BOTANICAL GARDENS

Options

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

Answer

### 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 serve multiple purposes, including education, research, and conservation.

2. **Purpose of Botanical Gardens**:
- The primary purpose of botanical gardens is to promote the study of plant diversity and to conserve plant species. They provide a living collection of plants that can be used for educational purposes and research.

3. **Ex Situ Conservation**:
- One of the key functions of botanical gardens is ex situ conservation. This refers to the conservation of plant species outside their natural habitats. By cultivating plants in controlled environments, botanical gardens help protect species that may be threatened or endangered in the wild.

4. **Evaluating the Options**:
- **Option A**: Beautiful area for recreation - While botanical gardens can be beautiful and serve as recreational areas, this is not their primary purpose.
- **Option B**: Reservoir for tropical plants - This is too narrow a definition, as botanical gardens encompass a wide variety of plants, not just tropical ones.
- **Option C**: Ex situ conservation of germplasm - This accurately describes one of the main functions of botanical gardens.
- **Option D**: Natural habitat for wildlife - Botanical gardens are not natural habitats; they are managed environments.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the evaluation of the options, the correct answer is **Option C**, as botanical gardens primarily serve as sites for ex situ conservation of germplasm.