The internationally acclaimed living collection of over 20,000 desert plants, with particular emphasis on those inhabiting our own Sonoran Desert, continues to serve the public and scientific community. For the public, the collection provides not only pleasure for the senses and spirit, but acquaints them with the great diversity of forms and types of plants in desert ecosystems, dispelling the myth that deserts are viewed as "empty wastelands." Many of these plants can be used in home or business landscaping. For scientists, the Garden's collection is exceptional for their studies in that important data (locality, original collector) accompanies the majority of plants. The Garden's extensive seed collection includes rare plants, providing a backup to the species and opportunities for further study.
The Desert Botanical Garden is committed to serving as a primary
research institution for the study of desert plants. Garden researchers
work in several areas:
- Floristics - the study of the different kinds of plants within an area.
- Systematics - the study of the origin and evolutionary relationships of plants.
- Ecology - the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
- Conservation Biology - the study of human impact on plants and environments.
- Ethnobotany - the study of past and present interrelationships of plants and people.
- Horticulture - the study of growing and using plants in urban settings.
The Garden recognizes that sound research is the basis for understanding the intricacies of desert ecosystems by researchers and the public alike. The Garden's research program includes the identification and documentation of arid region plants, conservation, ethnobotany (the study of how people and plants interrelate), and ecology. The Garden's Herbarium is a permanent, expanding collection of over 60,000 plant specimens at present, from the arid regions of the world, with particular emphasis on Arizona. Part of the Garden's herbarium collection is now on-line to assist people in plant identification. The Garden's Library has over 7,000 volumes and periodicals to also assist the public and researcher in obtaining in-depth information about desert ecosystems.
Andrew Salywon, Wendy Hodgson, Charlie Butterworth and Raul Puente of the Garden’s Research Department, along with associated cacti experts Donald Pinkava and Marc Baker, have begun working on The Cactus Family in Arizona, a publication that will provide an up to date revision of Lyman Benson’s Cacti of Arizona, published nearly 40 years ago. The book will include descriptions of each taxon, including complete synonymy, identification keys and distribution maps (with type localities and ploidy levels indicated), as well as numerous illustrations and photos. It is anticipated that the introductory chapters will cover evolutionary history, biogeography, morphology, ecology, paleohistory, ethnobotany, conservation and cultivation of these remarkable plants. Projected date of completion is 2012.
