Geobotany and Phytogeography

The Geobotany and Phytogeography research group was established in 2003 by Dr. Eduardo Martínez Carretero, Dr. Antonio Dalmasso, and the Tech. Dario Bustamante. It is academically related to the National University of San Juan (Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences College) and the National University of Cuyo (Natural Sciences College).

The group is composed of researchers, teachers, support professionals, technicians, and students.

Members of the group are responsible for the edition of the Scientific Extension Bulletin, the Experimentia Journal (ISSN 1853-905X), the Multequina Latin American Journal of Natural Resources (ISSN 0327-9375), and the Scientific Monographs.

• Plant Ecology and Biogeography. Geobotany and biological diversity of the Central Andes.
• Biogeography of the Central Andes of Argentina, Payunia, and Monte: Study of the vegetation of Andean deserts in Argentina.  Plant cartography.
•  Urban ecology – Urban green.
•  Ecological restoration of impacted areas.
• Xeriscape. Landscaping, and reproduction of native plants from arid and semi-arid environments

• Evolution of the vegetation of the central-western and southern Argentina. Plant-environment relationship. Historical biogeography, phylogeny.
• Plant taxonomy.

Ruíz Leal Herbarium and Microscopy room – Database

E-mail: herbariomerl@mendoza-conicet.gob.ar

Curator: Dr. Eduardo Martínez Carretero, co-responsible Eng. Lorena Bonjour / Dr. Bertilde Rossi / Tech. Graciela Mónaco

The Ruíz Leal Herbarium is internationally registered under the acronym MERL (Mendoza Ruíz Leal) in the INDEX  Herbarium and is one of the largest botanical collections in western Argentina. Currently, the Herbarium has a total of 83,000 collected specimens. Of the total specimens, 66,000 were already processed and about 17,000 will be processed and added to the collection promptly. Around 400 plant holotypes are preserved there, including native and exotic specimens. Information about the collection is available on worldwide databases such as GBIF/SNDB (Global Biodiversity Information Facility/National Biological Data System) and Documenta Flora Australis (IBODA). 

Ruíz Leal Herbarium also stored urban plant species from the center-west of Argentina with more than 1,700 recorded specimens. It has an especial room equipped with microscopes for performing taxonomic identifications.

Silvio Meglioli Cactus Collection 

Curator Dr. Roberto Kiesling, co-responsible Eng. Lorena Bonjour / Tech. Graciela Mónaco

The cactus collection is composed of specimens collected by Silvio Meglioli in the province of San Juan, Argentina and it also preserves additional material collected by Omar Ferrari and Roberto Kiesling. It reaches more than 250 species of native as also exotic cacti and includes relevant species of Aizoaceae, Crassulaceae, and Aloaceae families among others.

Ruíz Leal Library

Co-responsible: Prof. Cecilia Scoones

The Ruíz Leal library is one of the most complete places in the central-west part of the country with many books and scientific journal collections. It houses the main national and international botanical publications and has more than 5,000 reprints. It housed other specific books and journals on subjects such as forestry and geological publications together with an important collection of topographic maps of the arid and semi-arid regions of Argentina at different scales.

Scientific Drawing and Design Area

Co-responsible: Prof. Cecilia Scoones.

In this area, botanical illustrations are made mostly for the Flora of Mendoza, in addition to supporting other national projects (Flora Argentina).

Experimental area, Greenhouse, and Nursery (G y F)

Co-responsible: Dr. Marcela Ontivero / Tech. Dario Bustamante. 

The greenhouse covers an area of 0.2 ha placed in the greenhouse (87 m2), the nursery (820 m2), and the environmental adaptation area (1093 m2). Native plants are produced for experimentation in the laboratory and they are later used in restoration processes or xeric landscaping tasks.