des Vosges Regional new buildings, one of which was set aside Park and Education Ministry, are associa- to welcoming the public. 12 000 to 15 000 ted to the folowing projects : visitors are welcome annually during the 4 • The origin of landscapes : presentation months in which the garden is open to the of the great geological phenomena and public (1st June - 30 September). the role played by man. Today, the garden section covers a surface area of one and a half hectares, to • The diversity of natural habitats : tac- which are added the peat-bog (3 hecta- kling notions of ecology to help present res) and the alpine beech wood, making and describe the main natural environ- a total surface area of 11 hectares for the ments. Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden, which is in • The wealth and diversity of plant life : the commune of Xonrupt-Longemer. presenting a few of the symbolic species Nearly 2.800 different grown species give on the massif.

Education and presentation 73 International Congress of

• Fragility and threats : giving informa- • highlighting living collections tion on the fragility of alpine flora and the All the collections reserved for the plant various threats to their survival. life of the Vosges are specially labelled • Preservation and conservation (green signs including local names). To meet the site’s educational objectives, • highlighting the natural environments two approaches have been introduced, The peat-bog can be visited using a pon- one in favour of schools, the other in fa- toon and an explanatory table provides vour of the general public. information on its origin and functions. Similarly, a discovery footpath takes visi- A response adapted to the school year tors through the alpine beech wood forest. The following actions were decided in order to overcome the discrepancy • A visitors’ booklet between school term times and the po- A booklet on the plant life in the Vosges tential for gaining educational value from Mountains is under preparation. the garden. Other actions include : presenting small- • Optimise the hosting of groups in line scale exhibitions in the visitor chalet, par- with the school year, also considering the ticipating in activities in the garden and “4-day week” with classes starting at the surrounding natural areas (La Chaume end of August. Charlemagne Biological Reserve, Fran- kenthal Nature Reserve, etc.), integrat- • Prepare the visits to optimise the two or ing the garden into discovery circuits and three weeks available in June. event schedules. • Consider the idea of “back-to-school outings”, where school groups could visit Conclusion in late August or early September. The Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is part of a network involved in public educa- • Integrate an inter-disciplinary ap- tion. However, in the absence of specia- proach. “Artistic and Cultural Project” list staff, the initiatives it can offer remain classes could be an example to show that modest and we hope that, in the future, the alpine garden can be an outstanding we will be able to offer a permanent set resource for combining Art with Nature. of activities during the two busiest months • Design educational resources to ex- (July and August). We also wish to impro- ploit the garden to the maximum, in class ve the presentation of the activities made or on the spot. to help protect and multiply the rare and In late June 2004, nearly 100 teachers threatened species in the Vosges Moun- from the Gérardmer District were invited tains : tour of the alpine nursery, presenta- to discover the Haut Chitelet. Since then, tion of multiplication trials, production of a more school groups visit us. special collection, etc.).

Attracting the general public With over 1,5 million visitors a year, the Vosges Mountains is under considerable pressure from tourism. For this reason, more than ever, the public must be Illustrations informed of the variety and fragility of the 1. Location of the Haut chitelet Alpine Garden in mountain environment and its plant life. the Vosges mountains The Haut Chitelet Alpine Garden is thus 2. A view on the garden the ideal place to visit to discover, learn 3 & 4. Natural environments in the surroundings about and learn to care for the local of the garden : pontoons in the peat-bog and footpath in the beech forest botanical heritage. In this regard three 5. Activities for schools complementary initiatives have been 6. Special labels for the local flora taken 7. The shop of the garden, on April 22th 2006

74 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

1 2

3 4

5 6

Education and presentation 75 International Congress of

Teaching across the borders : a collaborative project on education for alpine botanic gardens and primary schools in 4 European countries

Costantino BONOMI1, Sara CAMPEGIANI1, Suzanne KAPELARI2, Christian BERTSCH2, Gail BROMLEY3, Catherine WELSBY3, Sue JOHNSON4, Gwen MARSH4, Krassimir KOSSEV5 and Vera GRANCHAROVA5 1Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy; 2University of Inns- bruck, Austria, 3Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, 4University of London, UK, 5Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

Résumé Depuis 1998, le Jardin Botanique Alpin de Viotte (Trente, Italie) avait en projet des activités éducatives visant à développer la conscience de la conservation des plantes. Ces actions sont basées sur des jeux populaires, déclinés sur une base botanique (chasse aux trésors, dominos, etc.), nécessitant une interaction directe entre les visiteurs et les plantes. En octobre 2005, l’Union Européenne a financé un projet impliquant trois autres jardins botaniques (Innsbruck, Sofia, Kew) et l’Institute of Education à Londres pour améliorer l’enseignement de la biologie végétale dans les écoles primaires. Après analyse de l’état des lieux, le projet développe des ressources pour les enseignants sur les thèmes suivants : les plantes et la nourriture, les plantes et l’art, l’écologie, la conservation des plantes.

Education is a key element of other European Botanic Gardens. the mission of a botanic garden as stated in BGCI definition of botanic gardens, Educational Games at Viotte Alpine i.e. “institutions holding documented Botanic Garden collections of living plants for the purposes Education at Viotte Alpine Botanic Gar- of scientific research, conservation, display den aimed at raising awareness of the and education” (Cheney et al., 2000). importance of plants for our life, of the Viotte Alpine Botanic Garden, based in various threats that endanger them in the north east Italy, has been planning and wild and of what ordinary people can do designing education activities since 1998. to help and save them. As a general rule (Marchesoni, 1957, Pedrotti, 1992, Tisi, these activities tried to engage the visitors 1993, Tisi, 1999; Bonomi & Tisi, 2000). This making use of popular games and quests paper will briefly account for these past re-designed and re-formatted with a bo- activities and then focus on a EU project tanic content always with hands on expe- developed in partnership with other 3 riences with plants or plant derived pro-

76 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens ducts with a creative side. The event was and ceramic pots (Fig. 3). All these ob- eventually concluded with a message on jects are in some way linked with or de- sustainability. Two case studies are here rived from plants growing in the Garden. presented. • “Playing to play“ • “Botanical Treasures“ Hunt This particular game was added in 2004. This is basically a non-competitive game Essentially different teams play sequential- as each team follows parallel routes and ly in couples 3 different games (a memory eventually ends up with a treasure (Fig.1). using especially prepared tree cards, a Different maps will lead each team to botanical crosswords and a plant based find a treasure in different locations. Each mastermind) in order to get the necessary team is requested to pass a certain num- materials to design and prepare a further ber of tests (usually 5 or 6) to get all the additional game (a plant based domino) pieces of the treasure map. These tests that they can bring back home to play at include different botanical questions or their own ease. The stress is on having fun demonstrations that can be varied ac- and being relaxed, but all 4 of these pro- cording to season and garden specificity. posed games were re-designed and re- General tests often employed include formatted in other to include plants and painting a plant drawing, matching the plant related issues in the game cards seed with the right cone, matching the and in the tasks, activities and question plant with the product derived from it, re- that participants are required to carry out cognising blindfolded the bark of a tree or as part of the game. Essentially in games the smell or the taste of a plant, preparing that require matching symbols or num- perfumes, oils and creams in a dedica- bers these are replaced by plants; in gated session, learn to distinguish poisonous mes that ask questions or riddles the topic and edible plants such as the medicinal is changed from its original, whatever this yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) from the is, into plants, their uses and the importan- poisonous false hellebore (Veratrum al- ce of their conservation. Where possible bum), etc. When all these requirements participants are stimulated to find out for are fulfilled, all the pieces of the map can themselves answers and solution on the be pieced together and each team can basis of the material provided with the go and look for the treasures that are ac- game rather than recall things they have tually in the garden. Each team member been told or they should already know. will find a different packet of seed with all the information on the current global A collaborative European project on extinction crisis and on the species of education : Plant Science Gardens plant contained in the packet (Fig. 2). Plascigardens (Plant Science Education Along the years the format of the treasure for Primary Schools in European Botanic hunt has been maintained but has been Gardens) is an EU project funded under differently characterized : in 1998 and FP6 in Science-and-Society as a specific 1999 two topics were proposed : edible support action and will run from October plants and curative plants. Summer 2000 2005 to October 2007. It involves three was dedicated to honeybees, honey other botanic gardens (Innsbruck, Austria; and wax with a final session introducing Sofia, Bulgaria; Kew, UK) along with the visitors to the art of candle making with Institute of Education, London (Fig. 4). The natural bee wax. From 2001 onwards the final objective is to develop a number of range of subjects was expanded intro- resources to deliver better plant science ducing new sessions dedicated to hands at the primary level, promoting young on activities such as preparing scented people’s interest in Plant Science, Scien- pouches with plant material, producing ce, Science Education & Scientific Ca- models of flowers with paper or cotton reers; establishing a partnerships between fabric, creating decorations for windows primary schools and their local botanic with a botanical theme, decorating cot- garden. The expected outputs are an en- ton shopping bags, cotton shoes cases quiry centred, multilingual, multicultural

Education and presentation 77 International Congress of plant science education tool focusing on establishing national working groups in all plant diversity, that will include 4 parts : a four countries. They work as a consultation teachers’ pack, teachers resources, bota- group and are made up by primary school nic garden activities and teacher training teachers, representatives of the national seminars. Parts of the programme will be school board, botanic garden educators conducted in class and parts in the bota- and teacher trainers. An essential feature nic garden. The target age group is 8-10. of this process will be a pre-processing the The first phase of the project analysed activities in school, working with concept current plant science educational deli- cartoons (Fig. 5), that address a question very at primary level within both schools (E.g. will a carrot grow without leaves?) education and botanic garden educa- and suggest possible different explanation programmes. 112 teachers in 60 dif- tions. Children will then have to choose ferent primary schools across 4 European one explanation and to justify their choi- countries were contacted. This analysis ce. This method can be applied to a wide highlighted the following difficulties as far variety of topics and situation and might as teaching botany is concerned : lack of also be used to discuss historic experi- time, lack of expertise, uneasiness about ments such as Priestley experiment with teaching botany because specific trai- used air (1772). Simple experiments could ning on these topics is rarely provided. then be set up to further investigate the Harlen (1999) identified a series of strate- question (E.g. question : is the air we exha- gies that teachers used to cope with low le the same as the one around us? Try and confidence in their ability to teach- sci breath into water containing KOH and a ence, including keeping to topics where colour indicator. See that Elodea does their confidence is greater, avoiding all not produce oxygen in distilled water, but the simplest practical work and any but works properly in water with carbon equipment that could go wrong. To meet dioxide. The activities carried out in the this needs botanic gardens can provide botanic garden will include experiments expert knowledge, first hand experience and activities that can hardly be conduc- and education facilities including equip- ted in primary schools due to lack of plant ment for conducting experiments. How- material, equipment and expertise (e.g. ever at present botanic garden educa- experiments to demonstrate starch pro- tors rarely know what children already duction; observation of stomata, leaf sec- know. Usually they do not have contact tions and starch bodies; chromatography with teachers and pupils before their visit of chlorophyll-solution; observation of pa- to the garden. They merely end up work- rasitic plants without chlorophyll, sun and ing with children who anticipate a joyful shade plants etc). The activities will then trip more than an active learning process. be post-processed and assessed in school Studies have shown that in order to obtain (e.g. pupils will get pieces of a puzzle and the best learning results in informal set- will have to arrange them into a sensible tings pre- and post-processing in school is order). The final 2 phases of the project needed (Cox-Petersen et al., 2003) will incorporate trialling the materials over A possible solution lies in strengthening an 8 month period with selected schools; the links between botanic gardens and analysis of evaluation from both teachers primary schools. Plascigarden will draw and children; final production and dis- attention to the convenience of partner- semination of resources; development of ships between primary schools, botanic training materials for teachers and bota- gardens and national education authori- nic garden educators. ties. The second stage of the project will develop the resources for teachers and Conclusions botanic garden educators, including ma- It is hoped that these activities will contri- terials on 4 themes : food, plants in art, bute make new generations aware of the ecology and conservation. In doing this a importance of plant conservation for the bottom up approach has been followed, sustainable development of our society

