ИСТИНА

Principles of creation expositions that demonstrate the diversity of tropical plants from South and Southeast Asia Zolkin Sergey Y. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden RAS, Moscow, Russia In the tropical greenhouses of the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS) there are plants from different regions of the world, but most of all are species from South and Southeast Asia (more than 50%). It is noteworthy that many of them are plants from nature, obtained from biological expeditions and thanks to the cooperation with the Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center. Some plants (especially species of orchids) are preserved in the collection greenhouses. Other plants are presented in the exposition greenhouses. In the New Greenhouse of the MBG RAS, plant expositions are created, arranged both according to botanical and geographical principles, and related to the ecology of species. To demonstrate the richest in number of species and complex phytocenoses in South and Southeast Asia, the following scientific criteria were used: 1. Characteristic, or guiding species for each layer of the tropical forest from close phytogeographical provinces. They are also called landscape-important species. 2. Dominant species of native communities. 3. Endemic species. 4. Rare and endangered species. Close to the artificial river, moisture-loving plants were planted. Near the paths and in open areas of the exposition, preference was given to less moisture-loving species of the forest edge. Also, plant species useful for humans (fruit, medicinal, technical, ornamental) were planted near the paths - since the New Greenhouse provides for active future excursion services and scientific and educational activities in the future. In terms of ecology, the largest number of species of Asian plants are represented at expositions of lowland rain forests, a smaller number of species are represented at expositions of mountain forests and seashore plants.