Annual report 2013 (English)

National Botanic Garden of Belgium Annual report 2013

National Botanic Garden of Belgium Annual report 2013

Foreword

Building a sustainable future through discovery, research and conservation of plants.

The new mission statement for the Botanic Garden Meise: ‘Building a sustainable future through discovery, research and conservation of plants’, encapsulates the value our Garden delivers not only in Belgium but globally.

In our modern world, botanic gardens such as ours have a more comprehensive mission than other plant-focused organisations. They combine fundamental research such as taxonomy and phylogenetics with practical ex situ and in situ conservation programs. They share this plant knowledge with the wider public to raise awareness of the vital role plants play in our daily lives.

Our skilled team of staff collaborates daily with an extensive range of people and organisations at home and abroad in the pursuit of making a real difference to society and to promote a more sustainable future. Our collaborative network includes primary and secondary schools, universities, and other plant research and conservation organisations.

Over the past year our staff have made significant contributions to recording worldwide biodiversity. This has been achievable through their expertise and the accumulation of many unique scientific collections gathered through the history of our Garden. The examples highlighted in this annual report demonstrate how traditional methods combine with modern scientific practice to help describe plant diversity and unravel its history.

The importance of linking in situ and ex situ plant conservation will only increase as up to a third of all plant life is threatened with extinction.

In 2013, the Garden embarked on a large EU-funded project to ecologically restore one of Belgium’s most fragile ecosystems. Further afield, we have investigated the economic value of African woodlands in terms of edible wild-sourced mushrooms and how the conservation of forests contributes to reducing food shortage and malnutrition. This

is an important topic as policy makers worldwide incorporate economic models in their decision making processes.

The year 2013 was also exciting for our staff working on natural history collections that had largely been ‘forgotten’. These collections finally received the attention they deserve and are now being carefully curated. The Garden also further strengthened its indoor and outdoor living plant collections. Many of our living collections are important for scientific research, conservation and education programs. We were pleased to strengthen their multiple values over the past year by acquiring new and exciting plants. This year also saw the educational program of the Garden extended to a significant part of the visiting public: visitors who are blind and visually impaired. This group can now benefit from a specialised tour accommodating their additional needs.

This annual report marks the end of an era. On the first of January 2014, the Garden was formally transferred to the Flemish community and in so doing has adopted a new name ‘Botanic Garden Meise’. The staff have been assigned to the Flemish- or French-speaking community, but will continue their work to achieve common goals.

The preparation for this transfer required a lot of energy and goodwill from all the administrations involved: in the first place from the staff of the Garden, but also from many individuals working at the federal government, and Flemish and French communities. Thanks to you all, the transition was well prepared and we look forward to a positive future.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all our staff, volunteers, guides, the federal government, the governments of the Flemish and French-speaking communities and our many supporters for all the work achieved in 2013. I am convinced that together, we are ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead!

Steven Dessein Chief Executive Officer

Discovering and recording biodiversity

Discovering and recording biodiversity

5 — 11

At present the total number of plant species on our planet remains unknown. Many are yet to be discovered, especially in the tropics and in certain groups like fungi and algae. This represents a serious scientific deficit, since species are the fundamental building blocks of ecosystems and knowing them is essential to our understanding of how our living planet works.

Discovering, describing, naming and classifying species is at the core of our scientific research.

Our taxonomists combine classic methods, such as morphology, histology and anatomy with modern techniques including scanning electron microscopy, digital imaging and DNA barcoding. The result aims to be a globally accepted, stable and scientific ordering of all life forms in a system that reflects their evolutionary origin. The taxonomic data and identification tools, such as floras, developed by our specialists are crucial for many other fields of research and for commercial purposes.

Safeguarding plant life 12 — 16

Understanding ecosystems 17 — 19

(Re-)connecting plants and people 20 — 24

Inspiring and informing 25 — 29

Bringing our heritage to life 30 — 35

Organisation 36 — 40

Facts and figures 41 — 66

4—5

Streptocarpus bindseilii at Rugarama in Rwanda, a recently described and rare endemic species of the Gesneriaceae family that has yet to be treated in the Flore d’Afrique centrale. Photo Eberhard Fischer.

Every year, our researchers organise field trips and discover new species of plants and fungi from around the world. Back in the laboratory, the carefully collected samples are studied in-depth using a range of scientific instruments, such as light and scanning-electron microscopes, chemical analysis and DNA examination. In 2013, 18 diatoms, 13 lichens, 1 fungus, and 21 flowering plants were described as new to science by our staff.

Through their studies, our taxonomists are key actors in inventorying the world’s biodiversity. Occasionally discoveries can even be found closer to home: take for example the hybrid Magnolia × nooteboomiana Geerinck. This previously undescribed ornamental was discovered growing along an avenue in the suburb of Ixelles in Brussels. Meanwhile the ectoparasitic fungus Cantharomyces elongatus Haelewaters & De Kesel was first recorded by science in association with an insect from an ash forest of the Netherlands.

Central Africa is a well-known hotspot of diversity and has always been of particular interest for our researchers. Among the new diatom species of 2013, Cavinula lilandae Cocquyt, M.de Haan & J.C.Taylor is worth a mention as it represents the first described alga resulting from our ‘Boyekoli Ebale Congo 2010 Expedition’. Virtually nothing is known about algal diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo so the description of many more new taxa is inevitable in the coming years. The aforementioned expedition also yielded a previously unknown lichen Piccolia congolensis Van den Broeck, Aptroot & Ertz.

Morphological studies and molecular analyses are complementary to advance the knowledge of lichenology. In 2013, studies conducted by our researchers resulted in the description of three new lichen genera from Chile, Madagascar, and Brazil (Austroroccella Tehler & Ertz, Savoronala Ertz, Eb.Fisch., Killmann, Razafin. & Sérus. and Sergipea M.Cáceres, Ertz & Aptroot).

The herbarium of the Botanic Garden harbours many unidentified specimens of flowering plants, some collected decades ago and waiting to be described. In 2013, research on African flora mainly focused on the genera Justicia (Acanthaceae) and Psychotria (Rubiaceae).

From these two genera 11 and 8 species (respectively) were described as new to science. Many of these are endemic and threatened in the wild. Field observations are often important to solve taxonomic problems. This proved to be the case in the new African species, Kalaharia schaijesii Bamps (Lamiaceae). Previously it had been confused with the only other representative of its genus; however, observations on its growth habit and flower characters proved this was yet another distinct species.

Completing the Flora of Central Africa

A Flora is a publication which aids the identification of plants. It is an essential tool, not just for specialist taxonomists but also for ecologists, foresters, conservation workers, ethno-botanists and even zoologists, for example investigating what a particular animal feeds on.

In tropical Africa, a complete Flora is available for the west and east, but the central region has only partially been covered. This seriously hinders scientists and conservationists in the region who have to rely heavily on a network of specialists to identify species and point out which are the least common or most endangered. Since 1948, the Botanic Garden has been involved in the production of Flore d’Afrique centrale, which aims to include all plants known to occur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. To date, the flora has grown to a series of books containing over 6,000 species belonging to 180 plant families. Despite this huge effort this work only covers 60% of the total flora.

Over the last two decades, production has been slow. In 2013 however, the Garden decided to take responsibility and breathe new life into resuming this ambitious project. From the 1st of October 2013, a specialist was appointed specifically to coordinate efforts to complete the remaining 40% of the Flora. His task is to create a sound network of specialists willing to contribute to the Flore d’Afrique centrale series.

These specialists will need to critically read thousands of articles, study several hundred thousand herbarium vouchers and organise the production of several thousand drawings.

In addition to a printed version, a smart e-environment will be created to accommodate the gathered data. This online version will facilitate greater access to information, simplify the task of updating existing information with new finds (even new species), and enable the development of related tools such as apps for mobile phones. Furthermore, our Garden will try to acquire additional funding to train and educate a sufficiently large group of regional botanists in Central Africa to assist in the Flora production and maintain and update the e-version. The aim is to complete the Flore d’Afrique centrale and its eversion in 15 years; a lofty ambition indeed!

Progress Flore d'Afrique centrale Spermatophytes 10000 Past progress in species numbers (in green) and the projected ambition (in black) of the Flore d’Afrique centrale series.

Cavinula lilandae Cocquyt, M. de Haan & J.C. Taylor, a new diatom species from the Congo Basin.

Piccolia congolensis Van den Broeck, Aptroot & Ertz, a new crustose lichen from the Congolese rainforest.

New to science

9000 8000 7000

Trunk covered by crustaceous lichens in the Congolese rainforest.

6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000

Discovering and recording biodiversity

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20 1

20 12

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96

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19 9

19 88

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0

Lilanda River northwest of Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

One of the aims of the ‘Boyekoli Ebale Congo 2010 Expedition’ was to study the diversity of diatoms in the Congo Basin. Water samples were taken at various locations along the Congo River. These included locations downstream of Kisangani (Democratic Republic of the Congo) at the intersection of several major tributaries, namely the rivers Lomami, Itimbiri and Aruwimi, and a number of smaller rivers and streams such as Lubilu and Lilanda in the vicinity of Yangambi.

Samples were brought back to the Botanic Garden for the identification of any diatom species present.

Initial investigations revealed the presence of a large number of unknown diatom species, in contrast, the number of observed cosmopolitan species was relatively low but included: Navicula rostellata; Staurosirella pinnata; and Ulnaria ulna. There were also African and tropical-African species such as: Fragilariforma strangulata; Gomphonema zairensis. Interestingly, some taxa had been previously recorded and described from South America. These included: Encyonopsis frequentis Krammer and Gomphosphenia tenerrima.

A number of taxa observed from the Congo Basin are closely related (but different) to species discovered from the Amazon Basin in South America, while others were more closely related to taxa described from tropical Asia. An example includes a species related to Navicula fuerbornii, described from Java. It appeared that Navicula fuerbornii had also been recorded in Ghana, but on closer investigation that discovery had a different type-drawing compared with the specimen from Java. Therefore, the name given to the Ghanaian specimen was misapplied. This means a new taxon will need to be described as the form discovered in Democratic Republic of the Congo was the same as the one found in Ghana.

Many new species discovered were from the genus Eunotia, a typical component of small acidic rivers and streams with a pH value often less than 5. This environment, although generally low in species diversity, also yielded another new species, Cavinula lilandae Cocquyt, M.de Haan & J.C.Taylor that was described and published in 2013.

This species was named after its type-locality, the village and stream Lilanda.

The larger tributaries of the Congo River with pH values greater than 8 that were surveyed had a greater diversity of species with often more than 50 taxa observed in a single sample. The descriptions of several other new taxa are in progress while other descriptions are already in press or submitted to peer-reviewed international journals.

These diatom studies were made possible thanks to our Garden’s involvement in the ‘Boyekoli Ebale Congo 2010 Expedition’ (http:// www.congobiodiv.org/en/projects/expeditions/expedition-2010) and an additional two projects financed by the Federal Science Policy namely: COBAFISH (Congo Basin: From carbon to fishes); and COZADIMO (Preliminary study of diatoms as potential water quality indicators for the tropical Congo and Zambezi sister basins).

Discovering and recording biodiversity

Protosteloid Amoebae in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Protosteloid Amoebae are bacterivorous protists that can be found on dead plant matter and represent a small group of 33 species.

They are traditionally placed together with two other groups of fruiting amoebae, myxomycetes and dictyostelids in the Eumycetozoa.

Identification of taxa is based on morphological characteristics of their microscopic fruiting bodies that are comprised of a translucent stalk supporting one or more spores.

The occurrence of Protosteloid Amoebae in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was studied in cultures from substrates collected between the cities of Kisangani and Bumba during the ‘Boyekoli Ebale Congo 2010 Expedition’. This survey of Protosteloid Amoebae is the first for Central Africa, with previous records for Africa restricted to Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.

Cultures from aerial litter (or dead, attached leaves), revealed 23 species or 70% of the total number of species described worldwide.

Two of these taxa, Schizoplasmodiopsis reticulata and Schizoplasmodium seychellarum, were new records for the African continent. Furthermore, the isolate LHI05 was observed for the first time outside Hawai‘i. Of particular interest is the discovery of 5 unknown taxa that have been documented. The high species diversity observed on a limited number of samples suggests that the investigated region is, together with Hawai‘i, one of the world’s tropical hotspots for Protosteloid Amoebae.

Names of Cyanobacteria revised

The scientific names of plants have to be published in a particular way outlined in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). This ensures a clear understanding of valid names across the scientific community and, among other things, prevents two taxa being given the same name. Occasionally, names are not validly published and in this event corrections have to be applied. This is an account of one of these instances.

Gloeobacter violaceus Rippka et al. was the name given to a primitive Cyanobacterium (Cyanophyte) in 1974. It is phylogenetically important among the Cyanophyta because it uniquely lacks thylakoids, the site of light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

Although Gloeobacter violaceus has been widely cited in experimental, taxonomical and phylogenetic literature, it was recently noted that its genus name Gloeobacter was invalidly published and as a result it has no current standing under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), nor under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes.

Consequently, the names Gloeobacter and G. violaceus were validated by the process of designating a holotype in agreement with Article 40 of the ICBN. During the course of this study, it appeared that several names could compete with G. violaceus and had priority. Moreover, one of these names was the type of another genus, Gloeothece. To ensure continuous use of the names Gloeobacter violaceus and Gloeothece it is necessary to conserve both names. In order to facilitate this two conservation proposals were published in the scientific journal Taxon.

Both proposals will be examined by the Nomenclature Committee for Algae and by the General Nomenclature Committee which will decide if both names are included in the list of ‘Nomina conservanda’ or conserved names.

8—9

Collecting of aerial litter samples for the cultivation of Protosteloid Amoebae.

Diatom diversity in the Congo basin

The Catalogue of Life is an ambitious project to create a register of all the world’s organisms and their relationships. The directory acts as a taxonomic backbone for many other large global projects, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Encyclopedia of Life.

In 2013, the Garden contributed this database via the European Union funded ‘i4life project’, aimed at boosting the number of species in the Catalogue of Life and increasing the number of participating institutions. Given our expertise in the African Flora we chose to contribute to checklists of African endemic families and the Connaraceae, a largely African family.

Some of the endemic families are rather obscure. For example, the Hydrostachyaceae are rare freshwater plants that are found on waterfalls and in rapids; the Grubbiaceae are a 90 million year old family now restricted to the Cape Peninsula in South Africa and the Dioncophyllaceae are rare plants from tropical West Africa, which include Triphyophyllum peltatum, an unusual climbing carnivorous plant. While these families are obscure, they are often overlooked in taxonomic checklists, nevertheless, they are important conservation targets as they represent diverse evolutionary lineages.

Thus far we have contributed approximately 1,000 accepted names and synonyms to the project. However, we are continuing to work on the checklist and expect to deliver an additional 800 names in the near future.

Dumortiera becomes a free digital journal

In 2013, the Botanic Garden’s journal of field botany Dumortiera saw a threefold increase of subscribers compared with the previous year. The reason for this was the decision to publish online as a free digital journal.

Established in 1975, the journal has proved an important link between professional and amateur botanists. Over the past few years, however, the number of subscribers and submitted manuscripts dwindled. After the publication of issue 100 in 2012 it was decided that a change was needed. Issue 101 became the first to enter this new digital era.