78 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens and plant in them a sense of stewardships • Marchesoni V (1957) Il Giardino Alpino alle Viotte and care for our natural resources and sul Monte Bondone. Finalità e confronti con altri giardini alpini. Natura Alpina, 8(3) : 69-75 plants in particular. • Pedrotti F (1992) Il Giardino botanico alpino alle Viotte del Monte Bondone (Trento), in : Raimondo References F.M. (ed.), Orti botanici, Giardini alpini, Arboreti italiani : 417-422, Grifo, Palermo • Bonomi C, Tisi F (2000) Giochi estivi con le piante negli Orti Botanici del Trentino, Inform. Bot. Ital. 32 (1- • Tisi F (1993) Allestimento del Centro Informativo 3) : 109-111 sulle piante alpine presso il Giardino Botanico Alpino delle Viotte di Monte Bondone, Museol. sci. IX :423- • Cheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson 429 PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National • Tisi F (1999) Giardino Botanico Alpino delle Viotte Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise di monte Bondone : attività recenti. Natura Alpina, 50(1) : 43-50 • Cox-Petersen A, Marsh DD, Kisiel J, Melber LM (2003) An investigation of guided school tours, student learning, and science reform : Recommendations at a museum of natural history Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 200–218 • Harlen W (1999) Effective Teaching of Science. The Scottish Council for Research in Education, Edinburgh

Fig. 1. The non-competitive botanical treasure hunt. Left : each team follows parallel routes and eventually ends up with a treasure; different maps will lead to different locations. Right : the final prize of the botanical treasure hunt, a packet of seeds with all the information on the current global extinction crisis and on the species of plant contained in the packet.

Fig. 2. Two tests that each team is requested to pass in order to get the pieces of the treasure map : recognising blindfolded the smell of a plant (left), matching the seeds with the right cone (right).

Education and presentation 79 International Congress of

Fig. 3. Creative hands on activities held during botanic garden education such producing models of flowers with seeds (left), decorating ceramic pots (right).

Fig. 4. Plascigarden project. Left : the team (from left to right at the back : Vera Grancharova, Costantino Bonomi, Sue Johnson, Suzanne Kapelari, Haral Geir, Sabine; at the front : Krassimir Kossev, Gail Bromley, Georg Gärtner). Right : education activities in Innsbruck botanic garden.

Fig. 5. A concept cartoon : a useful prompt for discussion, it address a question and suggest possible different explanations. Children will have to choose one explanation and to justify their choice.

80 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in the Trenta valley (Slovenia)

Nada PRAPROTNIK Slovene Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, Slovenia

This year, 80 years have passed plot of land for gardening purposes in the since the founding of Juliana, the first and valley. Although it was not far from Trieste, oldest Alpine botanical garden in a na- he did not wish to have the garden situa- tural environment in the territory of Slove- ted higher up, as this would render the nia. access to and its maintenance quite difficult. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, The Southeastern Limestone Alps are the garden was longer accessible to him. home to very diverse Alpine, Central Eu- Albert Bois de Chesne died in 1953 in his ropean, Illyrian and sub-Mediterranean native Trieste. floristic elements. And all this floristic diver- 2 sity is splendidly reflected in our botanical The garden, which covers 2,572 m , is si- garden. tuated some 50 metres above the Church of St. Mary, on the slope of Kukla at an alti- Juliana was founded in 1926 by Albert Bois tude of 800 metres. Only 30 metres below de Chesne, born in 1871 in Trieste. He gra- the garden flows the lively emerald Soca duated from the city’s grammar school, river. Owing to the moisture, light and sha- then continued his studies at the Faculty de pervading in this sheltered and varied of Forestry in Zürich. As his father was a terrain, strewn with rocks of all sizes, he wood merchant, Albert was unable to considered it most suitable for his plans. dedicate himself to his favourite subject The preliminary works were completed – botany, but was forced to succeed to in the autumn of 1926, and in the spring his father’s trade. In Slavonia, he bought of next year he began to collect plants several extensive forests, then sold them in the mountains. He brought them to the in 1925 and returned to Trieste. Now he garden and planted them there, wishing was finally able to satisfy his old, hidden to create at least similar living conditions desire. He already had the right of hun- for these plants as enjoyed by them in na- ting in Trenta, and now he purchased a ture. As he did not know much about how

Education and presentation 81 International Congress of the garden should be arranged, as he a horticultural monument (or the so-called was always ready to admit, he often as- monument of shaped nature). After 1953, ked for advice from the greatest specia- it was looked after by the Bovec Council lists in this field. Thus he was greatly aided and Gorica Tourist Union, but still had no by Henri Correvon and Lino Vaccari, the expert management. well known experts of upland flora, who were also the key men in the founding of In 1959, the garden began to be rearran- the first Alpine botanical gardens in Swit- ged once more. In January 1962, Juliana zerland at the end of the 19th century. was finally taken over by the Slovenian His good friend Julius Kugy, on the other Museum of Natural History in Ljubljana. hand, told him about several localities of In 1981, when the Law on the protection the rarest plants in the Julian Alps. of Triglav National Park was passed, the garden as a monument of shaped natu- The garden gave much pleasure to Bois re was also included in our only national de Chesne, as well as disillusion. He had park. particular trouble with the plants thriving on acid ground and those inhabiting si- Owing to the low altitude and the great tes immediately below the highest peaks, impact of the Mediterranean climate, to where they were used to heavy storms which the area is subjected through the and short summers. His great wish was Soca Valley, many upland plants do not that a walk through the garden would be do well in Juliana, which is home to some a kind of botanical journey from the val- 600 different plants, including endemics. ley to a Julian peak. The vegetation belts Zois’ Bellflower (Campanula zoysii), which were supposed to follow each other the is one of the oldest endemits and a kind of same as in nature. representative of the Slovenian sunny side Most of the plants were brought to the of the Alps, has been chosen as the sym- garden from the Eastern and Western Ju- bol of the garden. Although thriving on lian Alps, Friuli Mountains, Karst hay mea- the rocks along the Soca river below the dows and pre-Alpine country, some even Mlinarica gorge, it more or less struggles in from the Karavanke mountain chain and the garden, the same as Zois’ Violet (Viola the Kamnisko-Savinjske Alps. To the left zoysii). of the garden entrance, some foreign Juliana is most closely associated with plants, obtained mainly from the Wes- the prominent Scabiosa trenta, Scabious tern Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Atlas and of Trenta, which became the symbol of Caucasus, were planted. quests by Dr Julius Kugy. This mysterious plant was discovered in the second half During the war and a couple of years af- of the 18th century by Balthasar Hacquet ter it, the garden was more or less deser- on the slopes of Mt Triglav and in the ted. The maelstrom of war did not spare Trenta Valley. Then it mysteriously disap- it at all. Just before the Primorska region peared and was searched for in vain by was annexed to the new Yugoslavia at many botanists. It was in fact this very the beginning of 1947, the new autho- plant that brought the young Julius Kugy rities ordered the garden to be at least to Trenta and the Julian Alps. Later on temporarily protected. The Slovene bota- it was discovered that the Scabious of nists soon took part in its renovation, and Trenta was simply an ordinary Pin-cushion in 1949 its maintenance was temporarily Flower (Cephalaria leucantha), known entrusted to the Slovene Museum of Na- from Karst commons and sunward rocks tural History in Ljubljana. Its director, the in the sub-Mediterranean belt. In the gar- well-known botanist Dr Angela Piskernik den it blossoms lavishly in late August and (1886-1967), did everything in the post- early September. war period to have Juliana renewed, taken care of and protected. And in 1951, The pale flowers of the Triglav Flower (Po- Juliana was indeed officially protected as tentilla nitida) are merely a faint reflection

82 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens of the silvery-bright pink cushions imme- and Alpine belts, the position is unfavou- diately under the Trenta peaks. rable, which means that they have to be brought from nature several times. The The Blagay Daphne (Daphne blagayana) stated altitude, on the other hand, that is does not feel particularly well on the plot further subjected to the influence of the where planted already by Albert Bois de sea that reaches the area through the Chesne, whereas somewhat higher up it Soca Valley, enables lush growth to the thrives in a carpet, so to speak. Extremely numerous plants of the Karst and the pre- lavishly, however, Physoplexis comosa be- Alpine world. gins to blossom in June. The garden is a nonresidential unit of the Juliana is also home to some species in- Slovenie Museum of Natural History, some cluded in the Natura 2000 network. In 120 km away from Ljubljana. It employs August, the Ladybells (Adenophora lilii- two people : an expert associate and a folia) start blossoming. As the Columbine gardener. The expert head of Juliana is (Aquilegia bertolonii) was brought to Ju- the Museum’s botany custodian, who liana only a few years ago, it still cannot works in Ljubljana and looks mainly after be assessed whether it will survive here the precious old herbarium collections or not. Zois’ Bellflower has already been and has neither enough time nor financial mentioned. The Lady’s Slipper Orchid means to work in Juliana. (Cypripedium calceolus) was brought from the Karavanke Mts and has been Due to the lack of personnel, wild seeds blossoming copiously for almost three de- are not gathered in nature but only in cades each year at the end of May. The the garden. The annuals’ and biannuals’ Alpine Eryngo (Eryngium alpinum) is the seeds are planted in the so-called “kin- species that wishes to be seen by most dergarten“ and later on transplanted into of the people, considering that in July it the garden itself. From seeds, even some is one of the most prominent plants in the perennials are brought up. The majority garden. The Primorska Whin or Entire-pe- of seeds, however, are each year sent to talled Gorse (Genista holopetala) more or the Botanical Garden in Ljubljana, which less struggles here. More attractive than it publishes the Index seminum, in which the is the Marsh Gladiolus (Gladiolus palus- Juliana seeds are included as well. tris). The Hladnikia (Hladnikia pastinacifolia) has spread from its plot to along the In Juliana, no scientific-research work is paths in the entire garden. The Carniolan possible due to the already mentioned Primrose (Primula carniolica) indeed thri- lack of personnel, and neither are guided ves here, but is outnumbered by the so- tours of the garden, except on very spe- called Idrija Primula (Primula x venusta), cial occasions as per preliminary agree- a hybrid between the Carniolan Primrose ment. and Alpine Auricula (Primula auricula). In Juliana has an extremely important role in May, the Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron the education of its visitors. In this sense, luteum) bush starts to blossom as well. we present the plants in their natural habitats, call attention to their threat status, Owing to the garden’s low altitude, many and to the conservation of natural heri- upland plants do not thrive in Juliana or tage. even die after few years. Some of the species also change morphologically due Particularly well developed are our publi- to the changed ecological conditions city activities. In the last decade we have (changed colour of the flowers, the - in thus published guides and brochures in tensity of flowering, the size of flowers and Slovenian, English, Italian, German and the plants themselves …). The position of French languages, as well as a series of 15 the garden therefore has its advantages postcards with various plant motifs. Julia- as well as disadvantages. For the majority na has its own website (http://www2.pms- of the plants that thrive in the sub-Alpine lj.si/juliana/juliana.html) and is also pre-

