The José Celestino Mutis botanical garden is Colombia's biggest botanical garden. It serves both as a recreation and research center with an emphasis on Andean and Páramo ecosystems.[1] The garden is located in Bogotá and features plants from every Colombian altitude, climate and region. It was founded in 1955, in honor of botanist and astronomer José Celestino Mutis.
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The municipally owned park is famous nationwide and is a member of the internationally known BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International). The garden has an artificial waterfall and labs for studying plants and flowers. It also has public services such as a library and a tourist information desk. The garden is the only one in the nation specialized in preserving and collecting Andean species of flowers.[2] Its 19.5 acres are full with collections of plants grouped by their original ecosystem.
Among other curiosities, the park includes a sun clock, a palmetum, an orchid collection, and a wide variety of Amazon flowers.[3]
History
Statue of José Celestino Mutis in one of the entrances of the park
Jose Celestino Mutis was born in Spain in the city of Cadiz in 1732. He graduated in medicine from the University of Seville.[4] In 1783, Under the rule of Charles III of Spain, he headed the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Granada. The expedition was the most important scientific collaboration of the 18th century[5] where over 6,600 new species of flora were discovered and described. Although most of his research was not published and most of the time never completed, he remains as one of the greatest promoters of science and knowledge in the Americas.[6]
In 1937, botanist and priest Dr. Enrique Pérez Arbeláez tried to create a school of botany in the National University. Due to civil wars and disturbances the project was delayed. Finally, on August 6, 1955, the administrative council of Bogotá loaned Arbeláez 43.34 acres of land, and the garden was established.[7] Arbeláez decided to name the garden after Mutis in his honor.
Symbols
Mutisia
Mutisia clematis, in the family Asteraceae was declared the symbolic plant of the garden.[8] The plant is native to South America and was named in honor of Jose Celestino Mutis himself. Colombia's national plant and flower; the wax tree and the orchid respectively can also be found throughout the garden. The garden hosts over 5000 different species of orchids.
Programs
The garden is involved in joint research with many universities in Bogotá. It runs various workshops in biotechnology and the conservation of endangered species. It also develops programs for children such as the Club Botánico de Ciencias para Niños (Botanical club of science for kids) in which children between the ages of five and twelve can learn the principles of exploration, biodiversity and conservation.[9] The garden not only serves as a research center, but as a place to relax amidst the hub of the busy metropolis. It aims to serve as a space where citizens and tourists alike can learn, respect and protect the environment.[10]
In January 2013, The garden hosted SonEra Solar the first solar-powered music festival in Latin America.[11] A group effort between the garden and the USAID enabled the garden to have the first festival of its kind where the instruments and equipment were powered completely by solar power. Famous Latin American artists headlined the concert such as: Aterciopelados, Sidestepper and Wapapura Solar Sound among others.[12]
Collections
The garden houses around 19000 live plants and around 2346 taxa of cultivated plants.[13]
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