There are many advantages to this format: —— The full article can be downloaded free-of-charge as a pdf document; —— Authors can include additional content, such as large annexes and high quality full colour illustrations. For instance, a herbarium sheet can be reproduced with on-screen magnification that allows close scrutiny of plant details that may be featured in the article; —— Authors appreciate they reach a larger readership; —— Subscribers are informed by e-mail when a new issue is published.

In addition to articles in Dutch and French (with English translation of the abstract), the journal now also publishes contributions in English. Articles from previous issues have been made available to download thus making Dumortiera more accessible to a wider community.

Dumortiera 103.

Herbarium specimen of Ixora peculiaris De Block.

Once part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar broke away from eastern Africa 160 million years ago and later from Antarctica and India, leaving it isolated in the Indian Ocean for the past 80 million years. This long separation precludes any possibility that flowering plants could have been on the island before it broke away, since they evolved more recently. Despite its long isolation, Madagascar is home to more than 12,000 plant species, most of these endemic, making it one of the most diverse floras on the planet.

Where did all of Madagascar’s unique plant species come from?

Researchers of the Garden undertook a molecular study of the pantropical genus Ixora, with ca. 530 species, one of the largest genera of the coffee family. Some 40 species of Ixora occur in Africa, another 40 are endemic to Madagascar. Our study showed that the Madagascan Ixora species belong to two lineages of different ages. This means that there has been at least one dispersal event from Eastern Africa across the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar some eight million years ago. Once arrived in Madagascar, Ixora started a rapid radiation, colonising the new island and adapting to its different niches. Hence, the Madagascan Ixora species are recent endemics, evolved in situ following trans-oceanic dispersal.

The two separate lineages of Madagascan Ixora exhibit similar morphological innovations, unique within the genus. This suggests that the same selective pressures drive the evolution of both groups.

In comparison to continental Africa, Ixora has undergone a rare differentiation in Madagascar. There is a trend towards reduction of the number of flowers per inflorescence from several hundreds to few or even one. Furthermore, flower size is spectacularly variable with corolla tubes between 0.4 and 23 cm long.

After its arrival in Madagascar, Ixora diversified into 40 species with certain unique morphological characters, and all this in a period of less than eight million years. How can this rapid radiation be explained? One of the main driving forces of rapid radiations is climatic fluctuation, which we know occurred in the Plio- and Pleistocene. If the climate is drier, tropical forests retract and become isolated within a drier landscape. Once isolated, populations of the same species may develop different characters and evolve into different species. Pollinators are also a driving force for radiation. The diversification in corolla tube length in Madagascan Ixora will undoubtedly have resulted in increased pollinator specificity, thereby, again, isolating different populations from each other and facilitating their evolution into different species.

Our Contribution to the Catalogue of Life

Compound leaf of the African species Cnestis ferruginea DC. (Connaraceae) grown in the glasshouses of the Botanic Garden.

Out of Africa: recent trans-oceanic dispersal of plant species to Madagascar

Discovering and recording biodiversity

10 — 11

Soil seed bank of the rare creeping marshwort

Helosciadium repens (creeping marshwort) is a small plant formerly known as Apium repens; it belongs to the carrot family or Apiaceae. It is a rare plant from marshes and wet meadows with a restricted, mainly European distribution, and is mentioned by the European Habitat Directive as a species in need of special protection. Over the past ten years the Botanic Garden conducted a research project looking at conservation biology and ecological demands within Belgian populations. Part of this work involved recording counts of individuals in permanent plots. These records, however, fail to take into account the seeds that may be present in the soil seed bank. Soil seed banks can be vital for the survival of a species. Since the creeping marshwort has reappeared in former localities after more than 50 years of absence, we believed it to have a long-lived soil seed bank. Consequently, a study was undertaken to investigate the soil seed bank.

In the three largest populations, soil samples were taken, flushed through sieves and dried. The resulting soil fractions were viewed under a binocular microscope revealing glimpses of an often surprisingly beautiful underground world. The seeds of H. repens were separated from the soil, measured and stored in our Garden’s seed bank under long-term storage conditions. The dark brown seeds turned out to be difficult to distinguish from the soil, making their counting unreliable. Therefore, soil samples were scattered thinly on to the surface of potting compost and placed in the glasshouses and watered. This practice resulted in the germination of hundreds of H. repens seedlings. Of these more than five hundred were sampled and stored in silica gel to later investigate the genetic diversity of the soil seed bank.

Some seedlings were transplanted to reinforce an existing population that had strongly declined due, among other things, to poor habitat management.

12 — 13

Seedlings germinating from soil samples taken from populations of creeping marshwort (Helosciadium repens).

It is estimated that up to one third of plant species are currently threatened or face extinction in the wild, mainly due to habitat fragmentation and destruction, combined with climate change. Every plant has a crucial role in a healthy functioning ecosystem. Some may hold unknown treasures such as molecules with helpful medicinal properties. Therefore, the safeguarding of plant species is essential.

Our research contributes to the development of tools for in situ conservation in valuable natural sites both nationally and internationally. Off-site or ex situ conservation is equally important. We collect plant material from the wild for preservation and propagation in our living collections, and in the collections of partner botanic gardens. Our seed bank holds the seeds of many rare and endangered species, thus safeguarding critical genetic variation. In combining our expertise and collections we are able to assist with the reintroduction of species in natural habitats both now and into the future.

Most populations of creeping marshwort are grazed by horses.

Safeguarding plant life

The Garden embarks on ecological restoration

Development of propagation protocols in the Garden’s nursery.

Garden staff collecting seeds of dwarf everlast (Helichrysum arenarium) in the wild.

Transplanting propagated material of the maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides) in a restored area of grassland in Southern Belgium.

Nutrient-poor grassland habitats and several of their characteristic species have reached a critical state in many European countries, including Belgium. The main reasons for this situation are: habitat fragmentation, abandonment of the traditional agro-pastoral activities, and the intensification of agricultural practices. There is now an urgent need to preserve, manage and restore these few remaining, often degraded, habitat patches. Part of this work includes the restoration of critically endangered plant species and populations that without intervention would not regenerate naturally due to limited dispersal capacities and the absence of seed bank in the soil.

These challenging tasks are being addressed in the framework of a new EU-LIFE Nature project in Southern Belgium (LIFE11 NAT/ BE/001060). The partners of this project include Natagora, the SPWallonie (DEMNA and DNF) and the Botanic Garden. This sevenyear project (2013-2019) aims at improving the conservation status of 400 ha of priority grasslands using an integrated approach, involving both in situ and ex situ conservation techniques. LIFE funds are used to restore 11 different grassland types, including six priority habitats, including: xeric sand calcareous grasslands, semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates, and species-rich Nardus grasslands.

As a centre of excellence in ex situ conservation, our Garden is responsible for species reintroduction and reinforcement for six target species: maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides), proliferous pink (Petrorhagia prolifera), dwarf everlast (Helichrysum arenarium), clustered bellflower (Campanula glomerata), mountain everlasting (Antennaria dioica) and the mountain arnica (Arnica montana). The aim is to increase the effective size of remaining populations (reinforcement) and to restore extinct populations (reintroduction) in order to improve connectivity in the landscape. For each species, seeds have been collected in 3-4 source populations in similar habitats (geographically close to the target sites). Leaves from each source and target population were sampled to estimate within-population genetic diversity and inbreeding level, and between-population genetic divergence. Soil samples were collected at the target sites to study the soil seed bank. After several months of testing with different types of substrate, propagation protocols have successfully been developed for all target species. During 2013, one thousand individuals of Dianthus deltoides were transplanted in two restored sites. Prior to transplanting, morphometric measurements of each individual (length and width of the largest leaf) were recorded. Once in situ these plants were precisely mapped to facilitate their long-term monitoring (survival, vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, germination, recruitment). We anticipate that other reintroductions will follow as habitat restoration progresses.

Safeguarding plant life

14 — 15

Use of local plants for the arboretum of ERAIFT.

Improvement of the ERAIFT arboretum in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Understanding ecosystems

Senior staff at ERAIFT (‘Ecole régionale post universitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion intégrés des Forêts et Territoires tropicaux’) decided to improve the green spaces around its buildings that previously comprised of a massive plantation of Acacia and Eucalyptus planted originally to mitigate the effects of serious erosion.

Our Garden proposed to support the improvement of the plantation in a joint Botanic Garden / ERAIFT / UNESCO program. The objective of the program was to develop an arboretum to facilitate the education of students (ERAIFT and other Faculties) on the identification of typical forests trees of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A simple planting scheme was devised and the area was divided into a range of plots with each plot containing a single species. In order for the work to progress our Garden needed to find practical help to develop the new arboretum. Consequently, they joined forces with an NGO ‘Les Amis de la nature et des jardins’ (ANJ), an organisation committed to fieldwork to help safeguarding nature. Subsequently, locals were employed, especially women and young adults (previously living on the streets) to help develop this new plantation. The first area planted comprised of 2.7 ha and was enriched with 280 labelled trees from 30 different species (e.g. Milicia excelsa, Milletia laurentii, Penthacletra macrophylla, Pericopsis elata and Terminalia superba). In the same area a nature trail is planned to educate the public on a range of themes from environmental protection, endangered species and the sustainable collection of firewood. Our Garden will continue to monitor the plantation during 2014 to ensure a successful outcome of the project.

Safeguarding plant life

In a world increasingly under environmental pressure, plants, ecosystems and the services they provide need to be maintained to keep the planet healthy. Amongst other things they mitigate the effects of greenhouse gasses, play an important role in the global water cycle, and help combat desertification.

The work of our researchers helps us understand how ecosystems function, and how they can be described and monitored. They also investigate invasive species that influence native species.

Throughout the world, in Africa as in Belgium, humankind is fully dependent on healthy ecosystems.

16 — 17

Edible fungi: an important source of food and income in tropical Africa.

The edible Cantharellus ruber grows abundantly in Zambezian woodlands.

The mega-diverse rainforests of Central Africa usually draw most of the attention of conservationists because of their destruction by the logging industry. Lesser known is the forested area around the so-called Congo Basin that is being systematically depleted due to charcoal production. The latter woodlands (termed miombos) are adapted to a long dry season (at least 4 months) with many tree species being resistant to bushfires. These forests are vulnerable because once cleared they have difficulty to regenerate. The human pressure on this forest ecosystem is excessively high since half of the African population depends on it for food, medicine, fuel and construction timber, etc.

Researchers at our Garden developed a method for delivering taxonomical data and tools for the conservation and sustainable use of these woodlands. These tools are meant to estimate the value of non timber forest products like edible fungi, an essential step in the re-evaluation of the true worth of less-valued yet threatened ecosystems.

By using permanent plots the annual, natural production of wild edible fungi was measured in different forest types. This study was conducted in the woodlands of Benin (Sudanian region) and Southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zambezian region). In both these areas fungi are an important food source and a vital income for millions of people. Study results revealed a high diversity of edible species within each region. The majority of these fungi were ectomycorrhizal symbionts, i.e. obligatorily associated with the root system of living trees. The species composition appears to depend on the forest type. Our study revealed that chanterelles dominate in the Zambezian region while the Sudanian region is dominated by milk-caps.

The yields of fungi range from 100 to 300 kg/ha/year, depending on the species and forest type. If just 10% of this production reaches the market to be sold at an average of 1€ per kg, a single hectare of miombo would deliver, on average, 20€/year. Although charcoal delivers a much greater amount 300€/ha this can only happen once because once felled the woodland needs 30 years to regenerate. Consequently, over time charcoal delivers just half of the income generated from harvesting fungi!

This study therefore proves that maintaining the ecosystems’ service of delivering non timber forest products is financially and culturally much more beneficial for local people than the production of charcoal and that long-term benefit outweighs short-term gains.

Charcoal and edible fungi on sale in Katanga (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Tools for the conservation and sustainable use of African woodlands: edible fungi

Understanding ecosystems

18 — 19

To reconstruct life from the past, archaeologists need to study a whole range of evidence. This includes the remains of buildings, spectacular columns, fragments of pottery and also includes the remains of animals and plants from sediments. In 2013, the Botanic Garden helped archeologists from the Flemish Heritage Agency and NPO Agilas by identifying and interpreting plant material from several excavations in Flanders.

Specifically, we were asked to study seeds, fruits and bryophytes from sediments located in the deeper sections of a Roman well in the Roman settlement of Asse (near the centre of the modern village of Asse). Three samples of sediment were sieved and plant macro remains collected. Despite rather poor conditions for preservation, since the Roman era, 50 species of vascular plants and 9 species of mosses were successfully identified along with the charred remains of grains of corn.

It was likely that most remains came from the immediate vicinity of the well in the Asse settlement and from nearby wet grasslands.

The composition of moss species suggests the presence of forests in the neighborhood while other plants may have been selected for their medicinal properties. Several species introduced by the Romans were found including: Apium graveolens, Anethum graveolens and Prunus avium. Blackberries that were certainly collected from the wild were also preserved in the sediments. At a different location, the Roman fort at Oudenburg, two wells yielded extensive, well-preserved remains of bryophytes. It is likely that these were used to filter water.

Plant material from archaeological sites provide us with a good insight of the flora over a millennium prior to the immense changes in land use and air quality resulting from the industrial revolution. The bulk of the bryophyte material consisted of pleurocarpous mat-forming species collected from tree stems and bases although terrestrial species were also gathered. In total, 45 species of bryophytes were identified providing insights into epiphytic and terrestrial bryoflora of that time.

Many of the species had never been recorded in Flanders. Several of these were frequent or even dominant in the samples. Some of the identified species have returned to our countryside relatively recently as a result of European legislation reducing sulphur dioxide emissions, thus improving air quality. These species are increasing their distribution and in time will once again form species-rich mats of bryophytes in our woodlands.

Branch fragment of the fox-tail feather moss (Thamnobryum alopecurum) from a well in the Roman settlement at Oudenburg (first half 3rd century AD).

Everywhere on the planet specific plant and fungi species have provided local populations with food, energy, materials for housing and tools, fibres for clothing and medicines. In many parts of the world plants remain the primary elements in fighting hunger, disease and extreme poverty.

Plants also often figure in cultural expressions and religion. Nowadays, cultural plant knowledge is being lost and with it the vital connections we have with plants and fungi.

Our researchers record how plants and fungi are used so that this knowledge can be shared and distributed. Our scientists’ ability to identify plants, even from tiny or ancient remains, contributes to fields as diverse as forensic investigation and archaeology, thus constantly identifying and establishing links between plants and people.

Bryophytes and other plant remains from excavations of Roman sites: a window on pre-industrial flora

Individual moss leaf of the fox-tail feather moss (Thamnobryum alopecurum).

(Re-)connecting plants and people

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A partial print of two leaves of Styrax officinalis on the grip of a Late Roman Sagalassos amphora (© Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project; Bruno Vandermeulen).

Building capacity on environmental education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Leafprints on amphorae at Sagalassos (SW-Turkey)

Participants of ‘Workshop on Environmental Education’.

An amphora is a type of container of a characteristic shape and size often utilised for transport and storage during the Roman Empire. Excavations at the archaeological site of Sagalassos in southwestern Turkey (100 km north of Antalya) discovered leaf impressions on Late Roman amphorae. This represented a thus far unique occurrence within the Roman world. The leaf impressions were so well preserved that they could be identified down to species level.

During systematic archaeological excavations of the site (Prof.