Education and presentation 83 International Congress of sented on various local and tourist sites. In this jubilee year, we further produced films in five languages and in two different lengths (3 and 20 minutes). Juliana is open from May 1 to September 30, each day from 8.30 to 18.30 hrs. The entrance fee is about 2.5 €. The garden is yearly visited by 6,000 to 7,000 people. Many of them are foreigners, mostly Aus- trians and Germans. Illustrations 1. A scene from the garden Our Juliana differs from other Alpine bota- 2. A cottage in the garden nical gardens in Europe especially in the 3. Albert Bois de Chesne 4. Albert Bois de Chesne and Dr Julius Kugy at the diverse mixture of its Alpine, Karst and en- belvedere in the garden in 1939 demic plants. As the oldest alpinum in the 5. Campanula zoysii territory of Slovenia it also has a very high 6. Potentilla nitida cultural and historical value. 7. Primula carniolica 8. Hladnikia pastinacifolia Reference 9. Physoplexis comosa 10. Daphne blagayana • Praprotnik N (2000) The Juliana Alpine Botanical Garden in the Trenta Valley 11. Eryngium alpinum 12. Viola zoysii 13. Cephalaria leucantha, Kugy’s Scabiosa trenta Figures 1, 2, 5-13 : photos by Ciril Mlinar

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84 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

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Education and presentation 85 International Congress of

Mountain plants in the Reykjavik Botanic Garden in Iceland

Eva Thorvaldsdottir and Dora Jakobsdottir Reykjavik Botanic Garden, Iceland

The Reykjavik Botanic Garden is a mainly grown in the Icelandic Flora sec- municipal garden located in Laugarda- tion and in the rock garden. The Icelandic lur, a valley in the eastern part of the city. flora is the oldest collection in the Garden. The garden was founded on the 175th an- The current number of native plants gown niversary of Reykjavik City in 1961. there is 320 taxa or 67% of the native flora Reykjavik is coordinated at 64o08’N and which comprises 480 taxa of flowering 21o50´W. The mean temperature in Reykja- plants. Approximately 40 species are in vik is 4,4oC, the warmest month is July with the nursery such as Campanula uniflora, 10,7oC and the coldest month is January Cerastium arcticum, Diapensia lapponica with the mean temperature -0,4oC. The and Poa flexuosa. mean precipitation is 810 mm. The aver- Among the plants in the Icelandic Flora age number of days with frost in Reykjavik collection are some true mountain spe- is 123 days but only 60 with snow cover. cies such as Saxifraga hirculus, Ranun- The Botanic Garden covers 4,6 ha. The culus pygmaeus, Carex glacialis and working area and nursery cover 1,2 ha Carex rupestris. The apomict species Al- and with the collection area currently chemilla faeroensis is an endemic plant covering 2,4 ha, it will be possible to en- for E-Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Ar- large it to 3,4 ha in the near future. The meria maritime is very common through- garden contains some 3.800 species, out the country not least in the highlands. subspecies and varieties. There are nine Ophioglossum azoricum has been grow- collections in the garden : the Icelandic ing in the garden for some years. It is re- Flora, perennial plants in systematic order, stricted to thermal soil or along springs. It roses, rhododendrons, woodland garden, is native to islands in the northern Atlantic arboretum, rock garden and vegetable & Ocean and adjacent westernmost Eu- herb garden. rope. Rhodiola rosea is rather common in The arctic and alpine plant species are Iceland especially where land has been

86 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens protected from grazing, or has had mod- rum and Douglasia laevigata from north- erate grazing for several decades. It is western N-America, Gentiana sino-ornata found in fertile heathland and slopes in Es- and Geranium farreri from China, Andro- jufjöll Mountains wich are surrounded by sace sempervivoides and Gypsophila the glacier Vatnajökull. In the Icelandic cerastoides from the Himalayas, Oxalis Flora collection there are 6 of 7 American adenophylla and O. enneaphylla from species growing in Iceland; Carex krausei, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, S-Amer- Carex lyngbyei, Epilobium latifolium, Pla- ica. Noteworthy plants in the European tanthera hyperborean, Salix artica and section are e.g. : Allium insubricum and Trisetum spicatum. A. narcissiflorum, Leontopodium alpinum, Foreign alpine plants are grown in the rock Paederota bonarota and P. lutea, and garden, which was constructed in 1997. many spring-floweringPrimula species. The rock garden is arranged in several separate units with plants in geographical order, mainly from the Himalayas (34), China (13), mountains of Middle Asia (37), Japan (11), Europe (172), and North- (76) and South-America (10). The numbers in parenthesis is the number of taxa grown in each unit; the total number 353. About 50 species are now being raised in cold frames, and most of them will be planted Illustrations in the rock garden next spring. 1. Paederota lutea Among the most conspicuous plants in the 2. Oxalis enneaphylla rock garden are : Arnebia pulchra from 3. Rhodiola rosea (male flowers) N-Iran and Caucasus, Aquilegia scopulo- 4. Douglasia laevigata

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Education and presentation 87 International Congress of

Towards a collection of plants from South America

Rolland DOUZET, Richard HURSTEL and Serge AUBERT Station Alpine Joseph Fourier, Université de Grenoble/CNRS, France

Résumé Les Andes présentent une flore particulièrement riche, colorée et différente de la flore des montagnes de l’hémisphère nord. Néanmoins, l’absence de jardin botanique d’altitude en Amérique du sud limite les possibilités d’échanges de graines et les collections de plantes andines présentées dans les jardins européens sont très limitées. Ceci nous a conduits à organiser des expéditions botaniques (Andes chiliennes, Patagonie et Terre de Feu) pour collecter des graines de plantes non protégées et à collaborer avec des Universités au Chili et en Argentine. Une nouvelle rocaille « Andes et Patagonie » a été créée au Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret, avec déjà plus de 50 espèces présentées.

The Andes have a rich and co- Organisation of botanical expeditions lourful flora which is very different from the Three expeditions have already been or- northern hemisphere flora (Hoffmann & al. ganised and subsidised by the Jardin Bo- 1997, Correa 1998). However, the absen- tanique Alpin du Lautaret. ce of botanical garden at high altitude • In Chile in January 2003. Various moun- in South America limits the possibilities for tains were visited in the region IV (“Co- exchanges and culture of theses plants in quimbo”) to the region VIII (“Arauca- Europe. In this context the number of An- nia”); dean species presented in alpine botani- • In Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in cal gardens is very limited. At the Jardin January 2005 and November 2006 (Chile, Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (2100 masl) region XII; Argentina, Santa Cruz & Tierra the number of Andean species in 2002 del Fuego). was less than 10. In order to significantly In all cases, seeds and cuttings from increase our collection, we develop va- around 50 non-protected species were rious actions. collected and further cultivated near

88 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Grenoble (St-Marcellin, Isère, 380 masl) Grenoble from seeds collected or exchan- prior to installation at the Lautaret. These ged. After one or two years the plants are expeditions also permitted to visualize the installed in the garden. habitats and ecology of the plants. This has permitted to adjust the conditions Creation of a rockery “Andes and of germination and growth of the plants Patagonia” and to design a rockery aesthetically and A new rockery has been created in the ecologically as close as possible to the Garden, near the rockery “North Ameri- reality (see below). ca”. The rockery has been design in order These expeditions also resulted in (1) the to correspond ecologically and aestheti- creation of a database of pictures used cally to the volcanic Andes. In this regard, for the organisation of conferences and volcanic stones and sand have been ins- exhibitions, (2) the addition of around 50 talled (reddish “pouzzolane” from the vol- species in our index seminum, and (3) in canoes of Massif Central), with a depth the creation of a website dedicated to of around 20 cm in order to mimic the the Andean flora of Chile and South- Ar habitat of many Andean plants. Figure 2 gentina (www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/chili). shows the design of this rockery. This website (in French, Spanish and En- glish) shows more than 700 species ac- List of Andean plants cording to their location (region and alti- At the moment around 40 species have tude) and it has become a reference due been introduced in the garden (see to the absence of more exhaustive site. examples on figure 3) : Acaena magellanica, Anemone multifida, Anten- Development of scientific collaborations naria chilensis, Araucaria araucana, Armeria an- dina, Aster vahlii, Azorella trifurcata, Bulbostylis jun- The Jardin botanique Alpin du Lautaret coides, Calandrinia cespitosa, Calceolaria biflora, is managed by Grenoble University (Jo- Calceolaria falklandica, Calceolaria polyrhiza, seph Fourier) and it is involved in various Calceolaria triloba, Calceolaria uniflora, Coloban- research programs through partner labo- thus quitensis, Ephedra chilensis, Deschampsia an- ratories, notably the Laboratoire d’Ecolo- tarctica, Draba magellanica, Gamocarpha alpina, Geranium sessiliflorum, Geum magellanicum, gie Alpine in Grenoble. This laboratory has Haplopappus sp. (Chile), Hordeum comosum, research programs in Chile (Universities of Hypochaeris tenuifolia, Hypsella reniformis, Lare- Santiago and Concepción) and Argenti- tia acaulis, Leptinella scariosa, Mimulus cupreus, na (University of Cordoba). Though these Mimulus depressus, Montiopsis umbellata, Notho- contacts we exchange seeds for both re- fagus pumilio, Oxalis adenophylla, Phacelia se- cunda, Senecio francisci, Senecio sp. (Argentina), search and exhibition at the Jardin bota- Senecio trifurcatus, Sisyrhynchium arenarium, Sta- nique Alpin du Lautaret . chys tridentata, Tropaeolum polyphyllum, Thlaspi Other contacts have also been taken in magellanicum, Tetraglochin alatum. Argentina (Buenos Aires University, Los More species are growing in Grenoble Glaciares National Parc at El Calafate) prior to a further introduction at the Jardin and Chile (Botanical Garden in Viña del botanique alpin du Lautaret, notably : mar). Hypochaeris incana, Nardophyllum bryoides, Interestingly a new species for the chilian Petunia patagonica, Olsynium biflorum, Perezia flora has been discovered from -an uni recurvata, Rhodophiala andicola, Rhodophiala dentified picture of a plant found in Por- rhodolirion, Saxifraga magellanica, Silene magel- tillo (Chile), put on the web and identified lanica. as Bowlesia ruiz-lealii by Dr. O. Prina. References Cultivation of Andean plants • Correa MN (1998) Flora patagonica. Colección Científica. Ed. INTA, Buenos Aires Plants are cultivated in deep volcanic • Hoffmann A, Arroyo M, Liberona F, Muñoz M, sandy soil in order to mimic the ecology Watson J (1997).Plantas altoandinas. Ed. Fundacion of many Andean species. Figure 1 shows Claudio Gay some examples of plants cultivated in • www.ujf-grenoble.fr/JAL/chili

Education and presentation 89 International Congress of

1 2

3 4

Fig.1. Examples of plants collected as seeds in Patagonia (2005) and cultivated in Grenoble. 1, Petunia patagonica; 2, Olsynium biflorum; 3, Calceolaria uniflora; 4, Hypochaeris incana.

