Bougainvillea: The Woman Who Discovered Its Secret
At the end of the 18th century, disguised as a man, the botanist Jeanne Barret was the first woman to circumnavigate the world. In Brazil, she contributed to the discovery of bougainvillea, a plant that is now emblematic of the Mediterranean.
The story of the discovery by Europeans of bougainvillea – or bougainvillea -, a luxuriant and colorful plant, is closely linked to that of an exceptional woman: the botanist jeanne Barret, the first woman to have circumnavigated the world, by sail given the time. A feat all the more incredible since,to achieve it,Jeanne Barret had to disguise herself as a man.
Traces of this incredible discovery are now preserved in the herbarium of the Geneva Botanical Garden, as its director Nicola Schönenberger told in the audio series “The herbarium tells” of the Italian Swiss Radio (RSI).
The incredible story of Jeanne Barret
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![View of the village with white houses of Sidi Bou Saïd, in Tunisia, with a red bougainvillea. [Hemis via AFP - CAVIGLIA DENIS HEMIS.FR]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2026/image/c5gwnd-29110805.image?mw=640 "View of the village with white houses of Sidi Bou Saïd, in Tunisia, with a red bougainvillea. [Hemis via AFP - CAVIGLIA DENIS HEMIS.FR]")
We are in the second half of the 18th century, a period when Europeans explored the world during epic ocean voyages. alongside their colonization ambitions, passionate scientists, eager to study the riches of the “New world”, embarked on the expeditions of European navigators.
The scientific community had well understood the abundance of botanical species to collect, catalog and analyze.In France, Philibert Commerson was one of the most active botanists. As a scholar, he settled in Paris and became an active botanist at the Royal garden of Medicinal Plants, the future National Museum of Natural history.
In the mid-1760s he hired Jeanne Barret as his assistant. Little is known of her early life, except that she enjoyed a strong reputation as an expert on local plants and their medicinal properties, a
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Switzerland’s Federal Council Announces 2024 Budget
The Swiss federal Council approved a budget for 2024 totaling CHF 76.6 billion, representing a nominal increase of 3.4% compared to the previous year, but a real decrease of 0.8% when adjusted for inflation. Swiss Federal Council
This budget prioritizes spending in areas such as healthcare, education, and security, while also aiming for fiscal stability and reducing the national debt. The Federal Council emphasized the need for budgetary discipline considering economic uncertainties.
For example, spending on healthcare is projected to increase by 4.6% to CHF 63.4 billion in 2024, reflecting the rising costs of medical services and an aging population.Federal Statistical Office
Key Spending Areas and Changes
The 2024 budget allocates meaningful funds to several key areas,with notable changes in spending levels. The largest expenditure remains social security and insurance, followed by healthcare and education. Swiss Federal Council
- social Security and Insurance: CHF 31.8 billion (increase of 2.7%)
- Healthcare: CHF 63.4 billion (increase of 4.6%)
- Education and Research: CHF 16.2 billion (increase of 2.1%)
- Defense: CHF 5.6 billion (increase of 8.4%) – reflecting increased geopolitical tensions. Swiss federal Council
The increase in defense spending is a direct response to the evolving security landscape in Europe, particularly the war in Ukraine. The Federal Council aims to strengthen Switzerland’s defense capabilities and maintain its neutrality.
Debt and Fiscal Outlook
Switzerland’s federal debt is projected to remain relatively stable in 2024, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of around 27.1%. Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council aims to reduce the national debt over the medium term through a combination of spending cuts and revenue increases.However,the fiscal outlook remains uncertain due to global economic headwinds and potential risks to Switzerland’s export-oriented economy.
As of December 2023,Switzerland’s public debt amounted to CHF 238.4 billion. Federal Statistical Office
Political Context and Approval Process
The budget proposal was developed by the Federal Council and then submitted to Parliament for approval. The budget underwent scrutiny by parliamentary committees before being voted on by the full Parliament. Swiss Parliament
The budget’s approval reflects a broad consensus among the major political parties on the need for fiscal responsibility and strategic investments in key areas. However,there were some disagreements over specific spending priorities,particularly regarding defense and environmental protection.
The final budget was approved by the National Council on December 15, 2023, and by the Council of States on December 19, 2023. national Council press Release,