M. Waelkens and collaborators, KU Leuven) thousands of potsherds were found. Dr. Philip Bes recently discovered that a limited number of these had leafprints. A reference collection of herbarium specimens previously collected between 1997 and 2004 in the historical area made it possible to identify the two plant species used for the prints, namely, Styrax officinalis and Vitis vinifera. Both species still occur within the vicinity of the archaeological site, with Styrax being well-known from antiquity for its fragrant resin.

The amphorae leaf prints were placed in a rather standardised position on the collar, rim and grip of the container making it clear that this was a conscious step in the manufacturing process. Many questions remain about the significance of this occurrence: was it purely ornamental, did it have a specific function, and why does it only occur at a specific site? Maybe future excavations and finds will help solve some of these questions.

The results of the partnership between our Garden and the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past 8 years have been very positive. The revival of botanical gardens and the recommencement of ex situ conservation answered the growing demand from national institutions.

The sustainability of these positive outcomes, however, remain fragile because educating staff in technical skills remains in an early phase. To overcome the lack of technical skills, the Botanic Garden organised several training sessions on innovative topics related to ex situ conservation, botany and environmental education.

Thanks to cooperation with ‘l’Ecole régionale post universitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion intégrés des Forêts et Territoires tropicaux’ (ERAIFT) and UNESCO the ‘Workshop on Environmental Education’ was successfully organised in Kinshasa on 23rd and 24th September, 2013. Its main objective was to promote environmental education among institutes responsible for nature conservation, schools, civil society and the media. In particular it aimed to highlight and support the preservation of biodiversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo Basin. Around 60 participants from different institutions were present each day.

During the first day 8 national and international experts introduced major themes on environmental education, such as: the definition of environmental education; urban nature; conservation (in situ and ex situ) of biodiversity; and threatened plants. Particular focus was given to the reality of nature conservation in the city of Kinshasa.

The second day was dedicated to group work for which two themes were proposed: the importance of protecting biodiversity; and the role of environmental awareness in school education. Both these subjects looked at the current situation and prospects for the future. The exchanges were very interesting and dynamic, each group provided robust proposals for the inclusion of these topics in their respective institutes.

Participants showed keen interest in the topics of the workshop and requested additional technical training and materials such as books, manuals, pamphlets and posters. Our Garden published the proceedings of the workshop and reprinted a poster on “the importance of plants in the life of man”, which have been distributed to all stakeholders.

(Re-)connecting plants and people

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Inspiring and informing

Our Garden has many important and varied roles. This is an account of just one of those. A veterinarian working for Animal Health Care Flanders (‘Dierengezondheidszorg Vlaanderen’) needed to find out why a flock of sheep he was asked to inspect were dying. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to receive help at other institutions he contacted the Belgian Poison Centre. There he was told they were ‘unable to help’ but advised him to contact the Botanic Garden.

Soon after a large bag filled with hay was delivered to the Garden.

In previous days over 30 sheep on a single farm in the vicinity of Antwerp had died. The veterinarian suspected that hay from a recently opened bale was responsible. Our researchers therefore screened the hay for the presence of poisonous plants.

The bag was emptied onto a large table. Not being of the highest quality, the hay smelled unpalatable. Many stems and leaves were covered with a white mould. Due to the lack of sporangia a mycologist failed to identify the mould, but he doubted there was a link with the sudden mortality of sheep. Meanwhile the hay was screened for other possible culprits. Next to several different grass species and a few prickly fragments of brambles were numerous stems of something that looked like a vetch (Vicia). Close inspection yielded sufficient material for a positive identification from the Botanic Garden’s herbarium collections, although it was a surprise.

Rather than a native species, the dried fragments proved to be goat’s rue (Galega officinalis), naturally restricted to South, Central and Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. It is a rather attractive herbaceous perennial, sometimes cultivated as an ornamental. Goat’s rue has been listed as a rare exotic species in Belgium since the 19th century, but it appears that it is persisting and expanding its distribution in a small number of locations across Belgium.

A little more research revealed that when present in hay, goat’s rue is life-threatening to animals, especially sheep. Furthermore, the symptoms exhibited by the dying sheep perfectly matched the effects this plant can have as recorded in the veterinary literature. Further investigations revealed that in previous years, this plant had been recorded by a botanist in the vicinity of the grassland where the hay had been cut. This population probably originated from plants discarded from a nearby garden.

In total, 38 sheep died over a few days and 30 tons of hay was destroyed. It is a sad story, but the incident offered ‘haystack science’ (an unpleasant, denigrating 19th-century description of herbarium-based botany) a nice opportunity to prove its worth.

The Garden is home to 18,000 different kinds of plant, set within 92 hectares of historical domain.

It is a beautiful, diverse, green space and a source of enjoyment, wonder and inspiration tempting about 100,000 visitors per year.

Using a broad spectrum of plant displays, museum artefacts, webpages, science communication tools, events, informal learning, awareness instruments and experience-based educational activities, the Garden has the potential to change people’s understanding of the importance of plants for human well-being and to emphasise the vital importance of plant conservation.

Building on this understanding, the Garden can stimulate people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to act in a sustainable and responsible way.

38 sheep died in the vicinity of Antwerp.

Goat’s rue (Galega officinalis) (©wikipedia, Epibase).

The killer in the haystack

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Planting bulbs of Crocus chrysanthus ‘Blue Pearl’ by hand.

Meise lights up spring with 40,000 bulbs

Collectively, the Botanic Garden curates hundreds of different bulbous species. Until 2013, these bulbs, corms and tubers were predominantly displayed in small groups, or in isolation. We decided that there was a need for larger, more impressive displays that would complement the richness of naturally occurring spring ‘bulbs’ such as snowdrop, (Galanthus nivalis), wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and ramsons (Allium ursinum).

Over a few weeks in autumn, volunteers, gardeners and assistant curators planted over 40,000 ‘bulbs’ by hand. Focus centered on outdoor lawned areas that were easily visible from the main paths and thus frequently visited by the public. These areas included the main entrance, the Castle and the area surrounding the Plant Palace. The spring of 2014 is expected to herald drifts of spring flowers: Narcissus ‘Carlton’; Crocus chrysanthus ‘Cream Beauty’, ‘Blue Pearl’; Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby Giant’, ‘Whitewell Purple’; Crocus vernus ‘Flower Record’, ‘Jeanne d’Arc’, ‘Remembrance’, ‘Yellow Mammoth’, ‘Striped Beauty’; Ornithogalum umbellatum; and Fritillaria meleagris.

Inspiring and informing

During 2012 and 2013, our Garden developed a living reference collection of carnivorous plant species. Previously, Meise kept a modest collection mainly housing material originating from cultivation.

Carnivorous plants have always fascinated botanists and horticulturalists due to their remarkable abilities to capture and digest invertebrates and even small frogs and mammals with their modified leaves serving as traps.

The most common natural habitat for these plants are bogs and marshes where water is abundant and nutrient concentrations low.

These areas are continually destroyed through land drainage and eutrophication. Along with over-collecting, this has led to many species being threatened by extinction.

Meise increased its collections by 169 accessions (121 botanical species), of which 46.7% are of known wild origin. Living representatives of: Cephalotaceae (Cephalotus); Droseraceae (Aldrovanda, Dionaea, Drosera); Drosophyllaceae (Drosophyllum); Lentibulariaceae (Genlisea, Pinguicula, Utricularia); Nepenthaceae (Nepenthes); and Sarraceniaceae (Darlingtonia, Heliamphora, Sarracenia) serve as an important reference collection.

Learning and discovering

Offering children the opportunity to discover the world of botany is one of the goals of our Botanic Garden. Our participation in INQUIRE, a pan-European education project on inquiry-based science education (IBSE), offered our education staff a fine opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with the Flemish Education Department.

When the project concluded in November 2013, we could look back on three years of exploring the possibilities of IBSE, together with highly motivated teachers, teachers trainers and educators.

Inquiry-based education had recently become an important item in the new Flemish school curriculum, but it was evident that many teachers and education stakeholders did not feel familiar or comfortable with this new methodology. Consequently, we decided to share our experiences with educational advisors by offering a portfolio of evidence from the INQUIRE project.

As a result of the Garden’s contacts with education policy makers and advisors, the Flemish Association of Catholic Secondary Education (VVKSO) organised a one-day conference at our Garden to help address the educational stakeholders’ needs. This included hands-on inquiry-based activities in our glasshouses. We offered a similar program to several groups of teachers trainees and we plan to strengthen our relationship with the teacher training institutes in the future.

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Pinguicula rotundiflora at the Botanic Garden.

The genus Magnolia represents a highly attractive group of flowering shrubs and trees. During 2013, we decided to expand our collection, initially established in the early 1980s. Since these first plantings the wealth of new cultivars has risen considerably, while a noticeable warming of the climate has meant less hardy Chinese species have a real chance of surviving Belgian winters.

Over the course of 2013, the Garden enlarged its collection by 32 new taxa swelling the existing collection to 71 (85 accessions). New acquisitions include rare Chinese species: Magnolia biondii; M. doltsopa; M. zenii; the exquisite M. sargentiana var. robusta; the tender M. campbellii; and M. sprengeri var. sprengeri. American taxa were represented by M. virginiana var. australis, a tender evergreen from south-east USA. Magnolia season always attracts the public to our Garden, therefore stunning new hybrids and cultivars complement the botanical species. These include the yellow-flowering cultivars: ‘Limelight’, ‘Sundance’ and ‘Yellow Lantern’; the deep purple ‘Black Tulip’; pinkflowered ‘Flamingo’; the unusual form of M. × loebneri ‘Mag’s Pirouette’; and selections from the USA and New Zealand, such as ‘David Clulow’, ‘Daybreak’, ‘Atlas’, ‘Galaxy’, ‘Spectrum’, and ‘Star Wars’.

All these magnolias can be viewed along a self-guided magnolia walk that takes the visitor in different parts of the Garden including the M. stellata-group near the Herbarium building, hardy hybrids around the Plant Palace, botanical species in the Fruticetum and tender hybrids in the Woodland Garden and surrounds of the Orangery.

Plants that ‘bite’ back: establishing an important reference collection of carnivorous plants at Meise

Photosynthesis experiment as an example of Inquiry-based scientific education.

Magnolia ‘Limelight’, a wonderful yellow flowering magnolia.

Expanding our Magnolia collection

Inspiring and informing

VIP Day for teachers at Meise.

In 2013, the Botanic Garden successfully completed its involvement in the Grundtvig project, part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Program (2011-2013). The project focused on guides and educators who hold responsible roles in Botanic Gardens: “… trusted with the mission to convey enthusiasm about botanical research and environmental awareness to visitors”.

Our Garden worked with two partners, the botanic gardens of Madrid and Florence. Together we successfully mastered peer-topeer training and held educational site visits. A major success of the project was the development of a new garden tour with supporting interpretation material, a website and a toolkit. These are now available in the partners’ gardens but have also been made available to botanic gardens and education networks beyond the institutes. The work of the guides and educators was greatly valued and some developed new topics for existing tours, new skills and activities, such as a guided tour for the blind and visually impaired. Special events were organised for teachers, environmental educators, tourist guides and the general public.

The project was evaluated as ‘excellent’ by European Union assessors.

A new tour for blind and visually impaired visitors

Prior to 2013, there was no specific provision for blind and partially sighted visitors to our Garden. However, due to the enthusiasm of one of our guides and the Educational Department, a project specifically for the blind moved from idea to reality. This achievement was a significant outcome of the Grundtvig Project, which enabled this guide to grow in confidence and experience.

In order for the project to reach its goal, she attended training sessions on how to guide blind and partially sighted visitors in museums and outdoors. She then met with blind people and specialists working in this field. This experience taught her about the different types of visual impairment and provided an opportunity to discuss how a tour should be designed to interact with blind people.

As the concept progressed, special materials (3D maps) were purchased while focused displays were arranged with plants and 3D models. Try-out sessions were organised with small groups of blind people in order to develop and improve the activities.

The launch of the new tour was announced on our website, through a press campaign and by inviting organisations who specifically work with blind people during the first ever federal Diversity Day on the theme of disability. The tour is becoming a great success with those organisations now booking for their blind and partially sighted members.

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Guided visit with a visually impaired group, lead by the guide who designed the tour.

Every year thousands of taxa thrive in the sheltered environment of the Plant Palace. In 2013, however, we experienced three rather exceptional events. During spring the jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) developed seed pods for the first time in Belgian history.

During the summer the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) flowered once more, and at the end of autumn the swan’s neck agave (Agave attenuata) came into bloom.

The jade vine is a lush growing liana native to tropical and humid dipterocarp forests of the Philippines. Due to extensive deforestation in its native range, populations have been greatly reduced and consequently, it is considered by many to be vulnerable to extinction. Seeds are seldom produced in cultivation because its flowers rely on bats to pollinate its showy, luminescent blue-green blooms as they feed on nectar. In the absence of its pollinators we carefully hand-pollinated several flowers by attempting to mimic the feeding behavior of bats.

As a result, two large seed pods grew with viable seeds, marking it a unique occurrence in Belgium. Once ripe, the seeds were sown immediately because they lack a dormancy mechanism and thus cannot be stored. Twenty plants developed which will now be distributed to other gardens and institutes.

Visitors once again marveled at the flowering of the titan arum in 2013. This plant has provided a regular show (on average every 30 months) since its initial inflorescence opened in August 2008. As with its other flowering events, thousands of visitors flocked to witness the giant inflorescence that reached 2.42 m in July. Perhaps even more amazing was the incredible size of its large corm that weighed an incredible 130 kg in the summer of 2013. We understand that this is the largest corm ever recorded in the world and is therefore a record breaker. Prior to its first flowering 2008, the corm weighed 10 kg. In 2010, it increased to 47 kg, but nobody could have imagined the subsequent enormous growth rate.

Finally, the swan’s neck agave that has resided in the collection for 105 years ended the year of spectacular events by producing a spectacular flowering stalk. Unlike most agaves, the large rosettes of soft leaves are thorn-free and the flowering stalk is unbranched.

The abundant yellow-green flowers are an impressive sight and heavy enough to weigh down the flowering stalk to form a graceful arch that gives the swan’s neck agave its name.

The Grundtvig Project “Botanic Gardens: new tools for environmental education”

Agave attenuata flowering in the Monsoon House.

Flower truss of Strongylodon macrobotrys in the Mabundu House.

An exceptional botanical year in the Plant Palace

Lying untouched for more than half a century in the basement of the Herbarium building, rests a huge historical treasure trove of botanical objects and curiosities preserved in glass jars. In 2013, work started to examine, record and restore the collection.

A large percentage of the collection dates back to the second half of the 19th century, gathered by passionate, inspired individuals on epic explorations with none of the luxuries of modern travel and communication. Each of the jars are dusted, their contents meticulously examined, and available data checked against archival data. The information and observations are then introduced into a database.

The core of the collection is formed from the ‘Fruit and seed’ and ‘Product and drug’ collections of Carl von Martius purchased by the Belgian Government at the time of the foundation of our Botanic Garden in 1870. Pharmacists, missionaries and botanists (e.g. Peckolt, Wullschlägel, Glaziou, Teijsmann and von Müller) provided von Martius with a range of material from Brazil, Suriname, Asia and Australia. The oldest specimen currently discovered dates back to 1848 and forms part of a series of 52 well-documented tea varieties from Carl von Martius’ brother Theodor.

This treasure trove of botanical objects also contains specimens from: the first three Universal Exhibitions in Paris (1855, 1867 and 1878); objects from the ‘Musée des Colonies françaises’ in Paris; a collection of Indian economic products; and one of Algerian medicinal and industrial items. In addition to these there are important collections from notable individuals, such as Bernardin and Delacre.

