he William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources (WLBC) is dedicated to the study of useful plants, understanding the relationships between humans, plants, and their environment, and the conservation of plant species and preservation of traditional knowledge for the benefit of future generations.

The WLBC is committed to understanding human relationships with plants and their environment. At present, programs are underway in 12 countries scattered across four continents. Ethnobotanists at the WLBC strive to preserve local knowledge about plants and plant use, even as they work with indigenous peoples to promote sustainable use of existing resources. At the same time, the WLBC is committed to respecting the intellectual property rights of the holders of traditional knowledge. This attitude informs our discovery partnerships with collaborators in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and nutrition research aimed at the development of new drugs, crops, agrochemical, or dietary supplements. Finally, the medicinal plant programs at the WLBC work to develop methods to ensure that botanical ingredients of dietary supplements are correctly identified and characterized to promote high-quality products.

The illustration is from the 1586 edition of
The Gardener's Labyrinth by Thomas Hill.
(Run mouse over parts of the garden
to find out about some of the
projects underway at the WLBC.)

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 P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299
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