Arboretum national des Barres
Encyclopedia
The Arboretum national des Barres (35 hectares) is a national arboretum
located in Nogent-sur-Vernisson
, Loiret
, Centre, France
. It is open daily in the warmer months; an admission fee is charged.
The Domaine des Barres (283 hectares) was purchased in 1821 by Philippe André de Vilmorin
for his studies in forestry
. At that time it was almost entirely barren of trees, but Vilmorin planted today's extensive forest, primarily of Pinus sylvestris, P. laricio, and P. pinaster, as well as American oak
s. In 1866 his heirs sold 67 hectares to the nation, on which was established a forestry school, and in 1873 Constant Gouet, the arboretum's first director, began the geographic collection on 3 hectares. The Vilmorin family continued to be actively involved, particularly Maurice de Vilmorin, whose fruit
tree collection was in 1921 given to the state following his death. Director Léon Pardé greatly expanded the arboretum between 1919-1934, primarily by addition of specimens from the Far East
. Systematic collections and an ornamental collection were begun in 1894 and 1941 respectively. The arboretum opened to the public in 1984 and in 2003 was designated a Jardin Remarquable by the French ministry of culture.
Today the arboretum contains about 8,000 specimens representing 2,700 species
and varieties; it describes itself as one of the most complete European collections and one of the top ten arboreta in the world. Its extensive collections include oak
s (109 species), hawthorn
s (92), maple
s (85), spruce
s (57), pine
s (54), and fir
s (44). Major sections of the arboretum are as follows:
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
located in Nogent-sur-Vernisson
Nogent-sur-Vernisson
Nogent-sur-Vernisson is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France.It has a population of approximately 2,000. The main employer in the town is the CIMRG plant which manufactures components for Renault cars and employs some 800 people....
, Loiret
Loiret
Loiret is a department in north-central FranceThe department is named after the river Loiret, a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is located wholly within the department.- History :...
, Centre, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is open daily in the warmer months; an admission fee is charged.
The Domaine des Barres (283 hectares) was purchased in 1821 by Philippe André de Vilmorin
Philippe André de Vilmorin
Pierre-Philippe-André Levêque de Vilmorin , more commonly known as Philippe André de Vilmorin, was a notable French horticulturist....
for his studies in forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
. At that time it was almost entirely barren of trees, but Vilmorin planted today's extensive forest, primarily of Pinus sylvestris, P. laricio, and P. pinaster, as well as American oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s. In 1866 his heirs sold 67 hectares to the nation, on which was established a forestry school, and in 1873 Constant Gouet, the arboretum's first director, began the geographic collection on 3 hectares. The Vilmorin family continued to be actively involved, particularly Maurice de Vilmorin, whose fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
tree collection was in 1921 given to the state following his death. Director Léon Pardé greatly expanded the arboretum between 1919-1934, primarily by addition of specimens from the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
. Systematic collections and an ornamental collection were begun in 1894 and 1941 respectively. The arboretum opened to the public in 1984 and in 2003 was designated a Jardin Remarquable by the French ministry of culture.
Today the arboretum contains about 8,000 specimens representing 2,700 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and varieties; it describes itself as one of the most complete European collections and one of the top ten arboreta in the world. Its extensive collections include oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
s (109 species), hawthorn
Crataegus
Crataegus , commonly called hawthorn or thornapple, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The name hawthorn was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe,...
s (92), maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
s (85), spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
s (57), pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s (54), and fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
s (44). Major sections of the arboretum are as follows:
- Geographic collections (established 1873) - trees grouped by place of origin. Euro-American collection has the oldest and largest specimens, including SequoiaSequoiaSequoia sempervirens is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae . Common names include coast redwood, California redwood, and giant redwood. It is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious tree living 12001800 years or more...
s and ThujaThujaThuja is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae . There are five species in the genus, two native to North America and three native to eastern Asia...
; Asian collection is noteworthy for its mapleMapleAcer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
s.
- Systematic collections (established 1894) - trees and shrubs grouped by botanical classification. Includes azaleaAzaleaAzaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
, davidia, magnoliaMagnoliaMagnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, wisteriaWisteriaWisteria is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, that includes ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern United States and to China, Korea, and Japan. Aquarists refer to the species Hygrophila difformis, in the family Acanthaceae, as Water Wisteria...
, etc.
- Ornamental collection (established 1941) - ornamental plants, including twisted beechBeechBeech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
es, weeping cedarAtlas CedarCedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco . A majority of the modern sources treat it as a distinct species Cedrus atlantica, but some sources consider it a subspecies of Lebanon Cedar Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to...
s and sequoiaSequoiaSequoia sempervirens is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae . Common names include coast redwood, California redwood, and giant redwood. It is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious tree living 12001800 years or more...
s, and creeping varieties of juniperJuniperJunipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
.
See also
- Arboretum de PézaninArboretum de PézaninThe Arboretum de Pézanin is an arboretum located in Dompierre-les-Ormes, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne, France.The arboretum was established in 1903 by Joseph-Marie-Philippe Lévêque de Vilmorin , owner of Château d'Audour. Between 1903 and 1923, over 1100 species were planted, but it then fell into a...
- Arboretum VilmorinArboretum VilmorinThe Arboretum Vilmorin is a private arboretum located at 2 rue d'Estienne d'Orves, Verrières-le-Buisson, Essonne, Île-de-France, France. It is open by appointment only...
- List of botanical gardens in France