Friar Bernardin (around 1858-1878) was a teacher at the High School of Melle near Ghent. He collected mostly plant fibres, oils and fats.

Their outstanding quality won him prizes at international exhibitions and he even received a decoration from King Leopold II. Ambroise Delacre was a pharmacist who collected medicinal plants. Ambroise’s father, also a pharmacist, founded the famous biscuit factory Delacre in Vilvoorde, after he decided not only to sell chocolate for its strengthening qualities in his pharmacy, but also to use it in delicacies that were soon very much appreciated by the wealthy of the time.

Individually, the objects in this historical collection are botanical curiosities representing a wealth of diverse objects. Tropical fruits nestle beside seeds, vegetal oils, fibers, cocoa chips, annatto, indigo, tea leaves, coffee beans, a torch impregnated with plant oil, a rosary of gombo fruits, resin nuggets of opium, incense and myrrh. In 2013, ca. 10% of the collection was curated. We can hardly wait to find out what other exquisite items will be revealed in the coming years.

Extract of ‘Pilocarpus pennatifolius del Paraguay’ from A. Demarchi, pharmacist in Buenos Aires, in its original triangular bottle (1856-1879).

During its long history the Garden has constantly been collecting and creating a wide range of botanical collections, living plants, books, artefacts, instruments but also buildings, glasshouses and landscapes. Many of these elements still play an active role in our current work; books and archives are consulted by researchers, historic glasshouses protect plant collections and buildings and landscapes are visited and enjoyed by our visitors.

This extensive patrimony requires constant specialised care and upkeep and is an irreplaceable source to develop innovative approaches to better fulfill the mission of the Garden in a changing world.

Botanical curiosities coming out of the basement

Bark of ‘Galipea officinalis’ (Angostura trifoliata) from the von Martius collection.

Bringing our heritage to life

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Bringing our heritage to life

Julien Houba, Les chênes de l’Amérique septentrionale en Belgique, leur origine, leur [sic] qualités, leur avenir (Hasselt: Michel Ceysens, 1887).

‘Nature printing’ is the term given to a range of techniques that make direct prints from natural objects such as leaves and flowers.

The library of the Botanic Garden houses one of the finest known collections of nature printing. Many have been curated over a long period, but in 2013, this collection was enriched considerably by purchase of a collection by Cornelia Pompe (The Hague 1901-1902). This comprised of 137 original botanical drawings that combined natureprinted leaves (1 to 3 per page) with images produced by watercolour.

In the past, nature printing offered an alternative to herbarium specimens because dried vouchers were prone to attack by insects.

It also provided an accurate and affordable alternative to botanical illustration. Over the centuries a number of different processes were used for this purpose. The first known application was in a copy of ‘Dioscurides Herbal’ from the 13th century that resides in the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.

Leonardo da Vinci described the ‘simplest form’ of nature printing at the end of the 15th century. This process involved a natural object coated with a carbon-rich substance mixed with oil known as lamp black. Once coated the object was carefully pressed onto paper to leave an accurate impression.

Various examples of nature printing are known between the 15th and 17th centuries. At the end of this period, lamp black was replaced by ink and the printing press used to press the coated object onto paper. During the 18th century this technique was increasingly applied to the field of botanical imaging (although in a limited circulation). The German naturalist Kniphof produced a wide range of nature prints and was able to commercialise this activity.

During the 19th century, the art of nature printing increased in complexity and demanded specific equipment. This extended to the process of engraving by a highly skilled practitioner. This new element transformed the process by creating a mould that would reproduce the replica image for as many times as was required. This method led to the galvanoplastic technique developed in Austria by Aloys Auer and in Britain by Henry Bradbury. The lithographic technique meanwhile was used in Belgium by Houba, in France by Ansberque and in Britain by Baildon.

The impressive nature printing collection curated by the Botanic Garden has various origins including the library of the Horticultural Society of Belgium, an ancestor to our Garden, while others were purchased or donated by generous benefactors.

Over the past few years the library has acquired four major works depicting nature printed illustrations: —— Ectypa vegetabilium by Christiaan Gottlieb Ludwig, published in Halle by Trampe between 1760 and 1764; —— Physiotypia plantarum Autriacarum by Constantin van Ettingshausen, published in Vienna in 1855; —— Nature-printed ferns by Henry Baildon, published in London in 1869; —— Herbier de la flore française by Cusin and Ansberque, published in Villeurbane between 1867 and 1876.

The wealth of nature printing material at Meise has allowed us to hold two symposiums depicting the process and highlighting our collections. These allowed us to write two articles on nature printing in 2013, promoting this technique to a wider audience.

The first paper, given at the symposium Traces du végétal held at the University of Angers was the result of collaboration between the library and Sandrine de Borman, an artist in residence at the Garden.

Its aim was to gain more insight into the technique of nature-printing and its evolution from scientific illustration to contemporary art.

The second paper was presented at the symposium Le livre illustré en Belgique (1800-1865) held at the Royal Library of Belgium. After a lecture summarising the different processes of nature printing, the object of the presentation was the study of a book from our collections, the sole Belgian witness of this technique, les Chênes de l’Amérique septentrionale en Belgique written by Julien Houba and published in 1887.

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Cornelia Pompe, botanical watercolour drawing on paper, with specimens of directly nature printed leaves.

Henry Baildon, Nature printed ferns. Prepared according to his new patented process (London: L. Reeve & Co., 1869).

Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, Botanica in Originali, seu herbarium vivum (Halle: J.G. Trampe, 1757-1764).

As nature shows them.

Nature printings: a hidden treasure in the library

Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free-content encyclopedia based on an openly editable model. This means that the content can be edited freely by anybody who wishes to do so. As part of the Botanic Garden’s contribution to the Paris ‘Institut des sciences de la communication’ (CNRS) workshop Wikipédia, objet scientifique non identifié, held in June 2013, we wanted to explore the attitudes of this online resource by the scientific staff at Meise.

The results of a survey revealed: —— Most researchers use Wikipedia frequently for their own work and for other disciplines; —— Information is regarded ‘reliable’, yet despite this ‘facts’ are also checked using additional sources; —— Despite the perceived value of Wikipedia, Meise scientists rarely contribute to its content considering it to be ‘time wasted’.

The attitudes of staff are interesting. Scientists of the Garden not only have the expertise, but also privileged access to botanical and scientific literature. Reluctance to contribute to Wikipedia means that our botanists are looking for information (written by scientists), without making the connection that their contributions would also help the wider scientific community. By sharing their expertise on Wikipedia they would not only be contributing to this ideal but also have a fantastic opportunity to showcase their own scientific work to the world and support one of our Garden’s missions to popularise science.

For more information see the CNRS website: http://www.iscc. cnrs.fr/spip.php?article1738

Bringing our collections to life through historical research

In 2013, the Garden historians published a wide range of articles using material from our extensive archives. While most scientists tend to pay attention to the present and the future, they should not forget that their activities and their institution are deeply rooted in the past and in tradition. Herbaria and the data related to them, along with other archives and historic publications, give us clues about what may lie in the future for our institution. But history is not only meant to serve botanists, it also proves smart entertainment for visitors (and a job for people interested in humanities).

Publication topics in 2013 included: the complicated relationship between the Botanic Garden and the Royal Botanic Society of Belgium (1862-1875); impact of democratising Belgium on the Botanic Garden’s activities (1826-1914); impact of Darwinism on late 19th century Belgium; emerging ecological consciousness in the same period; and contributions on Belgian scientists and plant-hunters for a historical dictionary. All this fervent activity was appreciated both nationally and internationally when the Garden’s historians were asked to: peer review articles; collaborate on academic and editorial projects; and give numerous presentations in Belgium and abroad, in both academic and public contexts. Moreover, this expertise is also utilised in a range of projects like the one devoted to the future of the famous Jardin écologique Jean Massart, in Brussels. It is thus not surprising, with all this activity, that the number of inquiries steadily increased in the Library (and Archives) during 2013.

Bringing our heritage to life

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The cradle of ecological concerns in Belgium? The 1893 Royal Botanical Society annual field excursion under the leadership of Fr. Crépin (1830-1903).

Over the last few decades archives have piled up at the Botanic Garden in what could be described as “assumed and somehow functional anarchy”. Many potentially important archives have been stored in inappropriate locations around the site for too long and only come to light when staff members retire or clear their offices. Many archives were maintained in unsuitable conditions for their conservation, were unrecorded and for those that did appear in an inventory often existed with mistakes. This undervalued the archives greatly along with all the work they represented and meant they were unsearchable and thus could fail to aid future research. In 2013, our Garden decided that its archives deserved more attention.

An archivist was hired and huge amounts of records were gathered up and placed in a room with minimum humidity and an appropriate temperature. Since most data about the individuals producing the archives were lost, our fledgling home archivist began the painstaking task to decipher who produced what, how and when. This important process helps to create series and other archival categories needed to develop a much-awaited improved inventory.

As this process continued, hundreds of archives were (and still are) placed onto conservation-grade paper sheets and placed into acid-free archive boxes. Appraisal schedules were then developed for the institute helping to manage the archives with accuracy and facilitate the elimination of items of no interest to historians, botanists or other individuals. This is especially rigorous because all archives over 30 years old officially become the legal property of Belgian State Archive. However, there is an agreement that these historic documents are retained at the Botanic Garden and utilised for research.

It is anticipated that a new inventory will be completed in the next few years allowing for the first time lots of documents to be accessible to botanists, historians, art historians and many other individuals interested in the past, present and future of our institution.

Wikipedia: a valued yet under-utilised encyclopaedia

1958, Director W. Robyns gives a speech during the inauguration of the not-yet-finished Plant Palace.

Order from chaos: hundreds of acid-free boxes are filled with documents that were previously muddled and distributed far and wide. This is a first step to modern and professional archives management.

Dusting off our archives to recognise their true values

On April 23rd Professor Jean Léonard passed away aged 93. He worked in the Garden from 1968 until long past his official retirement in 1985.

He first became acquainted with our Garden’s herbarium in 1942 studying for his Master’s degree in Botany at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). A year later he worked as a collaborator to the ‘Cellule Flore du Congo’ in the ‘Institut national pour l’Étude agronomique du Congo’ (INEAC) where he was seconded to the State Botanic Garden in Brussels, acquiring his Ph.D. on African flora.

1945-1948, Léonard worked at Eala Botanic Garden in Belgian Congo later being appointed Curator of the National Herbarium of Congo in Yangambi. He returned to our botanic Garden and became co-founder of AETFAT (‘Association pour l’Étude taxonomique de la flore d’Afrique tropicale’) in 1950. This organisation’s aim is to promote the exchange of knowledge between botanists working in neighbouring African countries. Jean Léonard demonstrated his enthusiasm for AETFAT’s mission and later became its Permanent Secretary. In the 1960s while working at the Garden he was appointed by the ‘Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique’ (Brussels) working on African floristics and vegetation and in particular Euphorbiaceae.

From 1964 to 1965, he returned to the field with a Belgian military expedition, crossed the Sahara Desert and studied the flora of Libya (which he later led an expedition to in 1969). In Northern Chad, he observed strange, green cakes eaten by locals. Microscopic investigation identified them as Spirulina platensis (synonym of Arthrospira platensis) a food with a very high protein content. Léonard’s discovery made both him and Spirulina famous. It is now used as a dietary supplement worldwide. Some years later, Léonard was seen cruising the Lake Chad with the French ‘Office de la recherche scientifique et technique d’outre-mer’ (ORSTOM) in order to make further study on this species. In 1968, the Cellule Flore du Congo, formerly part of the Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique was officially transferred to the Jardin botanique national de Belgique where he and a team of scientists found their new home.

As an AETFAT stalwart, between 1953 and 1976, Jean Léonard provided botanists with an annual bibliography on Sub-Saharan systematic botany and an annual index of the newly described taxa from that area. In the early Eighties he began with his Contribution à l’étude de la flore et de la végétation des déserts d’Iran (10 vol., 1981-1992). This major work originated in the specimens he had collected previously in 1972 when he took part in an interdisciplinary expedition in Iran. Léonard remained active on the African Euphorbiaceae for many years publishing his last masterpiece: Flore et végétation du Jebel Uweinat (Désert de Libye: Libye, Égypte, Sudan) (6 vol., 1997-2001).

During his career Jean Léonard authored over 200 papers, described one family (Lepidobotryaceae), a dozen new genera and hundreds of new species. At the age of 80 he finally retired commenting that he wanted to leave science before: “my scientific accuracy became blunt”. The Garden remembers his outstanding contributions.

36 — 37

Jean Léonard in 2012.

Our Garden is an ever-changing organisation with about 180 members of staff, 70 volunteers and 20 guides. The domain, which covers 92 hectares, houses about 50 buildings where people work, meet and preserve plant collections. One of the challenges will be to prepare our Garden for transition. Indeed, it is absolutely essential that the Garden becomes less dependent on fossil fuels and reduces its environmental impact. Numerous responses will have to be developed on all levels of the Garden.

Obituary Jean Léonard (1920-2013)

The AETFAT founders at the 6th plenary meeting in Upssala in 1966 : Jean Léonard, Arthur Wallis Excell and Edgar Milne-Redhead.

Organisation

Organisation

Mobility Week: cargo bike trial.

European Week for Waste Reduction: vermicomposting demonstration.

The Ecoteam continues its work to create positive environmental changes within the Garden. In 2013, regular awareness campaigns on filtered water consumption, waste reduction, vermicomposting and green mobility helped to enlighten all staff on environmental issues.

Waste sorting is now effective among staff. Apart from being ecologically sound, this brings economic value to the Garden because we spend less money sorting our waste. After the Ecoteam discussed the options with various departments, our Garden is now ready to place sorting bins in every areas visited by the public.

Some of the achievements of 2013 include: —— Provision of a filtered water fountain in the cafeteria to reduce the use of plastic bottles; —— Testing and subsequent adoption of green cleaning products by the cleaning team; —— The use of recycled paper for our printers and toilets has been tested and awaits administrative agreement to be implemented; —— In collaboration with the Kitchen Committee, the cafeteria menus have changed to stop the purchase of overfished species of fish and increase the amount of vegetarian dishes offered; —— The Ecoteam tested cargo bikes (bikes designed to carry goods) to reduce vehicle movements on site and budgeted the cost. These bikes should soon be made available for staff; —— An Internet carpooling platform was established.

Above all, the Ecoteam is delighted by the positive response and enthusiastic participation from staff to help make the Botanic Garden environmentally conscious in all its activities. We look forward to the opportunities ahead.

Visit the Garden shop from home

Previous to 2013, the shopping experience at the Botanic Garden was confined to people physically visiting the shop or via mail order. In a world increasingly accessible ‘in one click’ it was decided to develop a whole new shopping experience that people can enjoy at home via the internet.

The e-shop provides all the benefits that other internet shops provide, such as: a search facility; expandable images allowing the customer to view prior to buying; an automated purchase and billing process; secure payment facility; and a quick despatch of bought items.

The e-shop covers a host of books in a range of genres from the scientific literature produced by the Garden, such as: Scripta Botanica Belgica; Opera Botanica Belgica; Flore de Belgique / Flora van België; Flore illustrée des champignons d’Afrique centrale to subjects for people with a more general interest in plants such as identification guides, books on horticulture, fungi, moss and algae and posters and images.

