Jardin des Plantes de Paris

The living
plant
collections
and the
Herbarium
of the
National
natural
History
Museum
Maïté Delmas
Département des Jardins botaniques et zoologiques (DJBZ),
Muséum National d’histoire naturelle (MNHN)
One of the three
major collections,
along with those
of London and
Washington
57 rue Cuvier – 75005 Paris
www.mnhn.fr
The Museum’s mission
• "To discover, understand, highlight and help
preserve the Earth’s natural and cultural diversity"
supported by 5 areas of activity
•
preservation and enrichment of the collections
more than 65 million specimens
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research
dissemination of knowledge
expertise
education
Key figures
1 800 employees
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500 researchers, 250 attached solely to the Museum
250 also attached to other research bodies (CNRS,
INRA, IRD, INSERM,
Universities…)
400 students (Master’s and PhD’s)
Natural history specimen collections:
100 non-living collections covering all areas of past and
present biodiversity, humanity, terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials, and paleo-environment
Natural history document collections:
• 368,000 printed works
• 105,000 ancient works
• 13,000 manuscripts
• 7000 vellum documents
7 Research Departments
3 Departments of scientific dissemination
Galeries
Botanical and zoological gardens
Museum of Mankind
Research departments
• History of the Earth
• Ecology and Biodiversity Management
• Aquatic Environments and Populations
• Systematics and Evolution
• Regulation, Development and Molecular Diversity
• Mankind, Nature, Societies
• Prehistory
Key Dates
• 1635 : creation of the
Royal Garden for
Medicinal Plants
• 1640 : opening to public
and students
• 1993 : Listed as a historic
monument
Departement of Botanical and Zoological Gardens
Living collections
The Botanic Gardens
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Jardin des Plantes
Arboretum of Chevreloup
Alpine Gardens of Samoens
Exotic Garden of Menton
The Zoological Parcs
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Menagerie of the Jardin des
Plantes
Parc zoologique de Paris
Parc zoologique de Clères
Azay le Ferron
Departement of Botanical and Zoological Gardens
Sites in Paris
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2 Botanic Gardens
Jardin des Plantes
Arboretum de
Chèvreloup
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2 Zoological Parcs
Ménagerie du Jardin des
plantes
Parc zoologique de
Paris
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Department of botanical and zoological gardens
The Museum’s regional sites
2 Zoological parcs
• Clères
Zoological Parc
• Haute Touche zoological Parc
•3 Botanic gardens
• Harmas de Fabre (house and garden
formely owned by Jean-Henri Fabre)
• Menton botanical gardens
• « La Jaÿsinia » Alpine garden
The Botanic Garden
Arboretum de
Chèvreloup
200 hectares near Versailles
Offers a panorama of the trees
of the Northern Hemisphere.
Attached to the Museum in
1922
First plantings of the scientific
project in 1924.
• 12 000 trees, representing
2500 species
•70 threatened species listed on
IUCN red lists
ARBORETUM OF CHEVRELOUP
Jardin des Plantes de Paris
• Area : 26 ha
• Different thematics:
habitats, systematic
order or geographical
presentations
Tropical greenhouses,
Arboretum with
Historic trees
Jardin d’hiver
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Tropical house 1000 m2
Height 15 m
Date : 1937
Flora of tropical humid areas
from all continents plus
economic plants
• Most plants planted after the
severe frost winter 1945-46.
The project for the Jardin d’hiver
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Tropical forest
ecosystem
Economic plants and
man
Forest Regeneration
Relations plants-animals
Degradation of tropical
forests
Previously dry
environments
Madagascar, Central
and Latin America
New Caledonian
Glasshouse
Dry forests
Humid forests
Mining Maquis
Glasshouse on the History of plants
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The main steps of plant
evolution from the first plants
conquering the terrestrial
habitats to the appearance of
the first flowering plants
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Paleolandscape dioramas
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Currrent representatives of
archaic groups
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Fossil samples as well as
representation of extinct
species
The Ecological garden
A semi wild sanctuary for the fauna and flora
4 open habitats present biodiversity linked to human activities
¾ A corn field with its companion plants (poppies, cornflower, corn
marigold…)
¾ A hay meadow
¾ A waste land
¾ A vineyard with its typical bulbous companion plants
The
Herbarium
Specimens
collected
between 1549
and 2007
Collections
tranfered at
their current
site in 1936
New project
of renovation
Paris (P)
The world’s largest herbarium
11 million specimens
400 000 type specimens
Other collections
Plants Fragments (in
silica gel)
Palynotheque
Carpotheque
Alcootheque
Xylotheque
Droguiers
•Over 160 visits in 2006
• Field research in 2006 18 mois
(Vanuatu, Madagascar, Comores,
Nouvelle-calédonie
The « Menagerie » of the
Jardin des Plantes
Key Date
• 1794
Key data
• Area : 5,5 ha
• 1000 animal specimens :
- 200 mammifers, 50 species,
- 600 birds, 120 species
- 110 reptiles,50 species
Stunning architectural elements
dating from XVIIIth and XIXth
century,
It is the oldest zoo having kept its
original aspect
Exotique Botanical Garden Menton
• 1895-1966 : Botanic garden
• Last owner May Campbell, a
rich English lady called «
Dame aux daturas »
• 1966 : acquisition by
Ministry of Education
• 1967 : Given to MNHN
Key figures
• Area : 1 ha
• 1400 species
Acclimatization and
conservation of rares and
endangered species
Sophora toromiro
Jardin alpin de Samoens
1906 Given to
Samoens by
Marie Louise Jay
and her husband
Creation of a Laboratory
Ecological and botanical
research station
Henri Fabre 1823-1903
Naturalist and humanist of XIXth C
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Harmas de Fabre (1922) 1 ha
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Listed as a Historic monument
«maison de mémoire»
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Collection of scientific and historic
importance
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Herbarium, Watercolours, fossils,
rocks, minerals (500 pieces), shells
(13000 samples) collected in
Provence
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Regional Herbarium, 20 000
accessions
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Entomological collection
Great Gallery
of Evolution
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Key dates
• 1877-1889 : construction by Architect :
Jules André
• 1965 : Closed following second world
war damage
• 1980-1994 : construction of an
underground zootheque
• 21 June 1994 : Opening of the Great
Gallery of Evolution
Key data
• Public Area : 8980 m2
• Nentral nave : 55 x 25 m, 30 m height
• Collections presented : about 100 fishes,
amphibians and reptiles, 450 birds,
350 mammals and few
thousands invertebrates
Enjoy your visit
Thank you for your attention
Photos - Snezana GERBAULT