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On 16 October, Meise Botanic Garden had the pleasure of welcoming Mrs Linda Donnelly and her daughter Karen, who had travelled especially from Canada, as well as Mr Luc Van den Brande, a resident of Meise and former employee of the Garden, who was at the origin of this rather special visit. They were accompanied by Mrs Ludwine De Vreught, great-granddaughter of Joseph and granddaughter of Frans De Vreught.
The day offered an opportunity to delve into a family past closely linked to the history of the royal estate, at a time when it was occupied by H.R.H. Princess Charlotte of Belgium, sister of King Leopold II.
Although Ludwine never knew her great-grandfather Joseph, steward of Empress Charlotte’s household from 1918 to 1927, who later continued to occupy the service house at the main entrance to the Bouchout estate until 1938, she retains vivid memories of her grandfather Frans, who remained caretaker of the estate after Charlotte’s death in 1927 until 1962. She recalls with emotion the years of her childhood spent with her grandparents in what she called “her immense garden”, where she played, rode her bicycle and went boating on the pond, despite the strict prohibition. Linda and Karen, for their part, are descendants of Lucia, Joseph’s sister.
A family anecdote also resurfaced: Princess Charlotte was said to be very demanding when it came to the cleanliness of the estate, ensuring that no dead leaves were left on the paths. At the time, many villagers worked at the castle.
Through these memories and testimonies, the estate remains a living place of remembrance and transmission, where family history meets that of the heritage.
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Meise Botanic Garden participates in the reintroduction of Arnica in the French Ardennes
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On 6 November, a team from Meise Botanic Garden traveled to the French Ardennes, in the Rocroi region, to help plant several hundred montain arnica (Arnica montana) plants. This operation marks the culmination of an ambitious reintroduction project led by several French partners.
In Champagne-Ardenne, Arnica montana now survives only in the northern Ardennes, where it is considered critically endangered. The gradual disappearance of its natural habitats is due to agricultural intensification and reforestation.
The project benefits from the experience gained in a similar programme carried out about ten years ago under the LIFE Herbages Programme, which aimed to strengthen Arnica populations in southern Belgium. The seeds used for the reintroduction in France were collected from these now-thriving Walloon populations, whose genetic analyses showed they are closely related to the populations of the French Ardennes. The sowing and propagation of the plants were carried out from these seeds at Meise Botanic Garden and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris (MNHN).
In total, nearly 2,000 young Arnica plants were planted across two sites. This operation is an example of cross-border cooperation, combining scientific rigor with hands-on commitment. In a few years, these iconic Ardennes landscapes will once again be adorned with carpets of Arnica.
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A key species for the future of coffee rediscovered
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A team of researchers from Meise Botanic Garden, together with KULeuven and Congolese partners, has just published a major study in Annals of Botany dedicated to Coffea dactylifera, a wild coffee species rediscovered after more than half a century without field observations. The study shows that C. dactylifera is genetically close to Arabica coffee. This relationship marks it as a potential useful candidate for breeding programmes, at a time when cultivated coffee plants are increasingly exposed to extreme climatic conditions.
“This species sits at the crossroads of key lineages within the genus Coffea,” explains An-Sofie Tas, researcher at Meise Botanic Garden and first author of the study. “Understanding its genetic characteristics could help us develop more resilient coffee plants in the decades ahead.”
Occurring in the hot, lowland forests of Central Africa, where seasonality is low, C. dactylifera shows a compact growth and its leaf traits appear promising for drought resistance . However, from an agronomic perspective, its productivity remains low, notably due to the small size of its seeds. Despite this low productivity, its beans reveal an unexpectedly sweet flavour, with notes of brown sugar and a syrupy texture.
“This rediscovery reminds us just how precious the wild coffee species of Central Africa are,” the researchers conclude. “They may hold some of the key traits essential for the coffee sector to adapt to a changing climate.” |
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The Education Team goes digital!
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Since this autumn, Meise Botanic Garden has been offering digital treasure hunts for school classes using the Baludik app. Through interactive GPS trails, students embark on adventures in the Garden, exploring biodiversity, geography, and even the secrets of Princess Charlotte. It’s a fun and engaging way to raise young people’s awareness and help them appreciate nature even more.
For example, try the exciting investigation “False Alarm in the Garden: The Ecologists’ Case!” A mysterious AI-generated video sparks panic, and it’s up to the students, as real researchers, to uncover the fake news. By searching for clues, solving puzzles, and exploring the Garden, they discover the essential role of biodiversity and the interactions between living beings and their environment.
Accessible from secondary school onwards. Price: €25 per class (maximum 25 students). Duration: 2 hours. |
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A successful edition of Science Day!
