Botanical gardens mainly serve the purpose of providing

Options

A. beautiful area for recreation
B. reservoir for tropical plants
C. ex situ conservation of germplasm
D. natural habitat for wildlife.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Botanical Gardens**: Botanical gardens are specialized gardens that focus on the collection, cultivation, and display of a wide range of plants labeled with their botanical names. They are often used for scientific research, education, and conservation purposes.

2. **Identifying the Purpose**: The main purposes of botanical gardens include:
- Providing a beautiful area for recreation.
- Serving as a reservoir for tropical plants.
- Facilitating ex-situ conservation of germplasm.
- Offering a natural habitat for wildlife.

3. **Analyzing Each Option**:
- **Beautiful area for recreation**: While botanical gardens do provide recreational spaces, this is not their primary purpose.
- **Reservoir for tropical plants**: Botanical gardens may have tropical plants, but they are not solely focused on this aspect.
- **Ex-situ conservation of germplasm**: This refers to the conservation of plant species outside their natural habitats, which is a significant function of botanical gardens. They play a crucial role in preserving endangered plant species.
- **Natural habitat for wildlife**: Although some wildlife may inhabit botanical gardens, they are not primarily designed to serve as natural habitats.

4. **Conclusion**: After analyzing the options, the most accurate answer is that botanical gardens mainly serve the purpose of providing **ex-situ conservation of germplasm**.

**Final Answer**: The correct option is **ex-situ conservation of germplasm**.

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