imatge

Botanist of the month: Gerardo Stübing

Espores. La veu del Botànic

Interviews
Gerardo Stübing Martínez (Valencia, 1957) is a Valencian botanist, plastic artist, researcher and pharmacist of German origin. He says that his surname attracts attention and is easy to remember, but that, on the other hand, it is difficult for many people to write. A graduate and doctorate in Pharmacy, years ago he decided to graduate in Fine Arts from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where he is now doing a second doctorate. A professor of Botany for more than thirty years at the University of Valencia, he explains that he became interested in plants thanks to his father, who was a great fan and collector of cacti. He currently combines research in projects related to taxonomy with others on environmental management, medicinal plants and ethnobotany. Together with Alberto Guillén, a specialist in mycorrhizae, he is coordinating an innovative project on their use in crop improvement. He links all these research activities with other artistic and informative projects, but always under the guidance of his passion: plants.
imatge

The genus Aloe, much more than aloe vera

Carles Fabregat

Botanical classroomPlants
Our collaborator Carles Fabregat, botanist and collector of succulent plants, publishes a new article on the Alooideae subfamily and reveals new aspects about this botanical group so well known by plant lovers.
imatge

Modern Ikebana: the nageire style

Victoria Encinas

Art and natureGardening
Victoria Encinas brings us a new article on ikebana, an aesthetic creation, originally from Japan, which manages to transmit the essence of what is alive to those who contemplate it. The author, with a long career in the practice of this artistic discipline, describes the singularities of the nageire style, a form of ikebana made in cylindrical, simple, ceramic vessels, which gather beautiful textures, finishes and nuanced colours and which evokes nature, its past, present and future.
imatge

Nature to be less wild

Eva Pastor

Botanical Garden UV
Why is it that when someone blends in with nature they used to be called wild? Does contact with our natural environment distance us from civilisation or, on the contrary, does it add new values to us? In “Plantas contadas” we recommend three amusing stories and an essential magazine where the "wild" life is rich, inspiring and, of course, recommendable.
imatge

Valencia and Cagliari, an example for the Mediterranean

Stella López Ruiz

Botanical Garden UVGreen projects
Last 19th October, a conference was held to present the changes Valencia has made on its way to becoming more sustainable, with representatives of various associations taking part and putting forward numerous points of view. We analyse the most striking aspects of the meeting and talk to Jaime Güemes and Gianluigi Bacchetta, directors of the botanical gardens of the two finalist cities, to find out their feelings just days away from discovering the Green Capital 2022.
imatge

Art and nature in the CEIP La Pea for the Cartagena rockrose

Stella López Ruiz

Botanical classroomConservationEnvironmental education
At the beginning of 2020, the Jardí Botànic created the project "Bases for the conservation of the Cartagena rockrose (Cistus heterophyllus subsp. carthaginensis), a critically endangered species" with the aim of recovering one of the most endangered species in our country. As with all research projects, there is a part of the project that promotes environmental education, dissemination and citizen participation, which is why last spring the Jardí carried out a didactic intervention in the CEIP La Pea, in Vilamarxant, to make children aware of this situation and make them participate in it.
imatge

Botanist of the month: Ana Juan

Espores. La veu del Botànic

Interviews
From a very early age it was obvious to her that she wanted to live surrounded by nature. She liked to go out into the countryside and above all to know the name of every plant and tree. This passion led her to study and dedicate her life to botany. Professor and researcher at the University of Alicante, Ana Juan is our botanist of the month. Would you like to meet her?
imatge

Christmas trees, a tradition with a lot of history

Stella López Ruiz

Plants
When December arrives, every house is filled with the mythical icon of this time of year: the Christmas tree. But where does this tradition come from, has it always been like this?, does it have any meaning?, what does it symbolize?, what species are actually used? and, why did artificial ones start to be used? Along a journey through different cultures, we discover its history and understand the meaning of this well-known decorative element.
imatge

Botanist of the month: Ricardo Garilleti

Espores. La veu del Botànic

Interviews
His passion for botany awoke in the early years of his degree and, since then, he has not stopped travelling and researching in his main area of study, bryology. He is an expert in moss taxonomy and for him, he says, every new expedition is an adventure. He is concerned about the progressive loss of interest in plants that he observes in society. Professor at the University of Valencia and trainer of new generations of botanists, he tries to transmit to his students the need to be rigorous in what they do because "there are no short or easy ways". Ricardo Garilleti (Madrid, 1963) is our botanist of the month.
imatge

Plants and seasons in Ikebana

Victoria Encinas

Art and natureGardening
Victoria Encinas once again immerses us in the world of Ikebana, the ancient Japanese floral art which, through the careful combination of different plant species, manages to transmit the essence of the living to those who contemplate its creations. On this occasion she invites us to explore a new perspective on the relationship of this discipline with nature and the seasons of the year.
imatge

Botanist of the month: Josep Enric Oltra

Espores. La veu del Botànic

Interviews
Josep Enric Oltra, our botanist of the month, tells us how, since his childhood in a rural environment, nature and plants have been an essential part of his life, marking his path towards botany. After graduating in Biological Sciences, he began a professional career in which the management of micro-reserves and the study and conservation of protected flora have played a leading role. In addition, his commitment to scientific outreach has led him to publish books and articles on Valencian flora, ethnobiology and ethnonature.
imatge

Natural inspiration: recycled paper with seeds

BALADRE Crafting·Creativity

Art and natureEthnobotany
Our collaborator Baladre Crafting Creativity is back with a new creative and sustainable proposal: making recycled paper from seeds. If you've ever wondered how to go one step further towards sustainability and reuse, this article is just what you need. Learn step by step this method to turn waste paper into sheets full of life and possibilities.
imatge

III Biomarathon of Spanish flora of the Valencian Community

Noa Bernabé

Botanical classroomPlants
The Biomarathon is an annual citizen participation event where people from all over the country go out into the countryside to enjoy nature while photographing plants and learning about the plant biodiversity of our territory. This year a member of the Jardí Botànic team took part and told us first-hand about his experience in this activity that aims to promote knowledge, conservation and restoration of plant biodiversity.
Imatge
Botanists of the month

Botanist of the month: Susana Gómez

Espores. La veu del Botànic

Interviews
Fire ecology in Mediterranean ecosystems is Susana Gómez’s field of work, our botanist of the month. This researcher and university professor from Cadiz studies fire as an evolutionary force in plants, but also the imbalances in the natural regime of fires. Her antidote to it? To promote the biodiversity of the territory in order to increase the sustainability and resilience of our ecosystems, especially in the climate change context we are living in. For this reason, we invite her to participate along with other specialists in the talk called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMage7I57kE">Incendis forestals, comuns, però ¿evitables?</a> from the UV Jardí Botànic cycle Botànica des del sofà<em>,</em> highly recommended and available online. But today, February 11, the day of the science’s woman and girl, we in-depth interview this restless scientist, a travel lover who discovered her goal to become a botanist in Chile, Quillota Valley. We hope she will inspire our future women scientists.
imatge

Tossut: agroecology against the tide

Alejandra Adelantado

AgricultureGreen projects
In Espores we spoke with Héctor Carrió, the founder of the agroecological and sustainable company. A project against the current that has expanded its production to olive growing and viticulture of some Mediterranean varieties. A company that aims to recover the heritage of the Alicante mountains.
More articles