The e-shop can be accessed at: http://shopbotanicgarden.com

38 — 39

The Garden Shop website.

In 2013, the number of volunteers reached almost 100 and their efforts have become indispensable in practically all divisions of the Garden.

The volunteer program was launched in 2006, with the first unwaged workers conducting tasks such as mounting herbarium specimens and helping gardeners. We streamlined its gradual expansion by defining three categories for volunteering activities: horticulture; supporting scientific research; and visitor welcome.

In celebration of their vital roles, here we present some of the activities they have been engaged in during 2013. Our horticultural volunteers have helped staff with routine maintenance of plant collections both in the open air collections and in the glasshouses. In autumn they offered great help with the planting of more than 40,000 bulbs. One group, ‘the stewards’ have become involved in activities to welcome visitors and provide topical news about the botanical highlights of the season to optimise the public’s enjoyment during their time with us. Volunteers also support our research in many ways, for example, scanning herbarium type specimens, photographing plants and assisting with field work. Some volunteers also assist with laboratory tests and looking up and databasing references of specimens in botanical literature.

Last year a team of volunteers engaged in an inventory project initiated by a volunteer who is a specialist in information systems. This team linked GPS coordinates with tree measurements, providing an essential tool for the management of our important collections. Another volunteer created an artistic and educational exhibition about the ‘world of seeds’. To finish this wonderful list of ways in which they offer assistance, a group of volunteers also engaged in translating texts for that exhibition as well as supervising the interactive modules of the exhibition for the visitors. These examples illustrate that the specific competences and interests of volunteers are well being met by the Garden.

Our volunteers always work in close collaboration with paid staff who act as their coaches. In return we organize discovery activities, invite them for lectures and welcome them to participate in social events. In addition to providing lots of excellent work, our volunteers share their infectious passion for what they do. We are immensely grateful for their enthusiasm and precious contributions that uphold the mission of our Garden.

Ecoteam: a year of action

Volunteer and gardener in the Plant Palace.

Volunteer and staff member mounting specimens.

Volunteer and gardener planting groundcover plants in the Fruticetum.

Volunteers: an ever-growing and dynamic support group for the Garden

Another busy year for engineering

Facts and figures

Renewed benches throughout the Botanic Garden.

Engineering has a very important role at our Garden. Unless machinery is well-maintained, essential jobs cannot be conducted, heating systems fail and the day-to-day life of plants, staff and visitors becomes difficult or dangerous. With this statement we emphasize the important contributions made by the 18 workers in the engineering department.

As in previous years, our engineers were kept busy during 2013.

Of particular note was the restoration of 100 garden benches that greatly enhanced the attraction and utility of the site to visitors. The main entrance has also undergone a transformation making it much more attractive to visitors.

Our engineers met the challenge of an expanding education department by renovating a room to increase office space for additional staff. Engineering also computerised the heating system for the glasshouses, worked on a rainwater pump for watering plants and developed a ‘clouding’ system to improve the growing conditions for certain glasshouse plants.

Some projects within our Garden were realised by external contractors but managed by our engineering department. An example includes construction of the new gateway in one of the glasshouses of rainforest vegetation scheduled to open in spring 2014. Our service also renewed the roofs of collection and propagation glasshouses and increased fire protection to the herbarium.

Many major projects initiated in 2013 will run beyond the turn of the year, such as the settling of electricity outlines, street lighting computerisation and the completion of the central heating installation in the Orangerie tavern. Two thousand fourteen will be another busy year that will see great improvements for staff and visitors alike.

Organisation

40 — 41

Facts and figures 42 — 43

2009

2010

2011

8,922

8,913

2012

9,008

2011

2013

9,631

2012

Budget

8,767

2013

2011

2013

0

100

0

500

600

700

800

900

200 2012

1,140

Total income

100 2010

33

41 Other income

1,000

41 1,170

55

238 Ticket sales

34

223

40 Sales publications

30

24

95

Hire and sales

696 99

662 External projects Bookshop

Service performance

2010

2009

300

Net assets

253

-16

269

2013

200

269

-14

283

2012

200

68

6,821

Staff and social service

Staff and social service

Investments

Equipment

Energy

Operational expenses

Investments

1,449

34

47

40

268

54

114

891

2011

1,002

55

37

56

202

40

82

530

2012

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

1,181

82

35

57

271

45

99

592

2013

The income of the Legal Personality increased by over 10% in 2013, mainly due to higher income from the ticket sales.

400

283

-406

689

2011

695

999

Equipment

Breakdown of income Legal Personality by source (in K€)

€K

Energy

Operational expenses

Paying salaries of the employees is the main cost for the Garden. Energy expenses remained at a very high level in 2013. The reduced investment budget was essentially used to realize a large freezer to treat the herbarium collections against insects.

Breakdown expenses (in K€)

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2009

689

869 Net assets

1,000

-180

-161

869

1,030 Balance year X

2010

Net assets 01/01/X

2009

The net assets of the Legal Personality, i.e. the equity of the Legal Personality minus its liabilities, remained more or less stable over the reported period.

Evolution net assets Legal Personality (in K€)

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

Budget

2010

2009

The budget of the Garden dropped significantly in 2013. This is partially explained by the exceptional increase of the personnel budget in 2012 in order to book the payment of the salaries of December in the same year instead of January of the next year. Even if we take this into account, there was still an additional reduction in the dotations the Garden received. The budget for investments and operational expenses dropped by 15% whereas the personnel budget was reduced by 2%.

Total budget (in K€)

Finances

Facts and figures 44 — 45

62 86

51 87 1,310

Other costs bookshop Other costs LP (e.g. insurances) Total

Staff bookshop and entrance

1,533

131

58

215

585

Other costs bookshop

Staff breakdown per language (situation on the 1st of January of each year)

Staff paid on external projects

161

151

Staff bookshop and entrance

Staff paid on LP

671

545

Staff paid on external projects

545

2011

Other costs LP (e.g. insurances)

1,140

70

42

238

584

206

2012

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

1,456

153

56

273

691

283

2013

177

Total

2010

5

2 Other

2009

145

142 Dutch

60-+

20

15

5

0

8 6

4 0 69

25-29 20-24 Total

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-+

12

6 30-34

20-24

25-29

30-34

10

19

5

112

9

9 12

40-44 35-39

18

17

16

7

Male

10

13

12

3

Female

45-49

50-54

55-59

35-39 2013

Other

Dutch

French

181

4

139

38

181

69

18

81

13

2013

10

15

Male

Female

181

6

12

18

31

18

28

30

28

10

Total

Almost two thirds of the personnel are older than 40 and more than one third older than 50.

The medium age is 46. Overall, about 40% of the personnel are female, but the distribution is very uneven between services, for example, most gardeners are male.

Age pyramid

0

0 2012

185

4

145

36

2013

2013 20 10

2012

2010

2009

30

Contractual nonscientists

185

70

16

85

14

2012

2011

Contractual scientists

179

79

18

66

16

2011

40

50

60

70

80

40-44 2011

179

3

139

37

2012

177

Total

Statutory nonscientists

85

72

Contractual non-scientists

Statutory scientists

15

17

Contractual scientists

90

71

70

Statutory non-scientists

188

17

18

2010

Statutory scientists

2009

The number of staff (including replacement contracts) dropped slightly.

Staff breakdown (situation on the 1st of January of each year)

Personnel

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

38

33 French

188

2010

2009

2011

The Garden, situated in Flanders, has about 80% Dutch speaking and 20% French speaking employees. This situation has been more or less stable for over 40 years.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

412

475

Staff paid on LP

1,392

2010

2009

In 2013, more staff were paid on the Legal Personality compared with previous years. New personnel were often paid on externally funded projects.

Breakdown of expenses Legal Personality by source (in Kâ‚Ź)

Facts and figures 46 — 47

2011

2012

6

80

2011

2013

5

70

2012

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

2011

19,257

21,583

Full

2010

48,973

50,635

Reduced

2009

25,988

23,812

Free

60,000

2010

2009

2012

27,487

46,820

36,602

2011

2013

0

1

2

3

19,484

38,215

Free Full

Reduced

20,811

38,992

31,368

2013

FTE

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Gold 1+3

Gold

Individual

2009

633

150

1,222

2009

2009

Year cards

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

5 4

100,000

6

Total number of visits

120,000

Number

8

98

2013

2010

2010

96,030

2009

2011

329

106

1,253

2010

2011

94,218

2010

2012

353

99

1,382

2011

2013

2012

110,909

2011

384

100

1,113

2012

Individual

Gold

411

94

1,443

2013

91,171

2013

Gold 1+3

2013

88,612

2012

Despite the very bad weather during the first half of the year, the number of visits increased slightly compared to the previous year. The number of Year Card holders increased by more than 20%.

Number of visits

Visitors

7

8

9

30,913

2012

Breakdown of number of visitors (free-reduced-full)

0

20

40

60

80

100

2010

5

5

FTE

2009

66

67

Number

120

2010

2009

In 2013, the number of volunteers increased sharply to almost 100, corresponding to more than 8 full time equivalents (FTE); they contribute to a wide range of activities in the Garden.

Volunteers

Facts and figures 48 — 49

913

1,882 5,005

School workshop Total

BAMA-module

6,176

1,763

551

1,091

2,771

2012

School workshop

5,213

584

201

1,368

3,060

2011

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

6,361

1,127

713

989

3,523

2013

21%

71%

3% 5%

Web

Printed media

Television

Radio

The Garden sent 25 (13 Dutch and 12 French) press releases in 2013. This resulted in 225 press appearances in Dutch and 215 in French, distributed across the media with a preponderance of print based publications. The flowering of the Titan Arum on the 7th of July was covered by several press agencies and was followed by more than 5,000 people on Facebook. The activities of the Garden are systematically listed in the agenda of the most important tourism websites. The media consults our staff because of their expertise on various subjects such as the identification of plants, general plant knowledge, and the influence of the weather on flowering times.

The Botanic Garden in the media and social networks

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

Guided visit

187

462

Free visit

1,276

663

Guided visit BAMA-module 4,410

2,034

1,998

Free visit

2010

2009

The number of school visits further increased. This was mainly due to the higher number of free school visits and students that participated into the BAMA module. The number of school children participating in organised education visits dropped significantly after the exceptional year 2012.

Participation in organised educational visits

2009

4,673

2010

5,958

2010

2011

6,655

2011

2012

4,729

2012

2013

5,189

2013

2009

2010

2011

2,108

1,749

2012

2,515

2011

2,715

2013

In 2013 Dumortiera, a Garden-published periodical of floristics, increased its number of subscriptions to almost 1,000.

In 2013, the website of the Garden was consulted by 640,046 visitors (280,899 different computers) from 127 countries. Most visits come from Belgium, Germany, France and The Netherlands. The pages of our website were viewed 6,680,088 times in total and clicked 17,697,258 times.

2013

2,640

2012

On the Garden’s Facebook page 78 messages in each language were posted.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Musa subscriptions

2010

2009

Presently, 2,715 people subscribe to our digital newsletter Musa sent out seasonally in Dutch and French.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Visitors

2009

In total almost 5,200 visitors bought products in the Garden shop. The average amount of money spent per client was slightly more than € 15. Typical Garden products, such as our Garden honey and Garden coffee were very popular.

Visitors Garden Shop

Facts and figures 50 — 51

Species

10,894

4,887

7,526 12,843

7,405

8,898

Indoors 2011

Accessions

Outdoors 2013

14,291

7,675

9,307

Indoors 2013

Indoors 2013

Indoors 2012

Indoors 2011

Outdoors 2013

Outdoors 2012

Outdoors 2011

13,929

7,475

9,091

Indoors 2012

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

2009

Queries LIVCOL

2011

2,664

3,681

2010

2010

2009

2012

2013

3,633

2011

3,962

2013

Queries LIVCOL

3,734

2012

LIVCOL is the database used for the daily management of the Living Collections and their related documentation. This database is partly accessible on the website of the Garden to the public and to scientists, curators, students, ... In 2013, the number of queries further increased to 3,962.

Evolution of queries entered in LIVCOL

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

Taxa

11,030

10,890

Accessions

16,000

7,551 4,967

7,428 4,946

Taxa Species

Outdoors 2012

Outdoors 2011

In the outdoor collections, well-representated plant families include Rosaceae (747 accessions), Ericaceae (561), Liliaceae (470), Malaceae (436) and Asteraceae (433).

Most-represented plant families in the glasshouses are Cactaceae (2,475 accessions), Orchidaceae (1,651), Euphorbiaceae (1,006), Liliaceae (910), Rubiaceae (578), Crassulaceae (509), Aizoaceae (484), Araceae (474) and Agavaceae (412).

The Living Plants Collection currently includes 25,185 accessions representing 341 families, 3,008 genera, 16,833 taxa or 12,562 plant species. They are distributed between the greenhouses (57%) and the outdoor collections (43%).

Living Plants Collection

Collections

2012

710

2013

2013

1,114

2,159

1,884

1,495

Total

Cultivated

Wild origin

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

2011

CITES accessions

278

2010

2012

69

2011

2013

CITES accessions

122

2013

Number of individual plants seized

86

2012

The quantity of plant material seized by the Belgian customs under the CITES regulations and deposited in the living collections of the Garden varies from year to year. In 2013, 122 accessions, representing 1,152 specimens, were introduced. They are the result from 10 confiscations.

The seizure of plant material prohibited under CITES

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2011

528 404

1,631

2012

2010

863

1,021

2,500

881

614

2010

Wild origin

2011

Cultivated

During several years, the living collections have been increased continuously. This growth was rather limited in 2013.

Evolution of the acquisition of living plant material

Facts and figures 52 — 53

0

200

0 400

200 600

400 800

600 1,000

800 1,200

1,000 1,400

1,200

1,400 2011

2011

2011

2011

2012

2012

2012 30

2010

2012

2012

2,205 2012

2010

2013

2013

2013 18

2011

2013

105

2011

2013

2013

1,152

CITES2013 accessions

10

2013

Number of CITES confiscations

Number of CITES confiscations

12

2012

Number of individual plants seized

Number of individual plants seized

240

2012

17% 626

890

1,500

0

2,000

500

2,500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Belgian flora

59%

Copper flora

17%

24%

536

841 59%

2012 2013

411

Wild beans

Wild beans

2012

2011

2013

2012

2011

Copper flora

Belgian flora

2,144 Wild beans 2,152

Belgian flora 2,144 Copper flora

Wild beans

Copper flora 772

24%

2011

Belgian flora

The seed bank is an important ex situ conservation tool to underpin the efforts carried out for in situ conservation. It allows the conservation in the long term (more than 100 years) of a very broad genetic diversity in a small space. The seed bank of the Garden currently contains generative material of 890 accessions of Belgian species collected in the wild, 626 accessions of copper plants from Katanga and 2,152 accessions of wild species of beans.

Long-term seed conservation

0

2

4

14 20 12 18 10 16 8 14 6 12 4 10 2 8 0 6

16

2011 20 Number of CITES confiscations 18

0

20

0 40 Number of individual 2011 plants seized

20 60

40 80

60 100

2009

2010

2011

2,158

2012

1,370

2010

2013

1,889

2011

1,770

2013

Distribution material

1,664

2012

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

2010

2011

16,869

Total

2009

13,828

9,519 Mounted specimens SP

40,000

7,900

7,350 Mounted specimens BT

2012

21,728

2010

2009

2013

37,191

20,191

17,000

2011

24,311

17,500

6,811

2013

Mounted specimens BT

Mounted specimens SP

18,096

11,596

6,500

2012

The mounting of herbarium specimens is an important and time-consuming step that allows plant collections to be conserved in the long-term. In 2013, the number of mounted specimens increased.

