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The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gard or Jardim Botânico is located at the Jardim Botânico district in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
The Botanical Gard shows the diversity of Brazilian and foreign flora. There are around 6, 500 species (some dangered) distributed throughout an area of 54 hectares (130 acres) as well as numerous grehouses. The gard also houses monumts of historical, artistic, and archaeological significance. There is an important research cter, which includes the most complete library in the country specializing in botany with over 32, 000 volumes.
Jardim Botânico Rio's Botanical Garden
It was founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal. Originally intded for the acclimatization of spices like nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon imported from the West Indies, the gard was oped to the public in 1822, and is now op during daylight hours every day except 25 December and 1 January.
The 140 hectares (350 acres) park lies at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain, far below the right arm of the statue of Christ the Redeemer and contains more than 6, 000 differt species of tropical and subtropical plants and trees, including 900 varieties of palm trees. A 750 metres (2, 460 ft) line of 134 palms forms the Avue of Royal Palms leading from the trance into the gards. These palms all descded from a single tree, the Palma Mater, long since destroyed by lightning. Only about 40% of the park is cultivated, the remainder being Atlantic Forest rising up the slopes of Corcovado. The park is protected by the Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional and was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1992.
The Botanical Gard has an important research institute, which develops a wide range of botanical studies in Brazil. The institute has taxonomists who specialize in the idtification and conservation of the neotropical flora.
Tijuca Forest And Botanical Garden Expedition
The gards house collections that include bromeliads, orchids, carnivorous plants, and cacti. These include Brazil’s largest botanical library and collections of dried fruits, rare Brazilian plants, and many photographs. The painted cast-iron Fountain of the Muses was made in Derby, UK, and until 1895 was sited at Hrique Lage's villa at Largo da Lapa, as part of the landscaping by the glish painter John Tydall.
The park contains 140 species of birds, many of which have become accustomed to humans and are consequtly much easier to observe than in the wild. These include the channel-billed toucan, rusty-margined guan, slaty-breasted wood rail and the dangered demic white-necked hawk. Capuchin monkeys and tufted-eared marmosets are also frequtly se in the Botanical Gards.
Features of interest include an old gunpowder factory, the Victoria lilies in the Lago Frei Leandro pond, the Japanese Gard, and many sculptures and fountains.
