- 8 - rich and it has been changed considerably in the cultivated part. The main associates of the real Colchic forest in the Garden are the species in common with Europe and most other regions of the Caucasus. Due to plant-introduction activities, the Garden has become rich in subtropical weeds which exist in various combina- tions with the local flora. In some places new coenoses have ap- peared, mainly of subtropical grasses. The introduced Caucasian species Parrotia persica C.A.Mey., Albizia julibrissin Durazz., Danae racemosa (L.) Moench, Rhododendron luteum Sweet, Staphylea colchica Stev., S.pinnata L., Punica granatum L., Quercus imere- tina Stev., Q.pontica C.Koch, Q.dshorochensis C.Koch,Q.macranthe- ra Fisch., Phillyrea medwedewii Sred., Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., Pinus sosnowskii Nakai, Juniperus pygmaea C.Koch, J.rufescens Link, Picea orientalis (L.) Link, Abies nordmanniana (Stev.)Spach. grow fairly successfully. With the purpose of replenishing the collection of tree, shrub and herb plants, the Garden has established close connec- tions with many botanical gardens and biological institutions in this country and abroad. Plants are brought mainly from the damp subtropical and warm temperate regions of the globe. In addition to the practical introduction of plant species that are valuable for the national economy of the USSR, scientific research is car- ried out in the Garden. There are five scientific departments:the plant introduction department, the botanical one, the subtropical plants-selection one, the floriculture and ornamental gardening one, and the biochemistry and physiology of plants department. The research program of the Garden is devoted to expanding the use of exotic plants in the national economy; to recognizing the distinctions between taxa that are similar morphologically by means of chemotaxonomic and cariological methods; to studying the physiological peculiarities of hibernation in exotic arboreal species; and to discovering new plant raw-materials. The Batumi Botanical Garden is the pioneer in the introduc- tion of such plants as geranium, silver wattle, Japan cedar, cam- phor tree, feijoa, tung-oil-tree, bamboo, different sorts of oran- ges, Japanese persimmon and others to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and their cultivation on a large scale.