Fig. 2. Some plants introduced in the rockery “Andes and Patagonia”. From top left to bottom right : Mimulus cupreus, Senecio sp, Hordeum comosum, Hypochaeris tenuifolia, Stachys tridentata, Ephedra chilensis, Thlaspi magellanicum, Laretia acaulis, Mimulus depressus.

90 Education and presentation Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 3. Habitat of some Andean plants growing in volcanic soils in Chile, from left to right: Viola philippi, Oreopolus glacialis, Malesherbia lirana.

Fig. 4. Some steps in the creation of the rockery “Andes and Patagonia”. Bottom, visit of the rockery during the congress on Saturday 8th September 2006.

Education and presentation 91 International Congress of

Networking of Alpine Botanic Gardens: an introduction to the tools

Andreas GRÖGER Alpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

Résumé Les Jardins botaniques alpins et arctiques ont plusieurs spécificités, en particulier la localisation à haute altitude ou latitude, l’éloignement des villes et la courte période de végétation. Les difficultés pour les activités de réseau sont le manque de moyens financiers et de personnel permanent. Néanmoins, même de petits jardins pourraient bénéficier de coopérations incluant (1) le transfert de connaissances horticoles et scientifiques, (2) la conduite des collections avec par exemple l’adoption de protocoles communs (IPEN), la coordination des différentes collections, les activités de conservation. D’autres domaines d’échanges concernent la définition des missions, l’amélioration des outils d’éducation, l’aquisition de fonds supplémentaires, etc. Dans cet esprit, il serait souhaitable d’organiser des réunions régulières des Jardins Botaniques Alpins et Arctiques, et de développer un site internet qui permettrait de renforcer la lisibilité des jardins et de leurs collections auprès du public.

Any network has to define which Major characteristics of Alpine and Arctic members should be addressed. Alpine Botanic Gardens (AABG) and Arctic Botanic Gardens (AABG) are The AABG can be defined more precisely a special section within the community by the following characteristics : of Botanic Gardens, therefore they fit into • located at high altitude or latitude the general definition of Botanic Gardens • collection focusing on alpine species given by BGCI (Wyse-Jackson 1999) : “A • situated away from larger settlements botanic garden is an institution holding • short vegetation period documented collections of living plants Of an estimated total of 2.500 gardens for the purposes of scientific research, worldwide, probably far less than 100 conservation, display and education.” fit the definition of an AABG. Far more lowland Botanic Gardens maintain su-

92 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens perb alpine collections and it has to be policy. Networking resulted in standar- considered carefully, how to link to those dized material transfer agreements and collections within a network of AABG. the International Plant Exchange System In spite of the small number, AABG differ (IPEN). from each other significantly in the - fol AABG already hold a considerable di- lowing aspects : versity of alpine species, but this diversity • institutional affiliation, financing body is missing any coordinated structure. An • mission, scientific management improved communication between the gardens would lead to a better coordina- • structure and presentation of the col- tion of the collections. Special collections lections can only receive adequate attention if • accessibility, visitor numbers their uniqueness is registered by compari- • climatic and geologic settings, sur- son with other gardens. Avoiding duplica- rounding flora tion and focussing on special collections On the one hand, regarding these diffe- would increase the all-over diversity held rences and the mostly small number of in AABG. At the same time, it would raise permanent staff, it becomes obvious why the attractiveness of the AABG for the pu- networking between AABG faces various blic, noting the differences between the obstacles. On the other hand, every indi- gardens. vidual garden would benefit from the re- Locally threatened plant species are a sources made available through a closer core part of any collection in AABG. The co-operation. The major fields of potential main task is to sensitise the public for these interactions are the following. species that they are recognised also in the wild. Additionally, some modern gar- Knowledge transfer dens maintain seed banks or participate The quality of a Botanic Gardens collec- in monitoring projects of endangered tion always is a direct reflection of the species. Those ex situ projects would be a state of expertise and commitment of its very interesting field to enhance co-ope- staff. It is the result of a broad knowledge rations between AABG. of the ecological requirements of each plant species as well as good horticultural Other fields where experiences could be skills. shared Especially in this field, AABG can -bene Mission statements fit extremely from a closer networking. It is essential for every garden to develop Know-how can be transferred by ex- a mission statement that clarifies the ma- change programs with horticulturists, staff jor purposes and areas of activities, not training programs, workshops on special only for the visitors but also for their own subjects, joint field trips, etc. Also on the staff. AABG can interact to support each scientific level, expertise could be shared, other in evolving their missions and vi- e. g. through mutual support in the identi- sions. Generally, the community of AABG fication and verification of plant species. should present itself as a centre of expertise for alpine biodiversity. Their gardens Collection orientated interactions are places where natural beauty as well For AABG the exchange of seeds and as scientific knowledge can be experien- plants has a long tradition. By offering ced. The message, transmitted by AABG, a seed catalogue annually, most of the can include aspects like : gardens participate in the international • raise awareness for the uniqueness of seed exchange program. In this field, the alpine biodiversity gardens have to face legislative challenges. Since the coming into force of the • communicate the importance of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, conserving plants 1992), the community of Botanic Gardens • demonstrate the interaction between tries to develop a common collections man and alpine ecosystems

Networking 93 International Congress of

• promote scientific research in alpine Establishing a network plants Within the botanic garden community there is a clear trend to enhance national Educative tools and international networking. Also AABG For its mission, an AABG has to define would benefit from linking to each other the target audience it wants to address. more closely. But, as always, it is mainly a Also to adjust information tools and to question of personal and financial resour- advertise more precisely, a garden has ces, which are quite limited in the case of to know the major visitor groups. A rough AABG. On the other hand, there is already demographic survey can be very helpful a broad experience in bilateral co-opera- to get an idea of the spectrum of visitors tions. These experiences should be gathe- and also of the people not attracted red and shared. by the garden. Educative tools may be Therefore, the first step could be to esta- improved effectively. The information blish a common communication platform. material available in AABG should offer On regularly held meetings especially to- adequate information for the mere pics like mission statements, education, nature lover as well as for the committed know-how transfer and collection mana- enthusiast. gement can be discussed and correspon- Bearing in mind the short vegetation dent activities initialized. period in AABG, also lecture series on high To present themselves as a community mountain floras in the winter period could and to reach more potential visitors, a address further interested audience. survey of the European AABG could be Another possibility to attract more people given in the internet, through the creation is to offer excursions to adjacent mountain of a common webpage, as well as on areas or even to other AABG. In all these printed media, such as posters or hand- fields, there are a lot of opportunities for outs available in each garden. co-operations and for the exchange of experiences between AABG. Action plan For further steps towards a network of Addressing local key players AABG the following general approach is In general, AABG are not located in advisable : the direct vicinity of larger settlements. • information gathering Therefore, for them it is much more • definition of existing needs essential than for other Botanic Gardens, to receive adequate attention by the • compilation of possible joint activities local community. Key figures in the local • priority list of goals and action plan communities are multipliers, such as To achieve the most impact, the priority hotel managers, school teachers, tourism list in particular has to be set carefully. agencies, guides, etc. They have to be Resources and capacities have to be ba- contacted and informed by the AABG lanced with the potential outcome. Every regularly. Another way to get a broad Alpine and Arctic Botanic Garden should basis in the local community is to build up keep in mind that only by communication a circle of “Friends of the Garden”. and interaction with other gardens it may position itself clearly and can tap its full Finances potential. Financial shortages are a common syndrome in all AABG’s. On the one References hand, networking would strengthen the • IPEN : http://www.bgci.org/abs/ipen appreciation of an individual garden by • Schmolz C (1905) Die Alpengärten-Ausstellung the public and for the financing body. On unseres Vereins in Bamberg. Bericht des Vereines the other hand, a network of AABG would zum Schutze und Pflege der Alpenpflanzen 5 : 15-24. Bamberg, Germany offer a communication platform where • Wyse-Jackson P (1999) Experimentation on a Large experiences concerning additional fund- Scale - An Analysis of the Holdings and Resources of raising could be exchanged. Botanic Gardens. BGCINews 3(3) : 27-30

94 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Fig. 1. Distribution of Alpine Garden in the European Alps and adjacent ranges.

Fig. 3. Emblem of the ”Associa- zione Interna- zionale Giardini Botanici Alpini”, a mainly national network of Alpine Gardens, founded in Italy in 1974.

Fig. 2. One of the early attempts of networking : an international exhibition of Alpine Gardens, held in Bamberg (Germany) in 1905, with 13 participating gardens from 5 countries (Schmolz 1905).

