Plant seeds are exchanged between botanic gardens around the world
The Experimental Botanic Garden (EBG) cultivates numerous plant species that are used for research, teaching and the conservation of the respective species. The garden obtains most of the seeds for these plants through a free seed exchange that takes place between botanical gardens around the world. For this purpose, the participating gardens compile a seed catalogue every year, the Index Seminum, in which the plant seeds offered are listed with extensive information on their origin.
Picture: Jan Vetter
Research facilities of the Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research in the Experimental Botanic Garden
The main task of the Experimental Botanical Garden of the University of Göttingen (EBG) is to provide the infrastructure for experimental plant ecology research. The garden is assigned to the Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research of the Faculty of Biology and Psychology. Central research facilities consist of climate-controlled plant growth chambers, a root laboratory under field conditions, a rolling roof facility for experimental manipulation of the soil conditions of the experimental plants and a tree canopy path, unique in Europe, with access to 9 European tree species for ecological measurements.
The tray will be filled in January 2023. Thank you for your understanding.
Plant seeds and equipment used to obtain the seeds
The plant seeds offered by the Experimental Botanical Garden (EBG) in its annual Index Seminum (see above) are collected in the garden in summer and autumn. The seeds are then dried and cleaned. Some of the equipment used in this process is on display here. The EBG offers seeds of about 700 to 900 plant species in its Index Seminum and sends between 1500 and 2000 seed portions to more than a hundred botanic gardens worldwide every year.
The tray will be filled in January 2023. Thank you for your understanding.
Sap flow measurement
Trees lose water through their leaves (transpiration). This leads to a negative pressure in the wood vessels, which drives the transport of water (sap) from the soil through the roots and trunk into the leaves.
This sap flow can be measured with a short heat pulse in the trunk. The slowly rising sap flow deforms the resulting heat field in the wood.
Most of the water flows through the youngest annual rings in the outer centimetres of the trunk.
Experimental Botanical Garden
The Experimental Botanical Garden is the scientific experimental garden of Göttingen University. Scientific research, plant cultivation for teaching, environmental education, conservation of endangered plant species and information for the public are to find their place there.
