W. J. Beal Botanical Garden

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United States of America - Michigan - East Lansing

Institution Code: MSC

BGCI Member: Yes

A quiet corner of WJ Beal Botanical Garden in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University.
A quiet corner of WJ Beal Botanical Garden in East Lansing, Michigan on the campus of Michigan State University.

About the W. J. Beal Botanical Garden

Reflecting the philosophy of a land-grant institution, the W. J. Beal Botanical Garden is an outdoor laboratory engaged in teaching, collection development, research, conservation and public service. These activities focus on a theme of natural plant diversity, economic botany, ecology and plant conservation with emphasis on the Great Lakes region.

Main Address:
W. J. Beal Botanical Garden
Michigan State University
412 Olds Hall
East Lansing
Michigan 48824-1047 United States of America

Telephone: (517) 355-9582
Fax: (517) 336-1090
URL: www.cpp.msu.edu/beal
Primary Email: wjbeal@cpa.msu.edu

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Dr. Alan Prather (Interim)
    Curator's Name: Dr. Alan Prather (Interim)
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Peter Carrington, Collections Manager
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 4
    Educational Staff Number: 1
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 2

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Private: No
    Status: State: No
    Status: Educational: Yes
    Status: Municipal: No
    Status: Satellite: No
    Status: Trust: No
  • Date founded: 1873
  • Physical Data
  • Natural Vegetation Area: Yes
  • Landscaped Area: Yes
  • Total Area: 2 Hectares
    Latitude: 42.7318382
    Longitude: -84.4844804
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres

Features and Facilities

  • Herbarium: No
    Arboretum: Yes
  • Micropropagation/ Tissue Culture Facilities: No
    Seed Bank: No
    Published Plant Catalogue: No
    Computer Plant Record System: Yes
  • Open to public: Yes
    Friends society: No
    Retail Outlet: Shop: No
    Retail Outlet: Plant Sales: No
    Disabled access: Yes

Plant Collections

  • Cultivation Taxa Num: 3000
  • Special Collections:Systematic collection, economic plants collection (medicinal plants, poisonous and other injurious plants, flavoring plants, weeds, vegetables, honey plants, fiber plants, perfume plants, dye plants), weed collection, ecological collection
  • Invasive Species Monitoring: Yes
    Invasive Species Policy: No
    ABS Policy: No
    Plant Collection Policy: Yes

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Medicinal Plant Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: No
    Reintroduction Programme: No

Research Programmes

  • Biotechnology: No
    Plant Breeding: No
    Conservation - Biology: Yes
    Conservation - Genetics: Yes
    Data Management Systems and Information Technology: Yes
    Ecology: Yes
    Ecosystem Conservation: Yes
    Education: Yes
    Ethnobotany: Yes
    Exploration: No
    Floristics: Yes
    Horticulture: Yes
    Invasive Species Biology and Control: Yes
    Molecular Genetics: Yes
    Pollination Biology: Yes
    Restoration Ecology: Yes
    Seed/Spore Biology: Yes
    Systematics and Taxonomy: Yes
    Sustainability: Yes
    Pharmacology: No
    Agriculture: Yes
    Land Restoration: Yes
    Urban Environments: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Visitor/Education Centre: No
    Education Signs in Garden: Yes
    Public Lectures/Talks: Yes
    Education Booklets/Leaflets: Yes
    Guided Tours: Yes
    Permanent Public Displays: Yes
    Special Exhibitions: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Courses for University/College Students: Yes
    Courses for General Public: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes