In Mikhailovsky Garden, flowering of Forsythia continues. And although the garden is closed to visitors, one curtain of this shrub is located close to the fence along Sadovaya Street and is clearly visible. If you are walking or following this route, then stop and admire the bright yellow flowers that cover all the shoots of the plant.

The shrub looks really chic, because it blooms before the leaves bloom and nothing prevents you from admiring the flowers. It is not surprising that this particular plant was brought from China by the Scot, William Forsyth, who worked as a gardener in Kensington Gardens. It was a species of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl – drooping Forsythia.

We continue the online course on botanical taxonomy. Attentive readers already understand that the abbreviation “Vahl” means a botanist who has given the name this name. This was done in 1804 by the Danish botanist and zoologist Martin Val, and gave his generic name in honor of William Forsyth. Then what does the abbreviation in parentheses mean? It’s simple, it turned out that back in 1784, the Swedish naturalist Karl Thunberg described this species and gave it the name Syringa suspensa Thunb. Thunberg attributed this unknown plant back in Europe to the genus Syringa, which means lilac. And Val corrected his colleague, proving that the plant belongs to a different genus of the same Olive family. So it turned out a confusing afterword.

Two types of forsythia grow in the Mikhailovsky Garden: F. europaea Degen et Bald. (F. European) and F. ovata Nakai (F. oval). Moreover, Forsythia is European, although its homeland of the Balkan Mountains was described only in 1898, much later than the species from Asia. Two botanists Arpad von Degen and Antonio Baldachchi did this simultaneously, therefore the abbreviation “et” (&) appears, which means “and”. In the name of the second species, “Nakai” means the Japanese scientist Takenoshin Nakai, who described this plant in 1917.

For gardeners, of course, this is not so important. The main thing is that Forsythia grow well and bloom profusely. Naturally, the best spring decoration of the garden is difficult to find.
We remind you that the garden is closed to visitors, but those who can, admire the flowering bushes through the fence, and we are waiting for the rest next spring.

In the meantime, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

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