Mounting of herbarium specimens

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Distribution material

2009

The number of distributed samples greatly varies from year to year. In 2013, 1,770 samples were distributed, 75% of them seed samples.

Distribution of living material

Facts and figures 54 — 55

25,050

Total

2011

2012

2013

BT

48,516 4,475 7,300 47,500 3,383 8,352

48,011 4,151 5,759 44,854 3,376 8,214 114,365

articles series correspondance monographs valuables serials Total

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

2013

2012

2011

2010

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

3,500

2009

2010

2011

2012

3,000

3,018 periodical fascicles

2010 3,124

2009 2,238

40,000 2009

outgoing exchange

monographs

2,500

124,664

9,117

3,421

50,743

7,444

4,789

49,150

2013

50,000

123,503

8,979

3,386

49,969

7,444

4,695

49,030

2012

incoming loan

outgoing gift

3,114

221

2,897

539

2,463

11,261

2011

outgoing loan

1,701

175

1,655

2,391

8,591

7,892

2012

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2,366

128

1,991

678

3,918

15,536

2013

2013

3,025

1,244

2011

periodical fascicles

monographs

2,733

1,035

2012

2,500

926

2013

The number of new library acquisitions continues to decline. This is due to the fact that more and more journals become online journals only. The number of new monographs is at a normal level; 2010 and 2011 were exceptional as the Garden library received in these years several gifts from other libraries.

3,000

121,796

8,742

3,385

48,796

7,443

4,596

48,834

2011

incoming gift

Library acquisitions

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

incoming exchange

2,012

2,149

outgoing loan

60,000

119,526

2010

2009

The number of records in our library database is growing steadily. The entire catalogue contains more than 120,000 records and is published online.

Library Database

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

SP

177

164

outgoing gift

12,000

1,426

2,569

outgoing exchange

50,000

595

535

incoming loan

14,000

9,668

2,441

incoming gift

60,000

3,249

2,799

2010

incoming exchange

16,000

75,446

26,105

49,341

2013

70,000

47,811

30,324

17,487

2012

18,000

40,039

21,880

18,159

2011

2009

The transfer of herbarium specimens between herbaria worldwide is an important step to facilitate botanical research. Specimens can be transferred between herbaria on a temporary basis as loans or on a permanent basis as a gift or as part of a seed specimen exchange program. The year 2013 was very busy with extreme high numbers for incoming exchange.

Loans and exchange program

80,000

2010

23,447

17,020

SP

2009

21,935

8,030

BT 45,382

2010

2009

Herbarium specimens hold valuable information about the distribution, ecology and use of plants. By imaging and databasing the collections, this information is now in reach of many more potential users. In 2013, more than 75,000 new specimen records were created within the two departments. This high number is the result of ‘rapid databasing’ in the BT department so that a complete inventory of the federal collection is available. For this collection, only the basic information has been registered.

Databasing the collections

Facts and figures 56 — 57

2012

2013

2009

Total

50

116

2013

150

200

45 40

30 49

2012 2013

0

10

20

30

40

50

International or national papers without IF

36

47 2011

International papers with IF

25

34

60

20

28

2010

27

8

31

5

2

Books or book chapters

Books or book chapters

International or national papers without IF

2009

International papers with IF

Details on published manuscripts and book chapters

2013

2012

2011

2010

116

83

114

64

50

26

14

18

5

6

Total

Other publications (reports, book reviews,…)

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

192

169

158

130

119

Total

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Average IF

2009

2.02

2009

2010

2011

1.27

2010

2012

2.21

2011

2013

2.81

2012

Average IF

2.33

2013

The average impact factor in 2013 was 2.33, slightly lower than 2012, but much higher than 2010 and 2011. Scientists from our Garden combine basic taxonomic work, which is often published in low impact journals, with more applied research that can be published in higher ranked journals.

Average impact factor

0 Other publications (reports, book reviews,…)

72

83

2012

Abstracts of posters or presentations

26

114

2011

Manuscripts and book chapters

61

64

2010

50

External visitors

63

50

2009

250

Abstracts of posters or presentations

Manuscripts and book chapters

0 2011

58

440

2013

Loans between libraries

61

457

2012

100

49

504

2011

The number of scientific contributions by members of the staff further increased. The number of contributions in peer reviewed journals with impact factor (IF) reached its highest point since 2009.

Number of publications

Research

100

200

300

400

500

2010

58

54

Loans between libraries

2009

494

492

External visitors

600

2010

2009

The library is open for the public and welcomes about 500 external and 1,000 internal visits a year. This number is expected to reduce in the future as botanical literature becomes more widely available online. The Garden therefore actively participates in several digitization projects. The number of loans between libraries remains more or less stable.

External library consultation

Facts and figures 58 — 59

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Sikaroodi M. & Untereiner W.A. (2013) Molecular data place the hyphomycetous lichenicolous genus Sclerococcum close to Dactylospora (Eurotiomycetes) and S. parmeliae in Cladophialophora (Chaetothyriales). Fungal Diversity 58: 61-72. (IF: 5.319) Ertz D., Fischer E., Killmann D., Razafindrahaja T. & Sérusiaux E. (2013) Savoronala, a new genus of Malmideaceae (Lecanorales) from Madagascar with stipes producing sporodochia. Mycological Progress 12: 645-656. (IF: 1.606) Ewald J., Hennekens S., Conrad S., Wohlgemuth T., Jansen F., Jenssen M., Cornelis J., Michiels H.G., Kayser J., Chytrý M., Gégout J.C., Breuer M., Abs C., Walentowski H., Starlinger F. & Godefroid S. (2013) Spatial and temporal patterns of Ellenberg nutrient values in forests of Germany and adjacent regions - a survey based on phytosociological databases. Tuexenia 33: 93-109.

Fraiture A. & Di Giangregorio M. (2013) Amanita inopinata, its ecology and expansion in Europe. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 34,3: 212-222. (IF: 1.044) Godefroid S., Van de Vyver A., Lebrun J., Masengo Kalenga W., Handjila Minengo G., Rose C., Ngongo Luhembwe M., Vanderborght T. & Mahy G. (2013) Germination capacity and seed storage behaviour of threatened plant species from the Katanga copper belt: implications for ex situ conservation.

Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,2: 183-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/ plecevo.2013.745 (IF: 1.192) Groom Q.J. (2013) Estimation of vascular plant occupancy and its change using kriging. New Journal of Botany 3,1: 33-46.

22

18.0

45.1

%

18

22

55

2013

27

Rejected

Rejected without review

In review

Accepted

Rejected

Rejected without review

22.1

27

In review

122

Total

• Groom Q.J. (2013) Some poleward movement of British native vascular plants is occurring, but the fingerprint of climate change is not evident. PeerJ, 1, e77. doi:10.7717/peerj.77 • Haelewaters D. & De Kesel A. (2013) A new species of Cantharomyces (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) from the Netherlands. Mycotaxon 123: 467-472 (IF: 0.709) • Heger T., Pahl A.T., Botta-Dukát Z., Gherardi F., Hoppe C., Hoste I., Jax K., Lindström L., Boets P., Haider S., Kollmann J. Wittmann M.J. & Jeschke J. (2013) Conceptual Frameworks and Methods for Advancing Invasion Ecology. Ambio 42,5: 527-540. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0379-x (IF: 2.295) • Iamonico D. & Verloove F. (2013) Ptilotus spicatus. In: von Raab-Straube E. & Raus T. (eds) Notulae ad floram euro-mediterraneam pertinentes No. 30.

Willdenowia 43: 152-153. (IF: 0.328) • Jüttner I., Ector L., Reichardt E., Van de Vijver B., Jarlman A., Krokowski J. & Cox E.J. (2013) Gomphonema varioreduncum a new species from northern and western Europe and re-examination of Gomphonema exilissimum (Grunow) Lange-Bertalot & Reichardt. Diatom Research 28: 303316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/026924 9X.2013.797924 (IF: 0,7500) • Kopalová K., Nedbalová L., Nývlt D., Elster J. & Van de Vijver B. (2013) Ecological assessment of the freshwater diatom communities from Ulu Peninsula (James Ross Island, NE Antarctic Peninsula). Polar Biology 36: 933-948. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00300-0131317-5 (IF: 2.006) • Kopalová K. & Van de Vijver

55

14.8

18

Accepted

Together with the Royal Botanical Society of Belgium, the Garden publishes (since 2010) the peer-reviewed journal Plant Ecology and Evolution. In total, the journal received nearly 450 submissions. In 2013, 122 manuscripts were received; 55 were rejected without review for various editorial reasons; 22 were rejected, 18 were accepted for publication and 27 are still under review. The increase of high quality submissions allows us to only accept the best papers within the scope of the journal. The Impact Factor of our journal slightly raised to 1.192.

Plant Ecology and Evolution

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B. (2013) Structure and ecology of freshwater diatom communities of Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands). Antarctic Science 25: 239-253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ S0954102012000764 (IF: 1.630) Lachenaud O., Droissart V., Dessein S., Stévart T., Simo M., Lemaire B., Taedoumg H. & Sonké B. (2013) New records for the flora of Cameroon, including a new species of Psychotria (Rubiaceae) and range extensions for some rare species. Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,1: 121-133. http://dx.doi. org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.632 (IF: 1.192) Lahiani E., Dufaÿ M., Castric V., Le Cadre S., Charlesworth D., Van Rossum F. & Touzet P. (2013) Disentangling the effects of mating systems and mutation rates on cytoplasmic diversity in gynodioecious Silene nutans and dioecious Silene otites.

Heredity 111: 157-164. http://dx.doi. org/10.1038/hdy.2013.32 (IF: 4.110) Lee S.S., Tobias F.A.C. & Van de Vijver B. (2013) Envekadea metzeltinii sp. nov., a new diatom (Bacillariophyta) species from the subtropical karstic wetlands of the Florida Everglades, U.S.A. Phytotaxa 115: 15-24. http:// dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.115.1.2 (IF: 1.295) Lowe R.L., Kociolek J.P. & Van de Vijver B. (2013) Two new Orthoseira species (Bacillariophyta) from lava tubes.

Phytotaxa 111: 39-52. http://dx.doi. org/10.11646/phytotaxa.111.1.3 (IF: 1.295) Mangambu M.J-D., Muhashy H.F, Janssen T., Diggelen R., Robbrecht E. & Ntahobavuka H. (2013) Diversité des Fougères et leurs alliées le long du gradient altitudinal au sein de l’écosystème forestier des montagnes

• Aguiar B., Vieira J., Cunha A.E., Fonseca N.A., Reboiro-Jato D., Reboiro-Jato M., dez-Riverola F.F., Raspé O. & Vieira C.P. (2013) Patterns of evolution at the gametophytic self-incompatibility Sorbus aucuparia (Pyrinae) S pollen genes support the non-self recognition by multiple factors model. Journal of Experimental Botany 64,8: 2423-2434.(IF: 5.242) • Aptroot A., Ertz D., Lima E.L., Jesus K.A., Maia L.C. & Cáceres M.E.S. (2013) Two new species of Roccellaceae (Ascomycota: Arthoniales) from Brazil, with the description of the new genus Sergipea. Lichenologist 45,5: 627-634. (IF: 1.135) • Bokhorst S., Huiskes A., Aerts R., Convey P., Cooper E.J., Dalen L., Erschbamer B., Gudmundsson J., Hofgaard A., Hollister R.D., Johnstone J., Jónsdóttir I.S., Lebouvier M., Van de Vijver B., Wahren C.H. & Dorrepaal E. (2013) Variable temperature effects of Open Top Chambers at polar and alpine sites explained by irradiance and snow depth. Global Change Biology 19: 64-74.

(IF: 6.910) • Carvalheiro L.G., Kunin W.E., Keil P., Aguirre-Gutiérrez J., Elli, W.N., Fox R., Groom Q., Hennekens S., Van Landuyt, W., Maes D., Van de Meutter F., Michez D., Rasmon, P., Ode B., Potts S.G., Reeme, M., Roberts S.P.M., Schaminé, J., Wallis de Vries M.F. &

Papers published in 2013 in international peerreviewed journals (co-)authored by staff of the Garden

Publications

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•

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•

•

•

•

•

•

•

du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega (RD Congo). International Journal of Environmental Studies 70,2: 259-283.

Mangambu M.J.-D., Van Diggelen R., Mwangamwanga J.-C., Ntahobavuka H. & Robbrecht E. (2013) Espèces nouvellement signalées pour la flore ptéridologique de la République Démocratique du Congo. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 7,1: 107-124.

Mareš J., Komárek J., Compère P. & Oren A. (2013) Validation of the generic name Gloeobacter Rippka et al. 1974, Cyanophyceae. Cryptogamie, Algologie 34: 255-262. (IF: 1.170) Mareš J., Komárek J., Compère P. & Oren A. (2013) Proposal to conserve the name Gloeobacter violaceus against Aphanothece caldariorum, Gloeothece coerulea and Gloeothece linearis (Cyanophyceae). Taxon 62,5: 1055. (IF: 2.782) Mareš J., Hauer T., Komárek J. & Compère P. (2013) Proposal to conserve the name Gloeothece (Cyanophyceae) with a conserved type.

Taxon 62,5: 1056. (IF: 2.782) Merckx V.S.F.T., Kissling J., Hentrich H., Janssens S.B., Mennes C.B., Specht C.B. & Smets E.F. (2013) Phylogenetic relationships of the mycoheterotrophic genus Voyria and the implications for the biogeographic history of Gentianaceae.

American Journal of Botany 100: 712-721.

(IF: 2.586) de Moraes P.L.R., De Smedt S., Esser H.J., Gallagher C. & Guglielmone L. (2013) On some Brazilian plants distributed by Martius in 1827 and published by Colla in 1833. Harvard Papers in Botany 18,1: 23-36. de Moraes P.L.R., De Smedt S., Esser

Biesmeijer J.C. (2013) Species richness declines and biotic homogenisation have slowed down for NW-European pollinators and plants. Ecology Letters 16,11: 1416–1417. (IF: 17.949) Champluvier D. (2013) New and overlooked Acanthaceae taxa from the Democratic Republic of Congo (2): the genus Justicia. Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,1: 95-120. http://dx.doi. org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.715 (IF: 1.192) Cocquyt C., Jüttner I. & Kusber W.-H. (2013) Reinvestigation of West African Surirellaceae (Bacillariophyta) described

by Woodhead & Tweed from Sierra Leone. Diatom Research 28,2: 121-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/026924 9X.2012.752411 (IF: 0.750) Cocquyt C., de Haan M. & Taylor J. (2013) Cavinula lilandae (Bacillariophyta), a new diatom species from the Congo Basin Diatom Research 28,2: 157-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/026924 9X.2012.753952 (IF: 0,750) De Block P. & Vrijdaghs A. (2013) Development of reproductive organs in Canephora madagascariensis (Octotropideae - Rubiaceae). Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,3: 310327. http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/ plecevo.2013.844 (IF: 1.192) Degreef J., Amalfi M., Decock C. & Demoulin V. (2013). Two rare Phallales recorded from SãoTomé. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 34,1: 3-13. (IF: 1.044) Diagre D. (2013) Pure science or practical science: The difficult choice of the Brussels Botanic Garden (1826-1914).