Networking 95 International Congress of

International Exchange of Horticulturists : highlighting the example of Munich Botanic Garden and Katse Alpine Garden, Lesotho

Jenny WAINWRIGHT-KLEIN Alpine Garden Schachen / Munich Botanic Garden, Germany

As the Alpine Garden on the cultivation techniques in particular with Schachen, a satellite garden of the relation to specialized plants; Munich Botanic Garden, approached • To share the skills; its 100 year centenary, there was much • To expand existing knowledge by discussion about the future role of the learning about and observing flora of Alpine Garden. Looking back at past other regions/countries; activities of the Alpine Garden, what immediately came to our notice were the • To open opportunities to make international exchanges with horticulturists international contacts; from the Royal Botanic Garden Kew and • To establish and develop long term from Edinburgh Botanic Garden which contacts for the exchange of horticultural had taken place in the early 1930’s, 1960’s, information on high altitude plant 1970’s and 1980’s. These had not been species. true exchange projects, more a one-sided To-date, two horticulturist exchange exchange with the horticulturists from Kew programmes have taken place; one and Edinburgh working with the Munich between the Alpine Garden on the staff on the Schachen. This led us to one Schachen (Munich, Germany) and of our goals for the next one hundred the Lautaret Botanical Alpine Garden years : to establish long term contact (Grenoble, France) for two weeks with other alpine botanic gardens in respectively in the summers of 2002 and particular through horticulturist exchange 2003 with Franz Schlegel from Munich programmes, with the following aims : and Richard Hurstel from Lautaret; • To build closer contacts between another between the Munich Botanic horticulturists and their respective Botanic Garden (Germany) and the Katse Alpine Gardens; Garden (Lesotho) in 2005 for four weeks • To observe and practice different in January/February and March/April

96 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens respectively. The second exchange was reservoir vegetation surveys were carried made possible through financial help out and plans were made to rescue rare from the “Foundation for the International and indigenous economic plants from the Exchange of Horticulturists” based in valley before flooding. Botanists working Hamburg, Germany. This foundation together with local healers relocated was set up in 2002 and dedicates itself plants to the newly established Katse exclusively to the support of mutual know- Botanic Garden on the upper slopes of how transfer between horticulturists of the mountain at an altitude of 2100 m. botanic gardens on an international level, with the aim to strengthen the capacity The Katse Botanic Garden provides a for the conservation of plant diversity. unique natural and semi-natural setting They have financed exchange projects for conserving and displaying the natural throughout the world, thus enabling high altitude flora of Lesotho. 90% of horticulturists from Germany to obtain the vegetation in the 17 hectare large experience in the propagation and garden is indigenous with valuable culture of plants in their natural habitat collections of rescued plants from Muela, as well as offering opportunities to the Katse and Mohale inundation areas, as foreign partner Botanic Gardens taking well as indigenous plants from different part in the exchange for a member of ecological regions of Lesotho. their horticultural staff to gain hands on work experience with similar collections in Mission statement of Katse Botanical a different environment. Garden Katse Botanic Garden strives to promote Horticulturist Exchange between the a better knowledge and understanding Botanic Garden Munich, Germany and of the high mountain flora of Lesotho the Katse Alpine Garden, Lesotho through propagation, cultivation and In January/February of 2005 Jenny conservation of the indigenous plants, Wainwright-Klein, horticulturist in charge and serve as an educational centre for of the Alpine propagation unit and local communities, students, scientists and reserve collection in the Munich Botanic the public at large. Garden as well as the Alpine Garden on the Schachen, worked at Katse Botanic Munich in Lesotho Garden, Lesotho for four weeks. In March/ My main objectives in going to Katse April of 2005 Bongani Ntloko, curator were to benefit from their experience and chief horticulturist of Katse Botanic with propagating the high altitude plants Garden, Lesotho, worked at the Botanic of Lesotho from seed and to visit in situ Garden Munich, Germany for four weeks. plant communities. Records are kept Accommodation and transport within of germination percentages as well the exchange country was supplied as the time needed until germination by the hosting Botanic Gardens. Flights occurs of all species sown by seed and, were paid for by the “Foundation for the as of January 2005, temperatures in International Exchange of Horticulturists”. the greenhouse during the germination period are also noted. It was interesting Background of Katse Botanical Garden to see that germination was particularly The Botanic Garden at Katse was founded high in the warmer summer months. in 1995 and falls under the management The seeds are sown in raised beds filled of the Lesotho Highlands Development with river sand and kept moist with an Authority (LHDA) which manages and automatic mist system. With the help of co-ordinates the running of the Highlands a wet wall and an extractor fan the day Water Project. Up to now, three dams temperature in the greenhouse in summer have been built in the highlands of Lesotho is kept at around 25°C. During the winter supplying water which is sold to South months the greenhouse is heated to Africa. Before inundation of the Katse 24°C in the day and has a night minimum

Networking 97 International Congress of of 12°C. At Katse they have had great Conclusion success cultivating the endangered Aloe The purpose of the horticultural exchange polyphylla, a plant which is only found was more than fulfilled as contact in remote mountain areas at an altitude between the participating gardens has of ca. 2,800 m, and is on the Cities 1 list remained and been intensified with a due to pressures on the population from regular transfer of information on both over collecting, in particular by succulent sides. Future projects together with the plant collectors. From its inception, the Katse Botanic Garden which are at Katse Botanic Garden has concentrated present being worked on are : on cultivating medicinal plants from seed • A joint seed catalogue is planned for and selling excess plants to visitors. One this winter which will be distributed by of their goals is to initiate community Munich Botanic Garden. gardens in the surrounding villages which • Mr. Bongani Ntloko has asked for they would supply with medicinal plants. assistance from the Munich Botanic These indigenous medicinal plants are Garden in realizing a large landscaping widely used by the local populace and project within the Katse Botanic Garden. It are amongst the most endangered is hoped that a group of horticulturists from species found on the Red Data List for Munich will obtain funding to carry out Lesotho. The scale of disappearance phase one of the landscaping project this of medicinal plants in Lesotho has been coming January of 2007, to be followed estimated by Letsie (1993) to be in the by another visit in January of 2008 for the order of 100,000 specimens per week, final part of the landscaping project. based on an estimated 20,000 diggers taking out 5 plants each. While I was at • Engraved labels will be prepared for Katse a medicinal garden was planted up the Medicinal Garden and other planted in the Botanical Garden. A small thatched areas of the Katse Botanic Garden. hut has been built in the middle of the medicinal garden to house proposed displays of the dried plants or plant parts as seen at local markets with information boards on the uses and the vulnerability of wild populations. During my stay I also found the opportunity to travel widely in Lesotho and visit various National Parks and Nature Reserves where I was able to see the habitats of a wide variety of plants. The knowledge of the habitat is invaluable when choosing species to try in Munich and in the Alpine Garden on the Schachen. For the Alpine Garden I select plants which grow in areas with high precipitation or in wet conditions, similar to that found in the Schachen, which lies on the north slopes of the Alps. Plants growing in drier areas are more suited for the alpine display house in Munich.

Illustrations Lesotho in Munich Mr Bongani Ntloko worked at the Munich Katse Botanic Garden : site (1), nursery (2), seed sowing (3 & 4) Botanic Garden for four weeks in spring to Examples of mountain plants of Lesotho : Aloe gain first hand experience of propagation polyphylla (5), Craterocapsa congesta (6), methods at Munich. Chironia krebsii (7), Gladiolus ecklonii (8).

98 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

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Networking 99 International Congress of

Creating a network, two case studies : The Italian Seed Bank Network & The European Environmental Botanic Garden Education Network

Costantino BONOMI1, Sara CAMPEGIANI1, Suzanne KAPELARI2, Sabine SLADKY-MERANER2, Graziano ROSSI3 and Gianni BEDINI4 1Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento, Italy; 2University of Innsbruck, Austria, 3University of Pavia, Italy, 4University of Pisa, Italy

Résumé Il existe divers réseaux de jardins botaniques. On peut dire que leur succès sera plus grand s’ils sont focalisés sur des aspects précis plutôt que sur des objectifs larges et vagues. Il est essentiel d‘établir des objectifs précis et réalistes en phase avec les besoins des principaux bénéficiaires du réseau et les intérêts des institutions qui les subventionnent. Finalement, le succès du réseau dépend de la participation active de ses membres. Deux cas particuliers sont présentés ici : le réseau italien des banques de graines (RIBES) et le réseau européen des jardins botaniques pour l’éducation à l’environnement (EBGEN). Le réseau RIBES est constitué par 18 institutions italiennes impliquées dans la conservation de graines et de plantes natives de l’Italie. Le réseau se focalise sur la conservation des graines des espèces sauvages intéressantes pour la réintroduction d‘espèces rares ou la restauration d’habitats. Les membres sont des jardins botaniques universitaires, des agences gouvernementales locales, des parcs nationaux, des organisations sans but lucratif, des firmes privées. L’idée d’un tel réseau a été initiée en 2004 à Trente, comme un volet italien d‘initiatives européennes telles que Ensconet ou Genmedoc. Depuis lors, RIBES s’est développé avec des réunions à Rome, Milan, Pavie, Pise, marquées par une approche participative qui a débouché après des discussions détaillées sur la signature d’un accord, d’une charte, de différentes règles internationales, pour aboutir à la création officielle du réseau le 3 décembre 2005 sous la forme d‘une compagnie à but non lucratif. EBGEN, à l’inverse, est un réseau plus informel dont l’idée a été proposée en 2006 à Innsbruck dans le contexte du projet européen Plant Science Gardens. Il est organisé sur le modèle du réseau éducatif des jardins botaniques anglais BGEN. Il s’agit d’un très jeune réseau qui a pour but principal de faciliter les échanges d’informations, de pratiques, d’idées et de personnel entre jardins botaniques européens. La formalisation du réseau n’est pas encore aboutie et une coordination lâche est préférée pour le moment.

100 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Networking is increasingly be- The Italian Seed Bank Network (RIBES) coming an important issue for botanic RIBES is a national network made up by 18 gardens and alpine ones in particular. Italian Institutions involved in seed conser- Working in partnership and cooperation vation of native wild species. It focuses on with neighboring gardens avoids dupli- seed conservation of wild species useful cation of efforts, allows a more effective for reintroduction, habitat restoration and garden management and contributes to land reclamation. Members of the net- raise the status of alpine garden towards work are university botanic gardens, local the larger public. Networking activities governmental agencies, national parks, are recommended by the Action Plan for no profit organizations and private com- Botanic Gardens in the European Union panies. The idea to set up such network (Cheney et al., 2000) and the Global Stra- came as a national implementation of tegy for Plant Conservation (CBD Secre- parallel European wide networks on seed tariat, 2002). Viotte Alpine Botanic Gar- conservation (Ensconet and Genmedoc) den, based in north east Italy, has been and in response to international agree- recently involved into various network ments such as the the Global Strategy experiences, in particular it has been infor Plant Conservation (CBD Secretariat, volved in developing two networks one 2002) calling on such initiatives. The need on seed conservation and another on of such a network was also strongly felt by botanic garden education that are here all Italian groups involved in seed conser- presented as case studies. vation in the absence of a national coordination mechanism that caused many Setting up a network : considerations local administrations to set up local and Successful networks are often established regional centres for ex situ plant and seed as a result of the efforts of a few enthusia- conservation. These various initiatives stic individuals who share similar problems previously worked in isolation and were or aspirations. The network is then built up not aware of each other, running the around this core group as members with grave risk of duplicating efforts, wasting similar interests join. It then becomes in- precious resources and being unaware creasingly formalised. The new members of possible huge gaps in the conservati- may modify the original objectives but on actions at national level. To enhance the central theme is likely to remain. It networking on these issues, a workshop can be argued that success of such net- entitled «Seed Banks as a conservation works will be greatest if they are strongly tool for native species : building a natio- focused on a particular specific topic nal network in an European perspective» rather than if they address a wide variety was organised in Trento (NE Italy) the 1st of issues and topics. It is essential to esta- and 2nd of April 2004 aiming to provide blish clear and realistic objectives which a national forum for institutions involved in meet the needs of the main beneficiaries ex situ conservation activities. RIBES evol- of the work and the interests of potential ved subsequently in many meetings held funding agencies. Before getting started, in Rome and Milan.A key step of this evo- each group of people or institutions wis- lution was the approval and signature in hing to set up a new network should try Pavia in February 2005 of a Memorandum and answer the following questions : Do of Understating that stated the aims of the we really need a new network? Why do network and that bound all contracting we need a new network? Cannot existing parties to formally constitute the network networks satisfy our needs? Do similar net- within a year time of the signature date works exist? Do they work? Should we liai- of the MoU. The MoU is made up by an se with them? To what extent? Networks introduction that clearly states the scienti- require a great deal of management and fic and legal justification of the proposed steering work that can be daunting and action (making reference to inventories members might need extra funds for net- of threatened species reference to local, working activities. national and EU legislation, international

