The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin, are hosting the Fourth Global Botanic Gardens Congress June 13 through 18, 2010. (The congress is held only once every three years.)

Ireland’s botanic gardens, founded in 1795, include more than 17,000 plant species and cultivars from a variety of habitats from around the world. They’re known for historic glasshouses, notably the Turner Curvilinear Range and the Great Palm House (both recipients of the Europa Nostra award for excellence in conservation architecture). The National Botanic Gardens include Ireland’s National Herbarium and extensive library and botanical art collections.

Conservation plays an important role in the life of the botanic garden, and the Glasnevin gardens are home to over 300 endangered plant species from around the world including six species, which are already extinct in the wild. (Pictured is the Abutilon pitcairnense, one of those thought to be extinct.)