Plant Science

Biography

Biography: Elzbieta Bilinska

Abstract

The Garden of Medicinal Plants at the Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants in Plewiska is one of 40 polish botanical gardens. It was founded in 1946 on the historic area of 3 hectares in the old manor park from the end of the 19th century.

Currently the Garden has rich collection of medicinal plant comprising at present about 1200 taxa.  It is divided into two areas, in which one is open for public. It consists of plant taxonomy division of 399 species and division of trees and shrubs (about 200 species). The other one consists of division of experimental cultivation (500 species) and small division of greenhouse plants. There is also the collection of rare and legally protected medicinal   plants obtained from natural site. There are species such as: Arnica montana, Angelica archangelica, Asarum europaeum, Helichrysum arenarium and Rhodiola rosea. Experimental cultivation of these species are being conducted as part of Multiannual Programme ‘Protection of crop genetic resources’.

Worth noticing is also the collection of wild growing rose which consist of rare species such as: R. agrestis, R.zalana, R. jundzillii, and R. villosa.

Unique collections are used primarily for scientific research, but also for dissemination of the knowledge about medicinal plants. The scientific investigations are focused mainly on the content of active compounds in plants and are also devoted to agrotechnical conditions for cultivation of herbs. The raw material obtained from the garden is also the basis for further research in the field of biotechnology, pharmacology, immunology, microbiology and genetics.

The garden staff participates in the organization of the practical trainings on herbal medicine for: schoolchildren, university students of Pharmacy and Horticulture,     farmerand and any others which are acquainted with medicinal plants and their cultivation.