Networking 101 International Congress of conventions and agreements). It then and face the challenge jointly? Exchange states the network focus : with a synoptic of experience is useful for everybody who reference to aims and objectives. It even- works in this field and is the key idea that tually sets a time limit, requiring the formal is at the base of a Central European En- constitution of the association in front of vironmental and Botanic Garden Edu- a public officer within one year of the si- cation Network (EBGEN). The model that gnature date. The members list concludes inspired this idea is the British Botanic Gar- the MoU, giving full details of participating den Education Networks (BGEN) that was institutions and their legal representatives. created at the end of the nineties aiming Successive meeting gave the opportuni- to develop the educational potential of ty to discuss in detail and approve with all gardens and arboreta and to facilita- a participative approach a consortium te the exchange of information between agreement, a charter and various inter- people involved in education, interpreta- nal regulations, that eventually lead to tion and public relations (Edwards, 1993). the official constitution of the network on It is envisaged that EBGEN will function as December the 3rd 2005 in Trento in front a focal point to gather and then circulate of a public officer as a registered no profit information though the botanic garden company. In 2006, RIBES activities official- and environmental education commu- ly started with the design of an action nity, exchanging teaching material and plan to implement its statutory objectives expertise, collecting and disseminating trough 4 working groups on specific issues examples of best practice stimulating that began their activities in mid 2006. It is development of international partnership hoped that in future years RIBES will give a projects. It will also aim to raise the status lasting contribution to plant conservation of education in Botanic Gardens, univer- both in Italy and in neighbouring coun- sities and public authorities. In central Eu- tries. rope, active networks of botanic gardens already exist, but, to the best of our know- The European Environmental Botanic Gar- ledge, only one is specifically centred on den Education Network (EBGEN) education : it is one of the working groups As part of the EU Project Plant Science of the German network of Botanic Gar- Gardens, the status of education in bota- dens, the BGDeV (Botanische Gärten nic gardens in Central Europe was investi- Deutschlands eV). EBEGEN will therefore gated. Many gardens offer to the public work in close association with BGDeV, but basic interpretation of their collections it will use English as a working language. through guided tours, however only a few EBGEN will also include environmental have specific education programmes and education organisations : they will bring in enjoy the benefit of full time education different points of view and expertise. staff, while most use freelance educators. Three preliminary meetings were held in Nowadays there are high expectations Innsbruck to introduce and debate the for education in botanic gardens for the EBGEN idea. So far these are the major informal settings they provide. Education points agreed. EBEGEN will focus on ex- programmes need to attract audiences change of information, materials, photos, with the latest standards in environmen- experiences, best practice, hoping to also tal interpretation, they need to be easy promote staff exchange. EBEGEN will pro- to conduct and to promote, to be cost mote Public Relations and will strengthen effective and enjoyable. However, the re- biodiversity education through a website sources that botanic gardens are able to and printed materials. EBGEN will organi- assign to education differ greatly from gar- se at least one annual training workshop den to garden and from country to coun- on specific topics that will be decided try. Some larger gardens may have edu- jointly and will be conducted by selected cation staff, whereas in others, education members. EBGEN will be lobbying and is just one of many duties of the gardeners fundraising for environmental education; or the curator. So, why not work together maintaining links with other organisations

102 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens and networks, also developing international projects. EBGEN will have a steering committee formed by a president, a deputy, a treasurer and 3 controllers elected every 2 years among members representatives. If possible there should be one representative from each member country. The Coordinator will manage the website; collect, organize, distribute information, update membership and run mailing lists; post job announcements; prepare meetings, summarize them, take minutes, manage invitations, etc., be the support assi- stant for training host organisations; follow work plans given by the core planning team and write an end-of-year report to members and the core group. Members will pay a membership fee which will be graduated according to the size of the organization. Individual membership will be possible, will allow participation in the annual conference and training workshop, use of the mailing list and homepage. Money to run the network should be raised through membership fees, donations, EU funds or others. For 2006 and 2007 activities will be partly funded by current EU Project, Plant Science Gardens that also aims to bring together Botanic Garden Educators in Central Europe and the Bal- kan States.

Conclusions Setting up and running a network is a demanding task, however the benefits are potentially large and well worth the effort. Networks are needed in many different areas. However, ultimately, their success Fig. 1. The logotypes of two European seed bank or failure will depend upon the active networks : participation of its members. ENSCONET, the European Native Seed Conservation Network (EU 6th Framework Programme References GENMEDOC, Réseau de centres de conservation • Cheney J, Navarrete Navarro J, Wyse Jackson du matériel génétique de la flore des régions PS (2000) Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the méditerranéennes de l’espace MEDOCC European Union. Scripta Botanica Belgica 19, National (European Regional Development Fund - Interreg Botanic Garden of Belgium, Meise III B) (middle) • CBD Secretariat (2002) Global Strategy for Plant BGEN, the British Botanic Gardens Education Conservation. CBD Secretariat, Montreal Network after which the European one (EBGEN) is modelled. • Edwards (1993) A Botanic Garden Education Network, I International Symposium on Education and Training in Horticulture, Auchincruive, United Kingdom

Networking 103 International Congress of

Fig. 2. The front cover of the book of abstracts of the different meetings that led to the constitution of RIBES. The plants portrayed are Silene elisabethae and its seeds a narrow endemic occurring west of lake Garda (left), Telekia speciosissima another narrow endemic only occurring west of lake Garda (centre) Dracocepahlum austriacum a species occurring in dry grasslands in Europe and Asia, particularly scarce in the Alps (right).

Fig. 3. RIBES Memorandum of Understanding being signed in Pavia the 9th of February 2005 (On the front cover - left – flowers, fruits and seeds of Dianthus glacialis An artic alpine species particularly scarce in the Alps). To the right the geographical location of the different members of RIBES

104 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

ENSCONET : European Native Seed Conservation Network

Maïté DELMAS and Nima SAEDLOU Département des Jardins botaniques et zoologiques, Muséum National d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France

ENSCONET is a Co-ordination cal Diversity and the Global Strategy for Action funded under the Research Infras- Plant Conservation tructures Activity of EU Framework Pro- Nineteen partners (table 1) have signed gramme 6 which comprises among other the contract in 2004. Five new members projects 28 Integrated Infrastructure Initia- will join the ENSCONET project in Novem- tives and 10 Co-ordination Actions. This ber 2006 : The Jardim Botânico, Museu Na- project has received a grant of € 2.54 M cional de História Natural (Lisbon) which plus profits from significant institutional ‘in specialises in Taxonomy and Systematics, kind’ support. It started in November 2004 Biomonitoring, Biodiversity and Conserva- for a period of five years. This programme tion. A herbarium (Flora of Portugal, Afri- is co-ordinated by the Royal Botanic Gar- ca, South America) and a seed bank are dens, Kew, UK. available. The Botanischer Garten und A first application for a Thematic Net- Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Ber- work was made under EU Framework lin is involved in Biodiversity informatics / Programme 5 but was unsuccessful. A databases, floristic projects (Med-Check- new proposal was prepared in 2002 for list, Flora de Cuba…), taxonomic and application under FP 6. The contract was geographical arrangements are the re- signed by the network partners and the search pursuit by the institute with an her- EU Commission in November 2004. barium (3 million specimens) and a seed The first purpose of ENSCONET is to impro- bank. The Botanical Garden, Universitetet ve the quality, the co-ordination and the i Oslo / Naturhistorisk museum is involved integration of European seed conserva- in Vascular plant taxonomy and phyto- tion practice, policy and research for na- geography, Vegetation ecology, Lichen tive plant species. It is also seeking to assist taxonomy and distribution, Phytogeogra- EU in its conservation policy and meet its phy and taxonomy of macrofungi, Ecol- obligations to the Convention on Biologi- ogy of cultural landscapes. The institute

Networking 105 International Congress of

1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew UK 2 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece 3 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences Slovakiea 4 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden Hungary 5 Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania Greece

6 The Fundaciόn Pública Municipal Jardin Botánico de Cόrdoba Spain

7 Trinity College Dublin Ireland 8 Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo Spain 9 Agricultural Research Institute, Lefkosia Cyprus 10 Universidad Politecnica de Madrid Spain 11 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Belgium 12 Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris France 13 Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Universita di Pavia Italy 14 Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche - Orto Botanico, Univ. Pisa Italy 15 Jardí Botànic de Sóller Spain 16 Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Trento Italy 17 Universitat de Valencia Estudi General Spain 18 Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden, University of Vienna Austria Botanical Garden - Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish Academy of 19 Poland Sciences Table 1. Partners of ENSCONET from 2004. has an herbarium and a seed bank. The ted to follow the project : the International Botanical Garden, University of Helsinki Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), carries out Research (together with the the European Botanic Garden Consor- Botanic Museum) : Atlas Florae Europaea, tium (EBGC), Planta Europa and the Euro- Herbarium. The aims of the garden are pean Network for Biodiversity Information to maintain a collection of living plants, (ENBI). international seed exchange, botanical The partners meet once a year during the research and teaching, public education annual network meeting. The goals of the on plants. The Institution also coordinates annual meeting are to check collecting the work of Finnish botanic gardens. The protocol, to visit the local seed bank and last member to enter ENSCONET will be to compare conservation protocols. A first the Institute of Botany of the Bulgarian meeting was held at the Mediterranean Academy of Sciences in Sofia. Agronomic Institute of Chania, Crete, ENSCONET has recently decided to ac- Greece (13-16 June 2005), the second at cept associate members ; the Institute the Jardi Botanic de la Universitat de Va- of Botany and Botanical Garden, Univer- lencia, Spain (11-19 June 2006). The next sity of Natural Resources and Applied Life meeting will take place at the Botanical Sciences in Vienna is the first accepted Garden, Warsaw, Poland (25 June-2 July associate member. 2007). The ENSCONET network seeks to create ENCONET is organized in four activities links with other European conservation (Seed collecting, Curation, Data Mana- & research communities and has started gement, and Dissemination), each with a to develop a database of European re- Leader and a Deputy. The Leader of each search groups working with native seeds, activity plus two other experienced seed a database compiling all research publi- bank scientists and the Network coordi- cations and a database with research nator form the Management Team. projects on native seeds. The Management Team discusses, sti- Four external arbiters have been designa- mulates and structures co-operations

