Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Research institute and tropical garden in Jardim Botânico, Brazil
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is a research institute and tropical garden located in the Jardim Botânico district of Brazil, covering 54 hectares and housing around 6,500 plant species. The site consists of 40 percent cultivated areas while the remaining space is covered by Atlantic Forest on the slopes.
King John VI of Portugal founded the garden on June 13, 1808, to acclimatize spice plants such as nutmeg and cinnamon from the West Indies. The institution later evolved into a scientific center for the study of native Brazilian plants.
The garden houses Brazil's largest botanical library with around 32,000 volumes supporting plant research across South America. Taxonomists here identify species from tropical regions and contribute to conserving threatened plants.
The site is open year-round except on December 25 and January 1, offering guided tours, restrooms, and a café. Visitors should bring comfortable shoes for the paths through the planted areas and forested slopes.
The Avenue of Royal Palms displays 134 trees descended from a single Palma Mater that was later destroyed by lightning. This original tree served as the source for all the palms now lining the central path of the garden.
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