Jardim Botânico de Salvador, Botanical garden in São Marcos neighborhood, Salvador, Brazil.
The Botanical Garden of Salvador occupies 17 hectares in the São Marcos neighbourhood, created in 2002 from the former Horto da Mata dos Oitis. It holds over 60,000 dried plant specimens (exsicatas) from the Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, restinga and mangrove biomes, and focuses on species such as oiti-da-bahia and jacarandá-da-bahia.
The garden was created on 22 March 2002 by decree no. 13.546, later confirmed by law 6.291 of 2003, on 17 hectares of public land in São Marcos. It came from converting the Horto da Mata dos Oitis into a botanical garden, with attention to oiti-da-bahia, jacarandá-da-bahia and species used in Candomblé. The city government manages it.
The garden preserves plant collections used in Candomblé spiritual practices, connecting to the deep African roots present throughout Salvador. These traditions remain visible in how local people relate to plants and sacred spaces in the city.
The garden is open most days with walking paths through different plant sections that visitors can explore at their own pace. Comfortable shoes and water are recommended, especially since the tropical climate means warm weather most of the year.
The garden holds more than 60,000 dried plant specimens (exsiccatae) from the Atlantic Forest, Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, restinga and mangrove biomes. This herbarium collection supports the academic research and environmental education carried out on the 17-hectare site.
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