106 Networking Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens between participants on the activity bulletin available from the national part- groups, report on the progress of the work ner institution. The second issue is due to packages, harmonize existing research be published in late 2006. A Website is and training efforts, discuss the exchange open for public and partners : www.en- of scientists and the training content of sconet.com the network, and co-ordinate and discuss The French coordination of ENSCONET is future network activities. held at the Museum National d’Histoire The Collecting activity group seeks to Naturelle in the Department of Botanical develop integrated seed collecting pro- and Zoological Gardens. Its aims are : grams in all European bio-geographical • to evaluate the current French seed regions for native plant species of con- banking facilities servation and sustainable use value. It • to establish a network of institutions will establish a baseline of species held in able to conserve seed of the French European banks, define a prioritized list of Flora species for collection as well developing a seed collection program for the 6 bio- • to disseminate information and geographical regions. A seed collecting protocols of the ENSCONET network manual will be tested in the field and ad- • to identify priority species to collect opted to help maximize genetic diversity • to estimate research needs for a future and seed longevity. It will be compared programme to other existing collecting protocols. The curation activity group will work at ENSCONET is seeking to play a key role the enhancement of the quality and the within European conservation activities security of seed conservation for native and particularly the delivery of the GSPC. species within Europe through improved It is working at creating links with related curation achieved by sharing of exper- initiatives, groups and databases and to tise and facilities. A baseline documenta- influence European policy. At the end of tion on facilities throughout the network the five year’s project, Ensconet will aim is already available. The partners work at to develop into a long-lasting and wider the realization of agreed common pro- network. tocols to maintain genetic diversity and The ENSCONET project has been or will be seed longevity and to help overcome dor- presented at the following conferences mancy. The dissemination of information and meetings : and good practices among participants is an essential element within ENSCONET. • IV Balkan Botanical Congress, Sofia (Bulgaria) 20-26 June 2006 The data management activity group will • 5th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, build a virtual European seed bank for Greifswald (Germany) 22-25 August 2006 wild-collected native species through in- • 1st European Congress of Conservation Biology tegration of collection data held by ENS- (ECCB), Eger (Hungary) 22-26 August 2006 CONET partners. This database will pro- • International Congress on Mountain and Arctic Botanical Gardens, Lautaret (France) 6-9 Sept 2006 vide an easier access to seed collections • 6th International Congress on Education in Botanical by researchers across Europe. A protocol Gardens, Oxford (UK) 10-14 Sept 2006 for recording seed germination data will • Eurogard IV, Pruhonice (Czech Republic), 18-22 Sept be adopted. 2006 The dissemination activity group was put • 3rd BGCI Global Botanic Congress, Wuhan (PR China), into place to provide seed conservation 20-26 April 2007 th managers, researchers, policy makers • 12 OPTIMA meeting, Pisa (Italy) 10-17 Sept 2007 • 5th Planta Europa Conference, Cluj-Napoca and other relevant representative organi- (Romania) 5-9 Sept 2007 zations with information and understand- • 2nd International Society for Seed Science Meeting, ing of ENSCONET’s work and its results. It Perth (Australia) 9-13 Sept 2007 is also organized to give plentiful information about ENSCONET and its participants Learn more about Ensconet at : to the general public. ENSCONEWS is a www.ensconet.com

Networking 107 International Congress of

Invited conference Project of creation of the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay on the Robinson Crusoe island, Juan Fernandez archipelago, Chile

Philippe DANTON1,2 and Christophe PERRIER2 1 Botanist attached to the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris & 2Association Robinsonia, Grenoble, France

Résumé A la suite d’expéditions botaniques menées chaque année depuis 1997 dans l’archipel Juan Fernández (Chili), la Corporación Cultural Juan Fernández et l’association ROBIN- SONIA ont proposé aux institutions chiliennes la création des Jardin et Conservatoire Bo- taniques Claude Gay dans l’île Robinson Crusoe afin de pouvoir préserver et présenter au public les nombreuses espèces végétales endémiques menacées de disparition dans l’archipel. Pendant la dernière centaine d’années écoulée, ces îles à la végétation ex- ceptionnelle ont vu le nombre de plantes introduites multiplié par cinq, certaines se révé- lant de redoutables envahisseurs qui mettent en péril les fragiles équilibres insulaires.Depuis les années 1997 pour Philippe Danton (botaniste attaché du MNHN de Paris) et 2002 pour Christophe Perrier, les auteurs actualisent l’inventaire des espèces végétales (Ptéridophy- tes et Phanérogames) de l’archipel Juan Fernández au Chili. Pour ce faire ils bénéficient du soutien de la Fondation Yves Rocher sous l’égide de l’Institut de France et sur place de l’appui logistique du Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández et de la Corporación Nacional Forestal Región de Valparaíso. Les îles de l’archipel Juan Fernández sont un Parc National chilien depuis 1935 et une Réserve de la Biosphère, UNESCO, depuis 1977.

This volcanic archipelago is lo- (such as the exploitation of the natural re- cated 800 km off the Chilean coast and sources, the fires, the introduction of vari- it comprises three islands : island Robinson ous exotic animals and plants) and the Crusoe, island Santa Clara and island Ale- dramatic subsequent erosion. Nowadays jandro Selkirk. there is no more intact natural habitat on the archipelago and the natural vegeta- An observation tion (213 species, 135 of which endemic) is Since their discovery in 1574 they have subject to the impact of ca 507 introduced been submitted to the human actions taxa (Danton & Perrier, 2006). These alien

108 Invited conference Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens species sometimes use the unpredictable to the insular environmental topics. help of alien animals, eg the opportunistic Botanical Conservatory association of Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis), With the frame of the Conservatoires Murtilla (Ugni molinae) and Zarzamora Botaniques developed in France the (Rubus ulmifolius) with a bird locally called idea is to create a structure with specific Zorzal (Turdus falklandii). They destroy the connexions to the National Parc of the Ar- original ecosystems of the island, particu- chipelago and adapted to the problems larly the myrtisilva, a unique forest com- of plant conservation (in and ex situ). It prising 100% of indigenous endemic trees will be an observatoire of the situation in (Danton, 2006). the field and will work mainly for the conservation and propagation of species (ex An answer situ) and to the population maintenance In order to efficiently respond to the se- and reinforcing in the field in( situ) using all vere risks of loss of these unique plants necessary means. and ecosystems and to contribute to the The objectives will be : research on conservation on the archipelago, the Corporación Cultural Juan Fer- • Map the species and follow the evolu- nández (Chili) and the association ROBIN- tion of the populations; SONIA (France) propose the creation of a • Collect seeds and spores of endange- structure dedicated to the preservation, red species and organise their conserva- conservation, research and education : tion; the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques • Propagate the insular species in order Claude Gay. Claude Gay was the french to reinforce the natural populations and botanist who visited the Robinson Crusoe produce sufficient plant material for the island in 1832, described many natural re- garden (display to the public) and for resources of the country and created the search. Museum of Santiago. The structure would be organised around Centre for research, education and the three axes : information Botanical Garden Explaining the role and the actions of the Jardin et Conservatoire Botaniques Given the particular location and needs of Claude Gay in necessary not only to the the archipelago, the idea is no to create public but also to the local population in a traditional botanical garden but rather order to obtain their adhesion to the pres- a specialised structure in relation to the ervation of their unique environmental specific problems of the islands : conser- richness. An area must therefore be de- vation of endangered species, research voted to the communication between and education. students and researchers visiting the is- The objectives will be : land, tourists and local populations. • Cultivate sufficient populations of en- The objectives will be : demic species (with priorities) and indige- • Develop a reference herbarium with nous species, with the creation of a bank international standards ; of mother-plants; • Organise a working library about all • Become a pleasant promenade in a the environmental topics of the archipe- prestigious frame, at the bottom of the fa- lago and create a general database with mous Yunque (summit of Robinson Crusoe the data of the Jardin et Conservatoire island) and a major spot of tourist tour of Botaniques Claude Gay ; the island; • Develop links with other local, national • Become a contact point for the local and international institutions for mainte- people and the visitors for the discovery nance of dynamism and quality of the of the biological richness of the archipe- activities proposed (exhibitions, anima- lago and for the education to the public tions, lectures and conferences).

Invited conference 109 International Congress of

At the moment, the project of Jardin et rapide. Acta Bot. Gallica, 153(2) : 179-200 Conservatoire Botaniques Claude Gay is • Danton Ph, Perrier Ch (2006) Nouveau catalogue analysed by the Corporación Nacional de la flore vasculaire de l’archipel Juan Fernández (Chili). Acta Bot. Gallica 153 : 4 (sous presse) del Medio Ambiente (CONAMA) of the Region V of Chile since 2005. It is clear that such a project should in priority be carried by the insular community and the Chilean Illustrations (© Ph. Danton) administration, even if international colla- 01 - Arrival at Alejandro Selkirk island with the Cerro borations are necessary (Universities, Bo- Los Inocentes (1360 m) in the distance. 02 - South face of the Cerro El Yunque (915 m) on tanical Gardens and Conservatories, Non the island Robinson Crusoe. Governmental Organisations, Founda- 03 - Yunquea tenzii Skottsb., Asteraceae endemic tions, Firms, Associations and individuals). to the summit forest of the Cerro El Yunque. People and institutions that wish to support 04 - Centaurodendron palmiforme Skottsb., Aster- this collective adventure can contact the aceae endemic to the island Robinson Crusoe. 05 - Robinsonia saxatilis Danton, Asteraceae en- following address : demic to the island Robinson Crusoe ROBINSONIA, 5 rue Galilée, F-38000 06 - Gavilea insularis M.N.Correa, Orchidaceae Grenoble; [email protected] endemic the island Alejandro Selkirk. 07 - Lactoris fernandeziana Phil., Lactoridaceae endemic to the island Robinson Crusoe. References 08 - Juania australis (C.Martius) Drude ex Hook. • Danton Ph (2006) La « Myrtisylve » de l’Archipel f., Arecaceae endemic to the island Robinson Juan Fernández (Chili), une forêt en voie de disparition Crusoe.

