National Herbarium and Botanic Garden
Avondale
Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax: ['263 4 708938', '263 4 704543']
Web: http://www.experiencezimbabwe.com/experience/parks-reserves/botanical-gardens/national-herbarium-and-botanic-garden
Mr. Christopher Chapano
Email: cchapano@yahoo.co.uk
The National Herbarium and Botanic Garden is one of the research Institutes of the Department of Research and Specialist Services within the Research Services Division in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development. Its mandate is to conduct taxonomic research on the plants of Zimbabwe in order to promote its conservation, development and sustainable use.
The Institute is made up of the National Herbarium and the National Botanic Garden with an additional Mazowe Botanic Reserve that is situated in Christonbank. The National Herbarium houses dried plant specimens that are systematically and geographically arranged. These are continuously re-arranged following new publication (Flora Zambesiaca, Kew Bulletin, Monographs and others).
The National Herbarium houses at least 500,000 dried plant specimens with more than 3,000 types and at least 250 Endemic or near Endemic plant species.
Materials of Special Interest
- National Botanic Garden: Contains, in 62 ha, approximately 900 Zimbabwean trees and shrubs
- Desert House: A collection of plants from the arid areas of southern Africa
- The Herb Garden
- Aquatic Plants: Maintained in an artificial lake and pond.
- Economic Plants
- Orchids, Endemic/near endemic and threatened plant species.