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From the Curator's Department

With the presentation of this Index Seminum we take the opportunity, as usual, to inform you on the latest developments in Utrecht University Botanic Gardens.
In general, the activities of the curators are divided in the following main groups:

• Drs. Hans Persoon [hp]: Systematic Garden, Theme Garden
  
• Drs. Eric J. Gouda [eg]: Greenhouse Collections (focal point: Neotropical Collections) and the Rock Garden
  

Seed collecting at the Botanic Gardens:

• Hortulanus: G. van Buiten
• Garden staff Utrecht: R. Vonk and A.G. Werensteijn

Specializations:

In the framework of the National Plant Collection (NP), Utrecht University Botanic Gardens are maintaining specializations on the following groups and taxa:

Flora of the Neotropics: [eg] Flora of the Guianas, with special emphasis on:

-Bromeliaceae

-Orchidaceae

-Costaceae

• Aeonium [eg]
  
• Annonaceae (Research Collection) [eg]
  
• Penstemon [eg]
  
• Rhipsalis [eg]
  
• Alpine plants (Rock Garden) [eg]
  
• herbaceous Berberidaceae (eg. Epimedium, Podophyllum etc.) [eg]
  
• selected woodland plants (Arisaema, Asarum & Trillium) [eg]
  

These specializations are given extra attention regarding verification, nomenclature, wild source material, etc.
We are especially interested in material from natural sources of the groups and taxa mentioned above. We seek cooperation with gardens with identical specializations. If you are interested, please contact us and we will provide additional information.

Bromeliaceae:

Study and devellopment in the Bromeliaceae collection has several focus points.
In the first place the Bromeliaceae research project for the "Flora of the Guianas": we try to grow all possible species from this area.
Beside this, the Tillandsioideae collection (as Subfamily of the Bromeliaceae) is part of the
National Plant Collection (NP). The genus Tillandsia of the Andian countries (especially Bolivia) has a special attention because of the various taxonomic problems on species level in these areas. To increase the general knowledge about the recognised genera in the Family we try to grow representatives from all genera. It is evident that our Bromeliaceae Collections will increase dramatically in both size and quality.

Arisaema (Araceae):

The last few years we have been very active with this group, increasing the number of wild collected species in the collection. Some areas, like the Peat Garden, have been improved to grow more Arisaemas. International contact with various Arisaema (Araceae) specialists caused considerable improvement of the collection.

Rhipsalis (Cactaceae):

In 1961 the Botanic Garden inherited the Rhipsalis collection from the well known Cactaceae collector and writer G.D. Duursma. Much of this material is authentic. In 2005 we felt the need to concentrate on Cactaceae, especially Rhipsalis and closely allied genera from the new world like Lepismium etc.
Last but not least, the living collections have been enriched this year. Many new accessions from natural sources replaced accessions from cultivated origin, as part of the long-term collection strategy to replace plants of cultivated origin for wild-collected stock.