Studies in the History of Biology 5,4: 7-22.

Diederich P., Ertz D., Lawrey J.D.,

Facts and figures 60 — 61

Papers published in 2013 in national or non-peerreviewed journals (co-)authored by staff of the Garden

in Vlaanderen. 2. Muscillanea 33: 55-62.

• De Beer D. & Stieperaere H. (2013) Polytrichum commune: een nomenclatorisch kluwen. Muscillanea 33: 32-36.

• De Beer D. & Van den Broeck D. (2013) Kustvegetaties in de Waaslandhaven: bezoek aan Haasop te Beveren (25 mei 2013). Muscillanea 33: 37-45.

• De Meyere D. (2013) Dagtrip naar Zweden: Alnarp, Trollskogsvägen & Vrams Gunnarstop. In: Jaarboek van de Belgische Dendrologische Vereniging / Annales de la Société Belge de Dendrologie 2012: 149-157.

• Fraiture A. (2013) Mycenastrum corium (Lycoperdales) retrouvé en Belgique après 80 ans d’absence. Documents Mycologiques. N.S. 35: 289-302.

• Fraiture A. & Vanderweyen A. (2013) Les Puccinia des Pelargonium et leur présence en Belgique. Bulletin de la Société des Naturalistes luxembourgeois 114: 27-34.

• Geerinck D. (2013) Quelques considérations taxonomiques et nomenclaturales au sujet de végétaux plantés ou naturalisés en Belgique.

Taxonomania 34: 2-7.

• Geerinck D. (2013) Catalogue raisonné des Orchidaceae du Congo-Kinshasa: Clé dichotomique des espèces de la Région Soudano-Zambésienne, Domaines Soudanien et Zambésien. Taxonomania 34: 8-39.

• Geerinck D. (2013) Polémique concernant la taxonomie dans le genre africain Moraea Miller (Iridaceae) et ses conséquences. Taxonomania 34: 40-41.

• Hoste I. & Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Omgaan met floravervalsing en exoten in de 19de eeuw. Van natuurstudie

enigmatic species “new” to Spain.

Webbia 68,1: 67-71.

Verloove F. (2013) New xenophytes from Gran Canaria (Canary islands, Spain), with emphasis on naturalized and (potentially) invasive species.

Collectanea Botanica 33: 59-82.

Verloove F. (2013) Non-native vascular plants from Canary Islands (Spain): Nomenclatural and taxonomical adjustments. Lagascalia 33: 19-35.

Verstraete B., Janssens S., Lemaire B, Smets E. & Dessein S. (2013) Phylogenetic lineages in Vanguerieae (Rubiaceae) associated with Burkholderia bacteria in sub-Saharan Africa.

American Journal of Botany 100,12: 23802387. (IF: 2.586) Verstraete B., Janssens S., Smets E. & Dessein S. (2013) Symbiotic b-proteobacteria beyond Legumes: Burkholderia in Rubiaceae. PLoS ONE 8: e55260. (IF: 3.730) Wetzel C.E., Van de Vijver B., Hoffmann L. & Ector L. (2013) A new widely distributed freshwater Planothidium species (Bacillariophyta).

Phytotaxa 138: 43-57. http://dx.doi. org/10.11646/phytotaxa.138.1.6 (IF: 1.295)

• Cocquyt C. & Plisnier P.-D. (2013) Fytoplankton uit het tanganyika-meer en Cholera. Diatomededelingen 37: 27-33.

• De Beer D., Reyniers J. & Stieperaere H. (2013) Nieuwe en interessante mossen

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• Prˇikrylová I., Vanhove M.P.M., Janssens S.B., Billeter P.A. & Huyse T. (2013) Tiny worms from a mighty continent: High diversity and new phylogenetic lineages of African monogeneans. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 67: 43-52. (IF: 4.066) • Robbrecht E. & Beau N. (2013) Some features of the editorial policy of Plant Ecology and Evolution, and welcoming new members of the editorial team. Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,1: 3-4. http:// dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.840 (IF: 1.192) • Rochera C., Fernández-Valiente E., Van de Vijver B., Rico E., Toro M., Vincent W.F., Quesada A. & Camacho A. (2013) Community structure and photosynthetic activity of benthic biofilms from a waterfall in the maritime Antarctica. Polar Biology 36: 1709-1722. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00300-0131388-3 (IF: 2.006) • Souffreau C., Vanormelingen P., Van de Vijver B., Isheva T., Verleyen E., Sabbe K. & Vyverman W. (2013) Molecular evidence for distinct Antarctic lineages in the cosmopolitan terrestrial diatoms Pinnularia borealis and Hantzschia amphioxys. Protist 164: 101-115. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.protis.2012.04.001 (IF: 4.140) • Tehler A., Diederich P. & Ertz D. (2013) Proposal to reject the name Lichen conspurcatus (Roccellaceae). Taxon 62,6: 1334-1335. (IF: 2.782) • Tehler A., Ertz D. & Irestedt M. (2013) The genus Dirina (Roccellaceae, Arthoniales) revisited. Lichenologist 45(4): 427-476. (IF: 1.135) • Tehler A., Irestedt M. & Ertz D. (2013) Austroroccella, a new fruticose genus in the family Roccellaceae. The Bryologist

H.J., Gallagher C. & Guglielmone L. (2013) On some Brazilian plants distributed by Martius in 1827 and published by Colla in Herbarium pedemontanum - II. Harvard Papers in Botany 18,2: 197–210. de Moraes P.L.R., De Smedt S., Esser H.J., Gallagher C. & Guglielmone L. (2013) On some Brazilian plants distributed by Martius in 1827 and published by Colla in Herbarium pedemontanum - III. Harvard Papers in Botany 18,2: 211-223.

Muluwa J.K., Eyi Ndong H., Degreef J. & Bostoen K. (2013) Champignons consommés par les Pygmées du Gabon: analyse linguistique des myconymes baka et kóya. Africana Linguistica 19: 105-131.

Njouonkou A.-L., Watling R. & Degreef J. (2013) Lentinus cystidiatus sp. nov. (Polyporaceae): an African lentinoid fungus with an unusual combination of both skeleton-ligative hyphae and pleurocystidia. Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,2: 240-245. http://dx.doi. org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.792 (IF: 2.586) Novais M.H., Wetzel C.E., Van de Vijver B., Morais M.M., Hoffmann L. & Ector L. (2013) New species and new combinations in the genus Geissleria (Bacillariophyceae). Cryptogamie, Algologie 34: 117-148. (IF: 1.170) Pla-Rabes S., Toro M., Van de Vijver B., Rochera C., Camacho A. & Quesada A. (2013) Stability and endemicity of benthic diatom assemblages from different substrates in a maritime stream in Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, Antarctica): the role of climate variability. Antarctic Science 25: 254-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/ S0954102012000922 (IF: 1.630)

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naar natuurbehoud. Natuur.Focus 12,3: 103-108.

Hoste I. (2013) Olijfbomen, palmen en tuincentra: een inleiding tot de containerfloristiek. Dumortiera 102: 10-16. [http://www.br.fgov. be/DUMORTIERA/DUM_102/ Dum_102_10-16_containers_Hoste.pdf] Hoste I. (2013) Notes bibliographiques sur le Manuel de la Flore de Belgique de F. Crépin et le Nouveau Manuel de la Flore de Belgique et des Régions limitrophes de J. Goffart. Dumortiera 102: 49-53. [http:// www.br.fgov.be/DUMORTIERA/ DUM_102/Dum_102_49-53_Crepin%20 et%20Goffart_Hoste.pdf] Lanata F., Dessein S. & Nsimundele L. (2013) The role of Kisantu Botanical Garden in biodiversity conservation: a first effort to sustainably manage useful plants of Bas Congo. BGJournal 10,2: 8-11.

Mangambu M.J.-D., Van Diggelen R., Mwangamwanga J.-C., Ntahobavuka H. & Robbrecht E. (2012) Check-list des Ptéridophytes de l’écosystème forestier des montagnes du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega à l’Est de la R.D Congo.

Cahiers du Centre de Recherches Universitaires du Kivu 42,2: 363-374.

Sánchez Gullón E. & Verloove F. (2013) New records of interesting vascular plants (mainly xenophytes) in the Iberian Peninsula. IV. Folia Botanica Extremadurensis 7: 29-34.

Stieperaere H. (2013) De mossen van het Kempisch gedeelte van Vlaanderen, het armste en zuurste gedeelte van het Vlaams district 3. De mossen van een fragment van het oude Bulskampveld, de Gulke Putten (Wingene). Muscillanea 33: 12-28.

Van den Broeck D. (2013) Een lichenologische excursie naar De Most te

116,2: 162-168. (IF: 0.977) • Tosh J., Dessein S., Buerki S., Groeninckx I., Mouly A., Bremer B., Smets E.F. & De Block P. (2013) Evolutionary history of the AfroMadagascan Ixora species (Rubiaceae): species diversification and distribution of key morphological traits inferred from dated molecular phylogenetic trees. Annals of Botany 112,9: 1723-1742. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mct222 (IF: 3.449) • Van den Broeck D., Aptroot A. & Ertz D. (2013) Three new species in the lichen genus Piccolia (Biatorellaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) from the Palaeotropics. Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,3: 384-388. http://dx.doi. org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.906 (IF: 1.192) • Van der Putten N., Verbruggen C., Alexanderson H., Björck S. & Van de Vijver B. (2013) Postglacial sedimentary and geomorphological evolution of a small sub-Antarctic fjord landscape, Stromness Bay, South Georgia. Antarctic Science 25,3: 409-419. http://dx.doi. org/10.1017/S0954102012000880 (IF: 1.630) • Van de Vijver B., Cocquyt C., de Haan M., Kopalová K. & Zidarova R. (2013) The genus Surirella (Bacillariophyta) in the sub-Antartic and maritime Antartic region. Diatom Research 28,1: 93-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02692 49X.2012.739975 (IF: 0,750) • Van de Vijver B. & Cox E.J. (2013) New and interesting small-celled naviculoid diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from a lava tube cave on Ile Amsterdam (TAAF, Southern Indian Ocean).

Cryptogamie, Algologie 34,1: 37-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.7872/crya.v34. iss1.2013.37 (IF: 1.170)

• Beau N., Dessein S. & Robbrecht E. (eds) (2013) African Plant Diversity,

Selection of book chapters and books published in 2013 (co-)authored by staff of the Garden

Balen. Muscillanea 33: 4-7.

• Van den Broeck D. & Hellemans K. (2013) Een lichenenexcursie naar een stukje van de Kalmthoutse Heide.

Muscillanea 33: 8-11.

• Van den Broeck D. (2013) Oxneria huculica, nieuw voor de Belgische licheenflora. Dumortiera 103: 49-50.

• Van den Broeck D., Diederich P. & Ertz D. (2013) Report on two lichenological field meetings in Luxembourg in 2011 and 2012.

Bulletin de la Société des naturalistes luxembourgeois. 114: 65-76.

• Verloove F. & Guiggi A. (2013) Some new xenophytes from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain). Bouteloua 13: 38-42.

• Verloove F. (2013) Verder onderzoek binnen het genus Rumex (Polygonaceae) in België. Dumortiera 102: 3-9.

• Verloove F. (2013) Vicia tenuifolia subsp. dalmatica (Fabaceae) ongemerkt ingeburgerd in België en omliggende gebieden. Dumortiera 102: 40-44.

• Verloove F. (2013) Het genus Cotoneaster (Rosaceae) in het wild in België: een voorlopig overzicht. Dumortiera 103: 3-29.

• Van de Vijver B. (2013) Wanneer een naam een wetenschappelijk feit wordt: een persoonlijke mening. Liparis 19: 93-100.

• Van de Vijver B., Jarlman A., de Haan M. & Compère P. (2013) The ultrastructure of Gomphonema augur and Gomphonema gautieri (Bacillariophyta).

Cryptogamie, Algologie 34,2: 103-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.782/crya.v34. iss2.2013.103 (IF: 1.170) • Van de Vijver B., Kopalová K., Zidarova R. & Cox E.J. (2013) New and interesting small-celled naviculoid diatoms (Bacillariophyta) from the Maritime Antarctic Region. Nova Hedwigia 97,1-2: 189-208. http://dx.doi. org/10.1127/0029-5035/2013/0101 (IF: 0.809) • Van de Vijver B., Moravcová A., Kusber W.-H. & Neustupa J. (2013) Analysis of the type material of Pinnularia divergentissima (Grunow in Van Heurck) Cleve (Bacillariophyceae). Fottea 13,1: 1-14. http://fottea.czechphycology. cz/_contents/F13-1-2013-01.pdf (IF: 1.372) • Van de Vijver B., Wetzel C., Kopalová K., Zidarova R. & Ector L. (2013) Analysis of the type material of Achnanthidium lanceolatum (Bacillariophyta) Brébisson ex. Kützing with the description of two new Planothidium species from the Antarctic Region.

Fottea 13,2: 105-117. http://fottea. czechphycology.cz/_contents/F13-22013-02.pdf (IF: 1.372) • Van Rossum F., Vereecken N.J., Brédat E. & Michez D. (2013) Pollen dispersal and fruit production in Vaccinium oxycoccos, and comparison with its sympatric congener V. uliginosum.

Plant Biology 15: 344-352. (IF: 2.320) • Verloove F. (2013) A new combination in Oxybasis (Amaranthaceae). New Journal of Botany 3,1: 59-60.

• Verloove F. & Mesterházy A. (2013) Cyperus glaber L. (Cyperaceae), an

Facts and figures 62 — 63

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Abdoul Kader Fofana Cheikh Abid Kenza Allemeersch Luc Amalfi Mario Asselman Sabrina Ausloos Gert Baert Wim Ballings Petra Beau Natacha Bebwa Baguma Nestor Bellanger Sven Bellefroid Elke Bockstael Patrick Bogaerts Ann Borremans Paul Brouwers Erwin Caluwaerts Hilda Cammaerts Thomas Cassaer Ronny Charavel Valérie Clarysse Katrien Claus Liliane Cnop Rony Cocquyt Christine

Staff & interns

The Garden’s team

from paper and on to the Internet. pro-iBiosphere Newsletter http:// www.pro-ibiosphere.eu/news/4395_ recommendations%20on%20how%20 to%20move%20the%20naming%20 of%20organisms%20from%20paper%20 and%20on%20to%20the%20internet/ • Kleber J. & Es K. (2013) Onderzoekend leren, Neerslag van 3 jaar INQUIRE-project voor leerkrachten en

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Systematics and Sustainable Development – Proceedings of the XIXth AETFAT Congress, held at Antananarivo, Madagascar, 26–30 April 2010. Scripta Botanica Belgica 50. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium.

De Meyere D. (ed.) (2013) Belgische Dendrologie Belge 2012. Jaarboek van de Belgische Dendrologische Vereniging / Annales de la Société Belge de Dendrologie. 174 p.

De Meyere D. (2013) Dendrologische notities: Nationale Plantentuin, Meise. In: Jaarboek van de Belgische Dendrologische Vereniging / Annales de la Société Belge de Dendrologie 2012: 88-92.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Bommer Charles (Bruxelles, 1814 [sic, i.e. 1866] - Bruxelles, 1838 [sic, i.e. 1938]).

