Abstract:

The development, distribution and features of one hundred and forty botanical gardens (BGs) in China are reported and their functions on research, conservation, display and utilization of biodiversity are summarized in this paper. The contributions to the social and economic development in the early stage of Chinese BGs with the researches of economic plant (tobacco), medicinal plant (yam) and wild fruit tree resources are evaluated. The theoretical and applied achievements in recent years in seed science, plant conservation, economic plant introduction, acclimatization and breeding are also described. A general scope of living plant collections in Chinese BGs is presented and the outstanding ones, including Magnoliaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cycadaceae, medicinal plants,Actinidia and Rhododendron are particularly mentioned. With special reference to Chinese penjing art garden and silicified wood garden, the development of scientific popularization and tourism in BGs is reviewed.

中国植物园五十年
贺善安
（中国科学院江苏省南京植物研究所，中山植物园，南京210014）

摘要： 概述了中国140多个植物园过去50 年发展的历史过程、分布和特征，以及植物园在研究、保护、展示和利用生物多样性等方面的功能。评述了中国植物园早期在经济作物烟草、药用植物薯蓣和野生果树资源研究中对社会和经济发展的贡献，以及近年来在种子科学、物种保护、经济植物引种驯化和育种等方面的理论和应用研究成果。介绍了中国植物园活植物收集的现状。其中木兰科、姜科、苏铁类、药用植物、猕猴桃属和杜鹃属等收集圃的建设已属世界领先。介绍了植物园科普和旅游的发展和中国植物园特有的盆景艺术园和硅化木收集园。
关键词： 植物园；生物多样性；物种保护；药用植物；植物引种驯化；植物育种；植物收集圃

Key words: botanical garden, biodiversity, plant conservation, medicinal plant, plant introduction and acclimatization, plant breeding, plant collection