Plant utilization: A core activity of the National Botanic Gardens
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie/South African Journal of Science and Technology
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Plant utilization: A core activity of the National Botanic Gardens Plantbenutting: ’n Kernaktiwiteit van die Nasionale Botaniese Tuine | |
| Creator | Eloff, J. N. | |
| Description | The National Botanic Gardens were given a directive by the Forestry Act of 1984 “to promote the conservation of, and research in connection with southern African flora” and also, inter alia, to investigate and utilize, and promote the utilization of, the economic potential of indigenous plants. Although plants were cultivated for economic purposes when Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 and there were already 222 economically important species in the garden in 1933, the effort was later abandoned as a result of other problems which had higher priority. However, the distribution of seed of indigenous species and cut flowers, both locally and overseas, has continued to increase. Surplus plants have, for the past ten years been supplied directly to the public by means of a plant sale at Kirstenbosch. At other gardens of the NBG plant sales are also held on a yearly, monthly and daily basis. It is anticipated that in future plants with horticultural, medicinal and economic potential will be evaluated, selected, developed and, when feasible, also grown and marketed. A seedbank will also be established and operated to conserve genetic diversity in the form of seed and also to distribute seed for cultivation in other gardens and nurseries. A t the last annual plant sale at Kirstenbosch 595 different plant species were sold to the public, considerably more than the 28 different species which are offered in the majority of the nurseries in the Cape Town area. It follows that plants and flowers must be made more readily available to the public visiting botanic gardens, but it should be done in such a manner that commercial growers are not threatened. Die Boswet van 1984 gee aan die NBT die opdrag om die “bewaring van en navorsing in verband met Suider-Afrikaanse flora te bevorder”, maar ook onder andere om “die ekonomiese potensiaal van inheemse plante te ondersoek, benut en die benutting te bevorder”. Alhoewel daar reeds met die stigting van Kirstenbosch in 1913 ekonomies belangrike plante aangeplant is en in 1933 reeds 222 soorte in die tuin was, is diepoging later laat vaar as gevolg van ander probleme wat ’n hoer prioriteit geniet het. Saadverspreiding van inheemse plantsoorte en die verspreiding van snyblomme, ook na die buiteland, het egter steeds toegeneem. Vir die afgelope tien jaar is plante reeds jaarliks te Kirstenbosch deur ’n plantverkoping direk aan die publiek verskaf. By ander tuine van die NBT het plantverkopings op jaarlikse, maandelikse en daaglikse basis ook begin plaasvind. In die toekoms word beoog om plante met tuinboukundige, medisinale of ekonomiese potensiaal te evalueer, teselekteeren te ontwikkel en, indien moontlik, ook te kweek en te bemark. ’n Saadbank sal ontwikkel en bedryf word om die genetiese diversiteit in die vorm van saad te bewaar en om ook te versprei vir kweek in ander tuine en kwekerye. Op die afgelope jaarlikse plantverkoping te Kirstenbosch is 595 verskillende plantsoorte aan die publiek verkoop. Dit is aansienlik meer as die 28 verskillende plantsoorte wat in meer as die helfte van kwekerye in die Kaapstad-omgewing aangebied word. Plante en blomme moet gevolglik geredelik aan die besoekerspubliek aan botaniese tuine beskikbaar gestel word op ’n wyse wat kommersiele kwekers nie sal bedreig nie. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 1987-03-17 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/satnt.v6i3.956 | |
| Source | Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 6, No 3 (1987); 123-129 Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie; Vol 6, No 3 (1987); 123-129 2222-4173 0254-3486 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://journals.satnt.aosis.co.za/index.php/satnt/article/view/956/1981
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