In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 104. Bruxelles, Éditions Prosopon.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Bommer Jean Édouard (Bruxelles, 1829 Bruxelles, 1895). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 104.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Botanique de Bruxelles, Jardin. In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 110.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Brésiers François (Hoboken, 1777 Schaerbeek, 1844). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 121.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Crépin François (Rochefort, 1831 Bruxelles, 1903). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 203.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) De Wildeman Émile (Saint-Josse-tenNoode, 1866 - Bruxelles, 1947). In: Serge

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Cremers Stijn D’Hondt Frank Dardenne Christel De Backer Rita De Block Petra De Bondt Hendrik De Bondt Leen De Buyser William De Coster An De Groote Anne de Haan Myriam De Jonge Gerrit De Kesel André De Medts Steve De Meeter Ivo De Meeter Niko De Meyer Frank De Meyere Dirk De Pauw Kevin De Smedt Sofie De Wit Marie-Hélène Decock Marleen Degreef Jérôme Dehertogh Davy

educatoren in de Nationale Plantentuin van België, Meise 38 p.

• Vanderborght T. (2013) – National Botanic Garden of Belgium, List of Seeds - 2013: version PDF. • Van de Vijver B. (2013) 4th NVKD Taxonomic Workshop. Fragilarioid diatoms – additional notes. Coursebook.

71 p.

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Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 270.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Drapiez Pierre-Auguste (Lille, 1778 Bruxelles, 1856). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 280-281.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Dupont Édouard (Dinant, 1841 - Cannes, France, 1911). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 287.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Durand Théophile (Saint-Josseten-Noode, 1855 - Saint-Josse-tenNoode, 1912). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 288.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Errera Léo-Abram (Laeken, 1858 Uccle, 1905). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 305.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Funck Nicolas (Luxembourg, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 1816 - Luxembourg, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 1896). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 350.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Galeotti Henri (Versailles, France, 1814 Bruxelles, 1858). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 354.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Kick Jean (Bruxelles, 1775 - Bruxelles, 1831).

In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 467.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Linden Jean-Jules (Luxembourg, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, 1817 -Bruxelles, 1898). In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 502.

Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Museum et Institut royal des sciences naturelles. In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

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Delcoigne Daphne Denis Alain Deraet Nancy Derammelaere Stijn Derycke Marleen Dessein Steven Diagre Denis Dubroca Yael Engledow Henry Ertz Damien Es Koen Esselens Hans Etienne Christophe Fabri Régine Faict Samuel Fernandez Antonio Fourmanois Frédéric Fraiture André Franck Pieter Galluccio Michele Gerstmans Cyrille Gheys Rudy Ghijs Dimitri Godefroid Sandrine Groom Quentin Hanquart Nicole Hanssens Francis Hechelski Marie Heyvaert Karin Heyvaert Louisa Maria Hidvegi Franck Honoré Jacqueline Hoste Ivan Houdmont Karel Huyberechts Sonja Incheva Diana Janssens Marina Janssens Steven Jospin Xavier Kaïssoumi Abdennabi Kint Otto Kleber Jutta Kopalová Katerina

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 573.

• Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Piré Louis (Bruxelles, 1827 - Ixelles, 1887).

In: Serge Jaumain (dir.) Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 626.

• Diagre-Vanderpelen D. (2013) Zoo de Bruxelles. In: Serge Jaumain (dir.)

Dictionnaire d’histoire de Bruxelles: 895.

• Fabri R. (2013) Jean Léonard (19202013), cofondateur et cheville ouvrière de l’AETFAT. Scripta Botanica Belgica 50: 417.

• Fraiture A. & Alpago Novello L. (2013) À propos de l’observation de Stephanospora chilensis en Italie. Scripta Botanica Belgica 51: 13-16.

• Fraiture A. (2013) Synopsis du genre Lindtneria. Scripta botanica Belgica 51: 17-38.

• Fraiture A. (ed.) (2013) Russulales-2010 – Proceedings of the congress held in Massembre (Belgium) 7-12 Septembre 2010. Actes du congrès organisé à Massembre (Belgique) les 7-12 Septembre 2010. Scripta Botanica Belgica 51. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium. 207 p.

• Geerinck D. & Leclercq C. (2013) Aperçu des arbres remarquables de la région bruxelloise – Présent passé et avenir. In: Le Patrimoine écrit notre histoire. Bruxelles Patrimoines, Hors Sér., 2013: 231-235.

• Geerinck D. & Leclercq C. (2013) Opmerkelijke bomen in het Brussels Gewest – Verleden, heden toekomst. In: Het Erfgoed schrijft onze geschiedenis.

Erfgoed Brussel, extra nr., 2013: 231-235.

• Lachenaud O., Droissart V., Dessein S., Stévart T., Simo M., Lemaire B., Taedoumg H. & Sonké B. (2013) New records for the flora of Cameroon, including a new species of Psychotria

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Kosolosky Christine Lachenaud Olivier Laenen Luc Lahaye Chantal Lanata Francesca Lanckmans Peter Lanin Lieve Lanin Myriam Lanin Peter Le Pajolec Sarah Lekeux Hubert Leyman Viviane Lips Axel Lips Jimmy Loeckx Yentl Looverie Marleen Maerten Christophe Magotteaux Denis Mamdy Guillaume Mangambu-Mokoso Jean de Dieu Mato Kelenda Bibiche Mertens Micheline Mombaerts Marijke Moortgat Niels Moyson Jozef Ndiritu George Ntore Salvator Ohanian Aren Orban Philippe Peeters Katarina Peeters Marc Postma Susan Puttenaers Myriam Raspé Olivier Reubrecht Guy Reusens Dirk Reynders Marc Robberechts Jean Rombout Patrick Ronse Anne Ryken Els Saeys Wim Salmon Géraud

• Agosti D., Catapano T., Cora J., Güntsch A., Groom Q., Hagedorn G., Kirkup D., Macklin J., Mietchen D., Miller J., Rob M., Paton A., Penev L., David P. & Sierra S. (2013) Report on the state and quality of biosystematics documents and survey reports. Figshare. EU Seventh Framework programme ProiBiosphere, http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/ m9.figshare.790726 • Bromley G., Regan E., Kapelari S., Dillon J., Vergou A., Willison J., Bonomi C., Es K. & Kleber J. (2013) The INQUIRE Course Manual, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, The INQUIRE project, Meise, Belgium 69 p.

• Groom Q., Agosti D., Güntsch A., Hovenkamp P., Kralt E., Mietchen D., Paton A. & Sierra S. (2013) The Use of e-Tools among Producers of Taxonomic Knowledge. Figshare. EU Seventh Framework programme ProiBiosphere, http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/ m9.figshare.785738 • Groom Q. & Agosti D. (2013) Taking the data out of paper. EU-BON Newsletter Online publication: http:// www.eubon.eu/news/10516_taking-thedata-out-of-paper/ • Groom Q. (2013) Recommendations on how to move the naming of organisms

Selection of reports presented in 2013 (co-)authored by staff of the Garden

(Rubiaceae) and range extensions for some rare species. Scripta Botanica Belgica 50: 304-316. [Republished from: Plant Ecology and Evolution 146,1: 121-133.]

Facts and figures 64 — 65

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Keresdedjian Andrée Kozloski Elisabeth Lecomte Jo Lippert Maïa Lokadi La Kembe Hyango Valère Maes Bart Mager Gertrude Marivoet Jos Mignolet Vinciane Miguel Gámiz Beatriz Minost Claire Moesen Piet Peeters Henrica Putman Didier Puttemans Barbara Ray Anne Rose Nathalie Salazar Renaldo Sanin Robayo David Sasson Diane Scheers Patricia Scheiba Ria Schotte Marleen Semeria Claudia Shutt Richard Speeckaert Claudine

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Billiet Frieda Champluvier Dominique Compère Pierre Geerinck Daniel Janssens Thomas Jongkind Carel Malaisse François Pauwels Luc Rammeloo Jan Robbrecht Elmar

Honorary research associates

Schaillée David Scheers Elke Schoemaker Erika Schoevaerts Johan Schuerman Riet Sergeant Roland Sosef Marc Speliers Wim Steppe Eric Stoffelen Piet Stuer Benoît Swaerts Daniel Tavernier Willy Telka Brandon Telka Dominique Thielemans Tom Tilley Maarten Tytens Liliane Van Belle Fernand Van Caekenberghe Frank Van Campenhout Geert Van De Kerckhove Omer Van de Vijver Bart Van de Vyver Ann Van den Borre Jeroen Van Den Broeck Dries Van den Broeck Maria Van Den Moortel Jean Van den Troost Gery Van der Beeten Iris Van der Jeugd Celien Van der Jeugd Michael Van der Plassche Thierry Van Eeckhoudt Jozef Van Eeckhoudt Kevin Van Eeckhoudt Lucienne Van Eeckhoudt Rita Van Gijseghem Jeannine Van Gompel Julie Van Grimbergen Dieter Van Hamme Lucienne Van Herp Anita Van Herp Marc

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Sanín David Sharp Cathy Sonké Bonaventure Sotiaux André Tariq Stévart Stieperaere Herman Vanderweyen Arthur Vanhecke Leo Verstraete Brecht Vrijdaghs Alexander

Sterckx Marie-Louise Strack Van Schijndel Maarten Sutterman Marina Swyncop Muriël Tack Florent Tanase Ionut Thielemans Lea Thielemans Marc Valles Maria Van Asch Solange Van Assche Hilde Van Bueren Gerd Van Capellen Gisèle Van De Casteele Geertrui Van der Straeten Els Van Rossem Mieke Vandeloo Rita Verlinden Hugo Verswyvel Myriam Vivek Rao Vivignis Patrick Wagemans Miel Wagemans Philip Wens Monique Würsten Bart

Van Herp Michiel Van Hove Siemen Van Hoye Manon Van Humbeeck Jozef Van Humbeeck Linda Van Laethem Steven Van Onacker Jean Van Opstal Jan Van Ossel Anja Van Paeschen Bénédicte Van Renterghem Koen Van Riet Laurens Van Rossum Fabienne Van wal Rita Van Wambeke Paul Vandelook Filip Vanderborght Thierry Vanderstraeten Dirk Vanwinghe Petra Vekens Odette Verdickt Jozef Verdickt Nathalie Verdonck Carina Verissimo Pereira Nuno Verlinden Kevin Verlinden Willy Verloove Filip Vermeerbergen Jochen Vermeersch Bart Versaen François Versaen Ilse Verschueren Alice Vleminckx Kevin Vleminckx Sabine Vloeberghen Joseph Wets Rutger Willems Stefaan Würsten Bart Yamani Kamal Zemagho Lise Zerard Carine Zucka Serge Adams An Aparicio Tejerina Oscar Bailly Francine Bas Osman Bastin Dominique Belmans Lucie Berckx Mieke Bockstael Annie Boutet Didier Boyker Victor Buelens Luc Cammaerts Lisette Cappelleman Ingrid Chashanovski Zvi Claes Philippe Claessens Alfons Coen Marie-Laure Connrot Claire Cuvry Bruno De Beer Dirk de Borman Sandrine De Cock Marianne de Coninck Hans De Cuyper Josephus

Volunteers

Bailly Francine Benit Danielle De Cock Marianne De Cuyper Jef De Vriendt Francis Geernaert Inge Kozloski Elisabeth Proost Alida Silverans Michel Talloen Paul Tavernier Patrick

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De Meuter Pascale De Praetere Claude De Smet Françoise De Wit Daniël Dehaes Mimi Deleu Ann Delière Sandra Devolder Chris Doutrelepont Hugues Dubois Tinne Dumont Anne-Marie Durant Daniël Exsteen Walter Eykens Jos Fabré Lisette Gheysens Lieve Goossens Florent Harding Steven Horions Chris Houben Guido Huet Dimitri Huriaux Thierry Jacobs Ludo Jessen Georgette

Thielemans Katinka Van Acoleyen Roger Van Conkelberge Luc Van den Broeck Martine Vanderherten Frank Van de Vijver Martine van Lidth Bénédicte Verschueren Frans Wayembergh Lisiane Wymeersch Miet

On a yearly basis approximately 100,000 people visit the Garden. Most of our visitors come to explore the glasshouses and the gardens, but, of course, there is more. Our scientists fully realise the importance of sharing their knowledge, passion and enthusiasm with the public.

Botanic Garden Meise has developed a range of tools to spread knowledge about plants and to raise public awareness about plant conservation. Our website www.botanicgarden.be offers an overview of current activities in the Garden.

To teach about plant diversity...

Activities of our scientists to inventory and study plant, fungal and algal diversity span the globe; from Antarctica to the rainforests of Congo. The scientific work focuses on the correct and scientific identification of plant species. What are the characteristics of a species? How many species are there? How do we distinguish one species from another? Without answers to these questions no economic activity based on plants or plant derived product could function. Knowing the correct scientific name of a species is the key that unlocks all information on this species. Correctly identifying a species helps us to recognise poisonous species from related medicinal ones. It helps us to establish if a plant species is threatened by extinction and in need of protection.

To study plants and fungi...

The Garden holds a collection of about 18,000 different kinds of living plants, among which several are threatened, such as the Laurent cycad (Encephalartos laurentianus). The Garden also houses an internationally recognised seed bank including inter alia the seeds of numerous wild bean species.

With the mission to conserve plants…

The Garden has a large herbarium housing about 4 million specimens and containing for example the largest rose herbarium of the world and important historical collections from Brazil and Central Africa. It also has a botanical library holding over 200,000 volumes, comprising publications from the 15th century till modern day.

With unique collections…

Older than Belgium, the earliest roots of Botanic Garden Meise can be traced to 1796, meaning that we have been working with plants for over two centuries. The Garden comprises 92 ha and includes many historical buildings, including a castle that dates back to the 12th century.

A Garden with a long history…

Botanic Garden Meise A portrait

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Guides

Facts and figures 66 — 67

Reception

Technical Support

Health & Safety

Informatics

Human Resources

Accounting

Administration

Our objectives are achieved to a high standard in an efficient and honest manner. We are always open to constructive criticism and we should critically evaluate our work and dare to make adjustments where necessary.

Strive for excellence

We should communicate openly and honestly in our daily work and decision making. Sharing useful information serves the common good. Problems should be shared and solutions sought together with discretion where necessary.

Open communication

As professionals in environmental sciences, we have a responsibility for being role models in creating a healthy environment for people and plants.

An eye for sustainability

Section Museology and Education

Section Library and Archives

Maintenance

Section Living Plant Collections and Park

Supporting services

Security

DEPT. Spermatophytes & Pteridophytes

DEPT. Bryophytes & Thallophytes

Direction

In performing our tasks and developing new ideas we always have the needs and expectations of our internal and external customers in mind.

Section Dicots

Section Ferns, Gymnosperms and Monocots

Section Fungi and Lichens

Section Algae and Mosses

Organisation chart

Delivering a professional service

We should be respectful and considerate to everyone with whom we come into contact. We appreciate their individuality and diversity. Our colleagues deserve respectful cooperation and professionalism.

Respect for diversity

The staff of the Botanic Garden are team players. We combine our talents to realise our goals; through a process of consultation we are all responsible for its success.

One team, one mission

The six guiding values of the Garden, necessary to keep us growing and flourishing.

Our values

Building a sustainable future through discovery, research and conservation of plants.

Our mission

Text: Botanic Garden Meise Botanical Values This report is also available in Dutch and French and can be downloaded from our website www.botanicgarden.be Printed on recycled FSC certified paper. Š Botanic Garden Meise, 2014