110 Invited conference Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

3 4

5 6

7 8

Invited conference 111 International Congress of

Conclusions

The congress demonstrated the Intranet variety of interactions between AABG As an informal communication platform, [Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens], the gardens represented decided to from which each garden can benefit. establish an intranet in which, besides The gardens represented agreed that AABG, also other important key players communication should be improved may participate. In the intranet email- through an active network which, for addresses, telephone numbers, etc. the moment, should remain informal, as of contact persons of each collection most of the botanic gardens are already should be gathered together. A large embedded in other networks. Any variety of relevant subjects could be additional formal association would bind discussed on the platform, for example already overextended capacities, which the comparison of plant inventories, the cannot be afforded at the moment. An exchange of horticultural experience, informal network of the AABG should the communication on taxonomically provide the following instruments. difficult plant groups, etc. Also the improvement of the exchange of plant material between AABG members can be Webpage discussed. The traditional seed exchange The introduction of the webpage should between botanic gardens bears the risk include a description of the criteria of hybridization. An exchange of cuttings implemented to define an AABG. and offshoots would be preferable for a Generally only those collections would be lot of taxonomic groups (Saxifragaceae, covered, which fit the BGCI-definition of Primulaceae, Crassulaceae, etc.). Details a botanic garden and which are located on the establishment of an intranet still in Europe. Lowland collections would have to be discussed. only be included if their collections focus exclusively on alpine and arctic plants. Survey panels Other important lowland collections or The participating gardens agreed, that other AABG outside of Europe could be a panel or poster, which gives a survey separate elements of a future webpage. of the European AABG, would be an The webpage should be presented in four attractive instrument for every garden and languages : English, French, Italian and would contribute to a mutual publicity. German. For each garden it should give a The panel would consist of a physical minimum set of data, which are physical map of Europe with the distribution of and postal address, website (if present) the respective gardens. Information on and one photo (optional). A first pool each garden would be reduced to the of data has already been compiled by name, a photograph and the national Munich Botanic Garden. The assemblage flag. More details can be obtained on the of the webpage will be made either common webpage (mentioned above), by Lautaret Alpine Garden or Munich, or on a handout available in the garden. depending on the resources. In this way, information can be kept up-

112 Conclusion Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens to-date. It still has to be clarified, who considerably. Therefore, the participants has the capacities to design this panel decided that meetings should be held professionally. Distribution should be as regularly. It was agreed, that the AABG PDF-file, so that each garden can adjust should meet every three years. Munich it to its conditions. Botanical Garden offered to host the next congress in 2009. As smaller gardens Regular meetings may encounter difficulties to attend the The congress in Lautaret has shown that congress during the main season, i. e. the personal contact and the exchange June to August. For that reason, it has of information and ideas is a stimulus that been agreed upon to hold it at the end strengthens the community of AABG’s of April 2009.

Exchange of horticulture experience at the nursery of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (top left, photo S. Aubert, 8th September) and excursion at the Galibier pass on the 9th September (top right, photo H. Noury) with collection of seeds (bottom, photo C. Mlinar)

Conclusion 113 International Congress of

Campanula allioni

Acknowledgements

The organising committee acknowledges : • the help of Alain BIGNON, Richard HURSTEL, Christophe PERRIER • the work of the hotel-restaurants in Villar d’Arène • the help of the Association Diane de Villar d’Arène • the financial support of the Région Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, the Région Rhône- Alpes, the Ville de Grenoble, the Commune de Villar d’Arène

Origin of the additional plates Correvon H (1914) Les plantes des montagnes et des rochers, Octave Doin & Fils, Éditeurs, Paris; Decaisne J. & Naudin Ch (sd) Manuel de l’amateur des jardins, 2 vols, Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, Fils & Cie; Liger L (1790) La nouvelle maison rustique, Barrois, Paris; Magne G (1903) Les plantes de montagne dans les jardins, Librairie & Imprimerie Horticoles, Paris; Martel MV (1889) Guide élémentaire pour les herborisations et la formation d’un herbier, Paul Dupont, Éditeur, Paris; Syndicat d’Initiative de Grenoble et du Dauphiné (sd) Le Dauphiné, album; Verlot B (1879) Guide du botaniste herborisant, Librairie J.B. Baillière & Fils, Paris; Villars D (1786-89) Histoire des plantes de Dauphiné. Chez Prevost, Paris, Grenoble, Lyon.

114 Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

Participant list

Name Surname Garden Institution Address email

Aubert Serge Jardin Botanique Alpin Université Joseph Fourier UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP serge.aubert@ujf- du Lautaret - Grenoble 1 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France grenoble.fr

Bligny Richard Jardin Botanique Alpin Université Joseph Fourier UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP [email protected] du Lautaret - Grenoble 1 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France

Bonnet François Jardin alpin „La Pont de Nant - CH 1888 Les Plans sur jardinpontdenant@ Thomasia“ Bex - Suisse hotmail.com

Bonomi Costantino Viotte Apine Botanical Trento Natural History Museum Via Calepina 14 - 38100 Trento - Italy [email protected] Garden

Castellani Cristina Viotte Apine Botanical Trento Natural History Museum Via Calepina 14 - 38100 Trento - Italy cristina.castellani@ Garden mtsn.tn.it

Cret Xavier Mairie 05480 Villar d‘Arène - France [email protected]

Danton Philippe projet Jardin et Association Robinsonia 15 rue Galilée, 38000 Grenoble [email protected] Conservatoire Cl. Gay France

Delestrade Anne Centre de recherches sur les 400 Route du Tour, Montroc, 74400 anne@crea. Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA) Chamonix, France hautesavoie.net

Delmas Maïté Jardin Alpin Museum National d‘Histoire Case Postale 45 57 rue Cuvier 75231 [email protected] Naturelle de Paris Paris cedex 05, France

Doche Bernard Université Joseph Fourier BP 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 bernard.doche@ujf- - Grenoble 1 France grenoble.fr

Douzet Rolland Jardin Botanique Alpin Université Joseph Fourier UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP rolland.douzet@ujf- du Lautaret - Grenoble 1 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France grenoble.fr

Elvebakk Arve Tromsø Arctic-Alpine University of Tromsø Tromsø Museum, University of Tromsø, arve.elvebakk@tmu. Botanic Garden N-9037 Tromsø, Norway uit.no

Fort Noémie Conservatoire Botanique 05000 Gap, France [email protected] National Alpin Gap/Charance

Gröger Andreas Alpengarten auf dem Botanischer Garten München Menzinger str. 65 , D-80638 München, a.groeger@extern. Schachen Germany lrz-muenchen.de

Hegg Otto Jardin Schynige Platte Université de Berne Alpine Garden Schynige Platte [email protected] 3812 Wilderswil, Suisse

Hurstel Richard Jardin Botanique Alpin Université Joseph Fourier UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP richard.hurstel@ujf- du Lautaret - Grenoble 1 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France grenoble.fr

Jakobsdottir Dora Reykjavik Botanic Skúlagata 19, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland dora.jakobsdottir@ Garden reykjavik.is

Latil Jean-Louis Horticulture company le Maupas Le Lauza 05300 Lazer, lewisia.latil.gamet@ France wanadoo.fr

Leplan-Roux Joëlle Jardin Botanique Alpin Université Joseph Fourier UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP joelle.leplan@ujf- du Lautaret - Grenoble 1 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France grenoble.fr

Longo Michela Viotte Apine Botanical Trento Natural History Museum Via Calepina 14 - 38100 Trento - Italy michela.longo@mtsn. Garden tn.it

Mathieu Gwladys Centre de recherches sur les 400 Route du Tour, Montroc, 74400 gwladys@crea. Ecosystèmes d’Altitude (CREA) Chamonix, France hautesavoie.net

Mlinar Ciril Juliana Alpine Botanical Slovene Museum of Natural Presernova 20, SI-1000 Ljubljana, [email protected] Garden Hystory Slovenia

Perrier Christophe projet Jardin et Robinsonia association Le Rocher - 05600 Saint-Crépin, France [email protected] Conservatoire Cl. Gay

Pierrel Romaric Jardin d’Altitude du Conservatoire et Jardins 100, rue du Jardin Botanique - 54600 romaric.pierrel@grand- Haut Chitelet Botaniques de Nancy Villers-Les-Nancy, France nancy.org

Praprotnik Nada Juliana Alpine Botanical Slovene Museum of Natural Presernova 20, SI-1000 Ljubljana, [email protected] Garden Hystory Slovenia

Régnier Marc Jardin Alpin „Flore- Fondation JM Aubert Fondation Jean-Marcel Aubert - Case fondation.aubert@ Alpe“ postale 71 - CH1938 Champex-Lac bluewin.ch - Suisse

Schlegel Franz Alpengarten auf dem Botanischer Garten München- Menzinger str. 65 , D-80638 München, sturmschlegel@t- Schachen Nymphenburg Germany online.de

Thorvaldsdottir Eva Reykjavik Botanic Skúlagata 19, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland eva.thorvaldsdottir@ Garden reykjavik.is

Till-Bottraud Irène Laboratoire d‘Ecologie CNRS UJF - Station Alpine Joseph Fourier; BP [email protected] Alpine 53 - 38041 Grenoble cedex 9 - France

Smith Paul Leader of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wakehurst Place ; Ardingly, West [email protected] Millennium Seed Bank Sussex, RH17 6TN; UK Project

Wainwrignt- Jennifer Alpengarten auf dem Botanischer Garten München- Menzinger str. 65 , D-80638 München, jenny.wainwright-klein@ Klein Schachen Nymphenburg Germany t-online.de

Zollinger Jean La Rambertia La Ruelle - 1117 Grancy - Suisse Veronique_Zaugg- [email protected]

115 Conception and realisation : S. Aubert, Ph. Danton, Ch. Perrier Impression : Imprimerie des Ecureuils 300 exemplaires Janvier 2007 Friday 7th September - Villar d’Arène - photo: Franz Schlegel From left to right. Front: Jean-Louis Latil, Serge Aubert, Costantino Bonomi, Andreas Gröger; Middle: Maïté Delmas, Rolland Douzet, Christophe Perrier, Philippe Danton, Romaric Pierrel, Arve Elvebakk; Background: François Bonnet, Marc Régnier, Noémie Fort, Richard Bligny, Paul Smith, Michela Longo, Cristina Castellani, Anne Delestrade.

Visit of the Jardin Botanique Alpin du Lautaret (8th September) - Photo: Ciril Mlinar From left to right: Rolland Douzet (1), Nada Praprotnik (2), François Bonnet (3), Richard Hurstel (4), Serge Aubert (5), Marc Régnier (6), Christophe Perrier (7), Jenny Wainwrignt- Klein (8), Franz Schlegel (9), Andreas Gröger (10), Eva Thorvaldsdottir (11), Arve Elvebakk (12), Dora Jakobsdottir (13), Joëlle Leplan-Roux (14), Ms. Zollinger (15), Ms. Hegg (16), Alain Bignon (17), Otto Hegg (18), Philippe Danton (19), Jean Zollinger (20), Ms. Zaugg- Zollinger (21).

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21 International Congress of Alpine and Arctic Botanical Gardens

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