www.mobot.org Research Home | Search | Contact | Site Map  
 
Research
W³TROPICOS
QUICK SEARCH

MO PROJECTS:
Africa
Asia/Pacific
Mesoamerica
North America
South America
General Taxonomy
Photo Essays
Training in Latin
  America

MO RESEARCH:
Wm. L. Brown Center
Bryology
GIS
Graduate Studies
Research Experiences
  for Undergraduates

Imaging Lab
Library
MBG Press
Publications
Climate Change
Catalog Fossil Plants
MO DATABASES:
W³MOST
Image Index
Rare Books
Angiosperm
  Phylogeny

Res Botanica
All Databases
INFORMATION:
What's New?
People at MO
Visitor's Guide
Herbarium
Jobs & Fellowships
Symposium
Research Links
Site Map
Search

Projects
THE ORIGIN OF GARDEN PLANTS AND THE FSU CONTRIBUTION

The European Center


The European Center embraces some of the Circumboreal areas of the Temperate zone of Europe. Although not mentioned by Vavilov, this area is important as a source of ornamental plants. It involves the Atlantic European, Central European, and Eastern European floristic provinces the last of which encompasses a portion of the former Soviet Union territory. At least 300 (6%) of ornamental species are native to Europe. Many well-known trees have been in cultivation since very ancient times. For instance, lindens or limes (Tilia platyphyllos, T. cordata, and T. europaea) have long been considered as the favourite trees for lining the avenues in the great cities in Europe. The Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) are both native to Europe. These maples are two of the most widely planted shade trees, because both are considered to be among the hardiest trees in cultivation. Some other trees e.g. birches (Betula pendula etc.), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), English oak (Quercus robur), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), European larch (Larix decidua) and the common yew (Taxus baccata), are also of European origin. Some garden herbaceous perennials, well known in cultivation, occur in the wild in Europe, mostly in mountainous areas and forests. Some examples are Adonis vernalis, common daisy (Bellis perennis), horned violet (Viola cornuta) and sweet violet (Viola odorata).

THE ORIGIN OF GARDEN PLANTS
 
 
© 1995-2024 Missouri Botanical Garden, All Rights Reserved
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 577-5100

E-mail
Technical Support