Botanics sows seeds for plant catalogue

THE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is among four botanical institutions to announce plans to create the first online catalogue of the world’s plants.

Called the World Flora, it will be available by 2020.

Professor Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper of the Botanics, said: “Botanic gardens have led the way in spearheading international conservation strategies, and are a natural partnership for mobilising much- needed information on plant biodiversity.

“This is a large task, but with many contributors, we can deliver.”

The RBGE will be joined by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The New York Botanical Garden and the Missouri Botanical Garden for the massive undertaking.