The Jardin des Plantes is the largest botanical garden in France. It is part of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (National Museum of Natural History). The botanical garden derives its name from the "Jardin Royal des plantes médicinaux", founded in 1626 and opened to the public in 1640, also known at the time as "Jardin du Roi". Today, the garden contains the most varied plant species, coming both from France and from other places in the world. Inside the garden are the other departments belonging to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, such as the greenhouses, the Grande Galerie de l'évolution, the gallery of Paleontology and anatomy, the botanical greenhouses and the Alpine garden.