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New York Metropolitan Flora Project

While most of the botanical community concentrates on tracking the threats to biodiversity in the tropics, scientists at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are undertaking the most comprehensive study ever of the plant biodiversity in metropolitan New York. (See map.) Studying the vegetation changes in highly populated areas is critical to understanding the future of life in our rapidly urbanizing world.

Collecting Seeds

BBG scientists demonstrate seed collecting in the Native Flora Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Metropolitan Plant Encyclopedia

Photos, descriptions, maps and more

What Plants Grow Where

Lists of plants growing near you

Bibliography

Search over 13,000 references on metropolitan plants

Interactive Keys for New York State and Metropolitan Area

Download keys for your computer or your PDA.

Be A NYMF Volunteer!

How you can help

Comments or suggestions should be emailed to New York Metropolitan Flora Project.

More About the New York Metropolitan Flora Project

In 1990 the Garden embarked on the New York Metropolitan Flora project (NYMF), a multi-year effort to document the flora in all counties within a 50-mile radius of New York City, including all of Long Island, southeastern New York State, northern New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Understanding the urban landscape is critical in our rapidly urbanizing world. Findings of BBG's Metropolitan Flora Project serve as vital references for those involved in environmental efforts, from preserving rare plants, to planning parks and greenways, to repairing degraded habitats, to designing home gardens in which native plant communities are preserved or restored.

Past and present major funding for the New York Metropolitan Flora project is provided by the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Eppley Foundation, Hudson River Watershed Foundation, New York Biodiversity Research Institute.

Disclaimer: The information provided in these pages is for reference and historical use. We do not recommend nor do we condone the use of any of these species for food, medicinal or other purposes without first consulting a physician or other qualified person. If you believe you have been poisoned contact the Poison Control Office near you. Look for the number in the telephone book; it is usually listed in the front.