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In November, Meise Botanic Garden once again hosted Science Day in the Groene Ark. They joined forces with other Flemish Scientific Institutions (VWI’s). This year’s theme was “Science in a Book”. As part of this, Frederik Leliaert (Director of the Herbarium and Library) gave visitors an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the library. Guests were able to admire the magnificent collection of botanical illustrations and archival documents accumulated over the centuries.
In the Green Ark, visitors could watch our botanical illustrators Liliane Tytens and Omer Van de Kerckhove at work, and even take their first steps using a drawing microscope. The other VWI’s also focused on engaging interactions with the public: The Heritage Agency showed how archaeological finds can be “read” using X-rays, while the Flemish Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries, and Food Research (ILVO) invited visitors to guess which fruits and vegetables were in ice creams and smoothies. The Research Institute for Nature and Forests (INBO) highlighted their new Bird Atlas with a workshop on bird illustration and a scavenger hunt in the Plant Palace. Finally, visitors could test their skills in safely navigating a boat into a harbor using the simulator from the Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory.
Together, these activities engaged nearly 650 visitors in science, and the organizers look forward to welcoming even more participants in future editions. |
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Heliamphoras (Heliamphora) are perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the family Sarraceniaceae. All plants in this family grow on soils that are extremely poor in nutrients and, to survive, supplement their diet with animal prey: they are carnivorous plants. With their stationary pitchers, they capture anything small enough to fall into the tube: mainly insects, but also snails, frogs, and more.
The genus Heliamphora includes at least 18 species, all endemic to the table-top mountains – the tepuis – of the southern tropical regions of South America. According to local populations, these are the abodes of the gods: isolated and (almost) inaccessible sandstone plateaus, located at the border between Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana. They form a unique ecosystem, where Heliamphoras literally live in the clouds. A more literal translation of the genus name would be “marsh urn plant”: in Greek, hêlos–amphora means “urn of the marshes.”
Heliamphoras have the most primitive pitchers of all pitcher plants. From their rhizome, they form acaulescent rosettes, meaning they have no visible stem, with leaves ranging from a few centimeters to 50 cm in height. They grow in dense clumps. Most species have green leaves (pitchers), rolled longitudinally and fused along the edges, forming vertical, tube-shaped pitchers. A characteristic feature of the green pitchers is the red coloring of the veins, margins, parts of the lamina, and a small red “nectar spoon” at the top of the midrib. Unlike other Sarraceniaceae genera, they do not have a true lid; to prevent the pitchers from becoming too heavy, excess rainwater drains through an opening in the edge of the lamina. Attracted by nectar, insects slip along downward-pointing hairs and inevitably fall into the pitcher, where they drown. Symbiotic bacteria digest the prey, and the plant absorbs this nutrient-rich “soup.”
The flowering stalks, bearing several flowers, rise well above and away from the pitchers to prevent valuable pollinators from falling into the trap.
Heliamphora minor and H. heterodoxa, examples of these unique carnivorous plants, can be seen in the Plant Palace, at the heart of the “Cloud Forest” greenhouse. |
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In the Garden Shop at the Impératrice Charlotte entrance, you'll find unique products and plants inspired by nature.
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Visit our Shop and discover the perfect ideas for your end-of-year gifts, suitable for all ages, budgets, and interests: for children, garden enthusiasts, coffee lovers, gardeners, or foodies.
You can choose from local products, such as artisanal jams or wines from the Botanic Garden, books, plush toys, packets of flower seeds, and a wide selection of plants, including seasonal hellebores… Can’t decide among all these wonderful options? Then go for a gift voucher. This voucher can be used to pay online or at the counter for tickets, workshops, guided tours, and purchases in the Garden Shop.
Good news: our Shop is accessible at any time during opening hours, even without visiting the Botanic Garden. Don’t hesitate to come and pay us a visit! |
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Discover the handmade Haws watering cans, from the world’s oldest watering can manufacturer (since 1886). Elegant and made of galvanized steel, they combine timeless design, exceptional durability, and functionality. Crafted with great expertise in the United Kingdom, they are built to last for many years – with a 5-year guarantee.
Price: from €38
For sale at the Garden Shop.
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(c) Meise Botanic Garden
Contributors to this issue: Lander Blommaert, Éline Botte, Marie Despiegelaere, Koen Es, Franck Hidvégi, Frederik Leliaert, Min Pauwels, Barbara Puttemans, Filip Vandelook, Manon van Hoye.
Musa is produced by the Education Department.
Editor in chief: Koen Es
If you would also like to receive Musa, click here.
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