Best regards,
Jan Soenen

How many kinds of plants are there in the world? 100,000? One million? Several million?

Well now we know, or at least have an excellent handle on the number, with the completion of a comprehensive list of the world’s plants: http://www.theplantlist.org/

Colleagues of The Morton Arboretum at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden have collaborated to prepare The Plant List, completion of which was announced yesterday. See the following for more information:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342699/Kew-Gardens-lists-plant-planet-huge-database-1-25million-names.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.kew.org/news/plant-list-complete.htm

http://www.mobot.org/events/Assets/10195ThePlantList.pdf

The Plant List includes 300,000 accepted names for plant species, 480,000 synonym names of those species, and another 260,000 plant names that are unresolved without “sufficient evidence to decide if they should be accepted names or synonyms.” The list of 1.25 million plant names also includes 200,000 recognized botanical varieties and other sub-species categories.

So, how many of the 300,000 known plant species are trees?

We asked our friends at Kew, but they told us it’s a difficult question to answer. Surprisingly, the problem lies in the definition of a tree. Perennial plants that produce wood tissue take on many life forms that intergrade from vines to shrubs to trees.

Most estimates suggest that there are about 100,000 species of trees, but we may be getting closer to an actual count of the number of tree species, not just a coarse estimate.

Mr. Joy Morton, one of our country’s early environmentalists and founder of The Morton Arboretum, continued his family legacy and envisioned a place dedicated to trees – an outdoor museum that would collect trees, learn about them and share knowledge about them. In doing so, it would be a place where people would marvel at nature’s beauty, be inspired and rejuvenated. With the establishment of The Morton Arboretum in 1922, his vision took root.

Today, The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned leader in tree science and education, working to save and plant trees. The influence of the Arboretum is felt near and far.

Each year, more than 780,000 visitors enjoy the Arboretum’s magnificent trees and beautiful landscapes. Members and guests come to stroll, bicycle or drive through scenic vistas on 1,700 acres and take delight in the Maze Garden and award-winning Children’s Garden. The 32,000 members have an open invitation every day of the year to experience the Arboretum as it transforms throughout the seasons.

May Watts, a leading history educator and enthusiastic tree advocate, started the Arboretum’s Education Program and 1940. Like her, Arboretum instructors today instill a passion for nature in children and adults. From Summer Science Camps for kids to college-level instruction to adult certificate programs and seminars, The Morton Arboretum grows as many tree-huggers as possible!

Internationally, scientists access the Arboretum’s research data and expertise. The Morton Arboretum team has led statewide efforts to combat the emerald ash borer and has developed disease-resistant elm hybrids. More than 17,000 people annually seek the advice of the Plant Clinic, and the Community Trees Program serves 270 area communities. The Arboretum also partners with the City of Chicago on key greening initiatives and models and recommends woodland conservation practices.

The vision, wisdom and generosity of Joy Morton set the stage for generations of tree stewards, like you – our members, donors and supporters - who allow The Morton Arboretum to thrive and who help create a greener, healthier and more beautiful world.

View landscape plans from our “Design Challenge” designers, plant lists from our Morton Arboretum Speakers, and a hefty resource list that will provide you with enough books, articles and websites to keep you busy until next year’s symposium rolls around! You can also view photographs of this year’s activities. The site is being updated daily, so stop by and check it out… you won’t be sorry!