BOTANY Hall in Regional Natural History Museum - Plovdiv

   The “Botany” section has been opened since the establishment of the museum in 1955. Initially, the establishment of this section as well as the whole museum was based on the materials of the rich encyclopedic museum at the former French college in the town of Plovdiv.
   Exposition. The botanic exposition, opened in 1955 in conformity with the then concepts and requirements, was almost entirely corresponding to the botany-related subjects taught at schools and teachers’ training colleges, which included basic principles of Michurin’s studies, morphology of root, stem, leaves, and blossom, plant taxonomy, weeds and parasitic plants, sorts and species of cultivated plants, etc.
   Since 1967, this first exposition has been constantly replenished and renovated. This permanent improvement includes gathering of materials from the Bulgarian nature (mainly from South Bulgaria), replacement of old specimens, development of new topics, introduction of modern spatial and decorative patterns, etc. In 1986, the renovation was finally completed. The exposition, as it exists now, is an entirely new exposition emphasizing the following topics: “Plant evolution and phylogenetics”, “Plant taxonomy”, “Medicinal plants”, “Riches of South Bulgarian flora”, “Researchers on the Rhodopean and Thracian flora”, “Reserves and venerable trees”, and “Edible and poisonous mushrooms in Bulgaria”.
   The exposition begins with a color board illustrating the recent concepts of evolution and phylogenetics in the vegetable kingdom. Seven vitrines are dedicated to plant taxonomy. The exponents include herbarium specimens of Bulgarian representatives of Red algae (Rhodophyta), Brown algae (Phaeophyta), Green algae (Chlorophyta), Charales (Charophyta), Mosses (Bryophyta), Fern allies (Lycopodiophyta), Horsetails (Equisetophyta), Ferns (Pteridophyta), Coniferous (Pinopsida), as well as the biggest families of Angiosperms (Magnoliophyta) of the Bulgarian flora. Besides herbarium, the vitrine contains photographs illustrating typical morphological peculiarities of the relevant taxa. The vitrine dedicated to the researches on the Rhodopean and Thracian flora contains both portraits of the honored botanists that made the most significant contribution to the studying of this resource (E Frivaldszky, J. Velenovsky, N. Stoyanov, B. Stefanov, D. Yordanov, etc.), and herbarium samples of the new species found for the first time in Bulgaria and described by them: Centaurea affinis Friv., Saxifraga stribrnyi Vel., Scabiosa rhodopensis Stoj. et Stef., Jasionella bulgarica Stoj. et Stef., Saponaria stranjensis D.Jord., etc. Most of the exposition is dedicated to the floristic riches and diversity of South Bulgaria. Herbarium samples (mainly) and color photographs present 70 rare endemic and relict plant species, such as Haberlea rhodopensis, Tulipa rhodopaea, Lilium rhodopeum, Astragalus physocalix, Morina persica, Gypsophila tekirae, Geum rhodopeum, Arenaria rhodopea, Juniperus excelsa, etc. There are specimens of species listed in the appendices and annexes to the Biological Diversity Act, Bern Convention, Bonn Convention, Bulgarian Red Data Book, and the Habitat Directive. Big color photographs show some of the most remarkable venerable trees (the Sycamore in the village of Belashtitsa, the Oak in the village of Granit, Chirpan region, etc.) and reserves (Chervenata Stena, Jendema, etc.) in South Bulgaria. The numerous medicinal plants of the Bulgarian flora are represented by some of the most popular herbs such as Tutsan, Colt’s foot, Sumac, Buckthorn, Red germander, Common valerian, Common agrimony, Hawthorn, as well as other species presented with herbarium samples. Four vitrines, situated in the middle of the hall, expose models of 37 species of more common edible and poisonous mushrooms found in Bulgaria, arranged on an ecological principle. The botanical exposition of the Natural History Museum in Plovdiv is arranged in a separate hall with an area of more than 100 m2. This is Bulgaria’s biggest and richest botanical collection. Herbarium. The beginning of the scientific herbarium of the museum was laid by a collection comprising some 6,400 leaves inherited from the French college in Plovdiv, involving mainly materials from other countries. Now, the herbarium contains more than 18,000 leaves classified in three collections: “Bulgarian flora” – approximately 10,000 leaves and plants mainly from South Bulgaria, “Foreign floras” - approximately 4,000 leaves, and “Striburny’s herbarium” – approximately 4,000 leaves. All the three collections have been scientifically arranged and made available to specialists. Some time ago, with a view to their better storing and using, the latter two collections were entrusted to the Institute of Botany at the Bulgarian Academy of Science. This is the biggest scientific herbarium within the system of Natural History Museums in Bulgaria that ranks forth in the country (among the herbariums of the Institute of Botany at the Bulgarian Academy of Science, the Faculty of Biology of “Sv. Kliment Ohridsky” Sofia University, and the Agrarian University - Plovdiv). Educational activity. This section has been developing a diverse educational activity among students, undergraduates, nature-lovers, and citizens. This includes specialized lectures and seminars, consultations on various issues related to botany and nature conservation, organization of exhibitions, publications in printed and electronic media, etc.