Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna Botanical Garden in September 2007. In the background, the Upper Belvedere . (pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!) Botanical Garden, ginkgo Jacquin, April 2005. Botanical Garden, succulents, outdoor area, April 2005. The Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna (Hortus Botanicus Vindobonensis, HBV) is a botanical garden that was established in 1754 in the 3rd Viennese district Landstraße. The Botanical Garden is a facility of the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Vienna. It is approximately 8 acres and is home to about 9,500 species. The tasks of the Botanical Garden include university research and teaching, the conservation of endangered plant species and seed and plant exchange with other institutions. A large part of the garden, adjacent to the Belvedere gardens is open to the public and serves as a recreational area. History The Botanical Garden was founded in 1754 as a "Hortus Medicus" (Medizinalpflanzengarten) on 1 ha. To this end, Maria Theresa - at the suggestion of her personal physician, Gerard van Swieten - had bought at Rennweg a 2-hectare estate. The order for the planning and design got Robert Laugier (1722-1793), who was since 1749 in Vienna. After having taken place the acquisition of the property, Laugier became first garden director (a position he held from 1754 until his retirement in 1768) as well as first chair holder of botany and chemistry, chairs that had been created afresh. It subsequently evolved into a scientifically oriented botanical garden, the plants were arranged according to the Linnaean system (Linnaean taxonomy). Laugier's successor as director was Nicholas Joseph von Jacquin (Director 1768-1796). At that time the garden was home for about 8,000 species, the area was increased to approximately 7.8 acres. Jacquin's son Joseph Franz von Jacquin became his successor as director (1796-1839). From 1841 on, the open land following the English garden style according to the system of Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher, who was director from 1839 to 1849, was redesigned. It had been layed out an officinal department with 196 beds. 1844 the Botanical Museum was built. Head gardener Joseph Diefenbach continued the redevelopment of the gardens in the sense of Endlicher. Director from 1849 to 1879 was Edward Schimmer. At this time the to European Botanic Gardens new concept of the phytogeographical groups was developed . From 1883 to 1890, the Jacquingasse was created whereby the garden area was reduced to about 6 ha. 1890-1893 was built by director Anton Kerner von Marilaun (1878-1898) the greenhouse plant with tropical house. 1904/ 05 followed the new construction of the Botanical Institute and laying out of the biological groups. 1930, the Botanical Garden was to the so-called Host'schen garden at the southern end extended (formerly private garden of the Hapsburgs), as a result the garden reached its present size of approximately 8 ha. The adjacent Alpine Garden remained with the Belvedere gardens. Director from 1899-1931 was from Richard Wettstein. At the beginning of the 40s under director Fritz Knoll (1931-1945) the Alpine Garden was recreated in its current area. Due to bomb damages during the Second World War (more than 40 hits), the demolition of the Botanical Museum and the felling of about 200 trees was necessary. Up to the 1970s under director Lothar Geitler (1945-1969) took place the removal of war damages and the reconstruction of the collections. 1970 the Host'sche garden was opened to visitors. 1975 began the general refurbishment of the institute building (until 1992) and the greenhouses, Director 1970-1995 was Frederick Ehrendorfer. In the 80s, the experimental house were built and created new experimental areas. In 1991, the Association of the Friends of the Botanical Garden was founded. From 1995 on, the rehabilitation of the greenhouses was continued and the tropical house opend to the public. The Canaries group was built and expanded the group of the Austrian flora. Michael Hesse (1995-1997) was followed by Tod Stuessy (1995-2005) as director, since January 2006, Michael Kiehn is director of the botanical garden. The garden collections include: Abies pinsapo Aesculus pavia Cephalotaxus harringtonia Diospyros lotus Elaeagnus angustifolia Ephedra Ficus carica Ginkgo biloba Gunnera chilensis +Laburnocytisus adamii Liriodendron tulipifera Magnolia Metasequoia glyptostroboides Graves of Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin and Joseph Franz von Jacquin on the grounds Nothofagus antarctica Ostrya carpinifolia Parrotia persica Paulownia tomentosa Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens Pinus aristata Platanus orientalis Poncirus trifoliata Prunus tenella Rhododendron Salvia Sequoiadendron giganteum Syringa Viburnum Vitis riparia de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanischer_Garten_der_Universit%C3...