Monogeneric botanic gardens as an important resource against genetic erosion

As mentioned in the GSPC strategy for ex situ conservation of endangered plants, man can influence their genomes and germoplasm conservation, also with vegetative propagation of entities (pure species, naturally hybrid origin species, hybrids) and, by naturally removing pollen, working as a pollinator. Therefore, the excellent work ex situ, carried out at International level for over 50 years by the Società Italiana dell’Iris, Florence, demonstrates the important task of Botanic Gardens, in this case monogeneric, in obstructing, also through formation of hybrids, genetic erosion, preserving and increasing biodiversity, even as a phase to be followed by further in situ conservation.