Jardin botanique de l'École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
Encyclopedia
The Jardin botanique de l'École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort is a botanical garden
operated by the École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
, and located on the school's grounds at 7, avenue du Général de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort
, Val-de-Marne
, Île-de-France
, France
. It is open to the public; an admission fee is charged.
The garden was first established in 1766 as the school's jardin des plantes under the direction of Honoré Fragonard
, and in 1771 began to classify plants according to the botanical system of Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
(1656-1708). In 1801 it began to specialize in silkworm cultivation and honey
production. By 1882, when the herb garden moved, it contained about 1,600 species
classified according to the "Baillon system". During World War I
the garden was converted to grow vegetable
s; though subsequently restored, it was reduced in area by about 4,000 m² in 1930. Garden restoration began in 1960 and accelerated in the late 1970s.
Today the garden contains collections of herb
s and toxic and medicinal plants, with a particularly strong collection of melliferous plants (those used for honey
production) and beehive
s, as well as a a seed bank containing 1,813 accessions representing 1,700 species
(as of 1994).
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
operated by the École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort
The École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort is a school of veterinary medicine located at 7, avenue du Général de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort, Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, France...
, and located on the school's grounds at 7, avenue du Général de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort
Maisons-Alfort
Maisons-Alfort is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Maisons-Alfort is famous as the location of the National Veterinary School of Alfort, the most renowned veterinary medical school in France...
, Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne
Val-de-Marne is a French department, named after the Marne River, located in the Île-de-France region. The department is situated to the southeast of the city of Paris.- Geography :...
, Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is open to the public; an admission fee is charged.
The garden was first established in 1766 as the school's jardin des plantes under the direction of Honoré Fragonard
Honoré Fragonard
Honoré Fragonard was a French anatomist, now remembered primarily for his remarkable collection of écorchés in the Musée Fragonard d'Alfort....
, and in 1771 began to classify plants according to the botanical system of Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
Joseph Pitton de Tournefort was a French botanist, notable as the first to make a clear definition of the concept of genus for plants.- Biography :...
(1656-1708). In 1801 it began to specialize in silkworm cultivation and honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production. By 1882, when the herb garden moved, it contained about 1,600 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
classified according to the "Baillon system". During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the garden was converted to grow vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s; though subsequently restored, it was reduced in area by about 4,000 m² in 1930. Garden restoration began in 1960 and accelerated in the late 1970s.
Today the garden contains collections of herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s and toxic and medicinal plants, with a particularly strong collection of melliferous plants (those used for honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production) and beehive
Beehive
A beehive is a structure in which bees live and raise their young.Beehive may also refer to:Buildings and locations:* Bee Hive, Alabama, a neighborhood in Alabama* Beehive , a wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings...
s, as well as a a seed bank containing 1,813 accessions representing 1,700 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
(as of 1994).