Phragmites australis - large perennial grass
University of Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain, and the third oldest scientific garden in the world, was founded in 1621 as a physic garden growing plants for medicinal research. Today it contains over 8,000 different plant species on hectares (4½ acres). It is one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and includes representatives from over 90% of the higher plant families. In 1621, Sir Henry Danvers, the First Earl of Danby, contributed £5,000 (equivalent to £744,000 in 2005)[1] to set up a physic garden for "the glorification of the works of God and for the furtherance of learning". He chose a site on the banks of the River Cherwell at the northeast corner of Christ Church Meadow, belonging to Magdalen College. Part of the land had been a Jewish cemetery until the Jews were expelled from Oxford (and the rest of England) in 1290. The Garden comprises three sections: the Walled Garden, surrounded by the original seventeenth century stonework and home to the Garden's oldest tree, an English yew, Taxus baccata; the Glasshouses, which allow the cultivation of plants needing protection from the extremes of British weather; and the area outside the walled area between the Walled Garden and the River Cherwell.
Size: 5400px × 3587px
Location: Botanical garden, Oxford, UK
Photo credit: © lifestyleUK / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: australis, grass, green, large, perennial, phragmites, roofs, thatching, yellow
