The Useful Plants Section

Location and area

The section covers an area of 1.35 ha and is located on the central plateau of the Botanical Garden. It is bordered to the North-East by the Systematic Section, to the West by the Biological Section, to the South by the Dendrarium Section, and to the South-East by the Rosarium Section.

Description

Through the theme of the section and its implementation into the field, the aim is to represent over 450 plant taxa in groups depending by their main utility. Thus, in the section there are exhibited to the public collections of plants used in the food industry, medicinal, aromatic and seasoning plant species, melliferous and fodder plants, tanning and tinctorial plants, as well as toxic plant species.
  1. The subsection with plants used in the food industry includes taxa used by humans as a food resource, both native and cultivated species, from which roots, stems, leaves, fruits or seeds can be consumed, or species that can be processed it order to obtain vegetal products: wheat (Triticum dicoccum, T. monococcum, T. aestivum), corn (Zea mays), pea (Pisum sativum), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris), soybean (Glycine max), flax (Linum usitatissimum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), peppers (Capsicum annuum), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), wild leek (Allium ampeloprasum), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), parsley (Petroselinum crispum).

  2. The subsection of medicinal plants includes collections of species grouped according to the organ or organ systems on which they have a therapeutic action:
    • Collection of plants used in heart and circulatory system diseases: garlic (Allium sativum), silver linden (Tilia tomentosa), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), artichoke (Cynara scolymus), blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum);
    • Collection of plants used in digestive system disorders: milk thistle (Silybum marianum), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), chicory (Cichorium intybus), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), great yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea), common marigold (Calendula officinalis), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), dill (Anethum graveolens), caraway (Carum carvi), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis);
    • Collection with plants used in the nervous system disorders: common hop (Humulus lupulus), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), valerian (Valeriana officinalis), small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), ivy (Hedera helix), poppy (Papaver somniferum);
    • Collection with plants used in respiratory system disorders: narrow leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata), wild thistle (Eryngium campestre), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), pine (Pinus sylvestris), fir (Abies alba), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), cowslip primrose (Primula veris), lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), common speedwell (Veronica officinalis), sweet violet (Viola odorata), hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), dead-nettle (Lamium album);
    • Collection of plants used in urinary system disorders: horsetail (Equisetum arvense), corn (Zea mays), common gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), common nettle (Urtica dioica), clematis (Clematis recta), butcher's-broom (Ruscus aculeatus), bladder cherry (Physalis alkekengi), common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), parsley (Petroselinum crispum).

  3. The subsection of aromatic and seasoning plants includes species that synthesize essential oils, which can be successfully exploited in the cosmetics and perfumery industry, in the food industry and in the pharmaceutical industry: mint (Mentha x piperita), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), summer savory (Satureja hortensis), basil (Ocimum basilicum), marjoram (Origanum majorana), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), dill (Anethum graveolens), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), sage (Salvia officinalis), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus).

  4. The subsection of fodder and melliferous plants includes species that are used as animal feed, ensuring the obtaining of qualitative products of animal origin. The collection of fodder plants includes species as: rye (Secale cereale), barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat (Avena sativa), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), beet (Beta vulgaris), and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). The collection of melliferous plants includes species as: black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), linden (Tilia cordata), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), starflower (Borago officinalis), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), catnip (Nepeta cataria), and lesser calamint (Clinopodium nepeta).

  5. The subsection of resinous and rubber plants includes species that synthesize secondary metabolites of the resin type: pine (Pinus sylvestris), fir (Abies alba), spruce (Picea abies), hemp (Cannabis sativa), hops (Humulus lupulus), respectively of the latex type (which are used to obtain rubber): fig (Ficus carica), gutta-percha tree (Eucommia ulmoides), common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), white mulberry (Morus alba), king's spear (Asphodeline lutea), greater celandine (Chelidonium majus).

  6. The subsection with tanning and tinctorial plants includes species that synthesize secondary metabolites such as tannins (used for tanning raw skins): oak (Quercus robur), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), spruce (Picea abies), willow (Salix alba), and, respectively substances that represent an important source of natural dyes: carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus), golden marguerite (Cota tinctoria), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), onion (Allium cepa), common walnut (Juglans regia), pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), rose madder (Rubia tinctorum), alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria), and dyer's woad (Isatis tinctoria).

  7. The subsection of plants used in oral hygiene includes species that are included in products such as toothpastes, mouthwashes, sprays and infusions intended to maintain the oral health: broadleaf plantain (Plantago major), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), basil (Ocimum basilicum), mint (Mentha x piperita), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), toothache plant (Acmella oleracea), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), onion (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), and common agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria).

  8. The subsection of plants used for the maintenance of the sense organs c includes species that synthesize active principles used in maintaining eye health: big marigold (Tagetes erecta), carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativus), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo); skin health: common marigold (Calendula officinalis), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), comfrey (Symphytum officinale), arnica (Arnica montana), betony (Stachys officinalis); nose health: basil (Ocimum basilicum), mint (Mentha x piperita), garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), pine (Pinus sylvestris), and ear health: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), common marigold (Calendula officinalis).

  9. The toxic plant subsection includes species that synthesize chemical compounds that are toxic to humans and animals, but which, upon the recommendation and under the close supervision of a doctor, may have valuable therapeutic properties: yew (Taxus baccata), belladonna (Atropa belladonna), henbane bell (Scopolia carniolica), black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), hemlock (Conium maculatum).