Orto botanico di Palermo

The Botanical Garden of Palermo (Italian: Orto Botanico di Palermo ) is a garden plant that is used by both the University of Palermo as a teaching and research facility, as well as interested visitors is open.

• 2.1 gymnasium, caldarium and tepidarium
• 2.2 Garden by Linnaeus
• 2.3 Aquarium and lagoon
• 2.4 The greenhouses
• 2.5 Research area
• 2.6 Nuovo Settore
• 2.7 The Herbarium
• 2.8 Genbank

History

In 1779 the Accademia dei Regi Studi founded (about: Royal University ) Professor of botany and medicine. This chair is a piece of land was allocated, where you cultivate plants and was able to examine a possible use as a medicinal plant life. Since, however, soon proved to be too small in size than the assigned country, were moved to the facility in 1786 to its present location next to the then existing Villa Giulia.

1789 construction began on the neoclassical administration building, gymnasium, according to the plans of the French architect Léon Dufourny. Two outbuildings, the tepidarium and caldarium that were designed by Venanzio Marvuglia.

Dufourny also designed the oldest part of the garden near the school. The garden was opened in 1795. In the following years the plant to the Aquarium (1798 ), a pool with aquatic plants was made, and the Serra Maria Carolina (1823 ), a greenhouse, expanded. In 1845, the Ficus macrophylla, today the garden landmark was, of Norfolk Iceland (Australia) introduced. The present size of about ten hectares has been achieved by many smaller extensions in 1892, 1913 Giardino coloniale ( "Colonial Garden " ) was opened, however today no longer exists. Since 1985, the garden of the Dipartimento di Scienze Botaniche is passed (Institute of Botany ).

Head of the garden

Attractions

Gymnasium, caldarium and tepidarium

The neoclassical school is located near the main entrance. Originally it was the main building of the Schola Regia Botanice (Royal Botanical educational institution ) with herbarium, library and the office of the director. The school is a building with a rectangular floor plan and a Doric portico with four columns.

In two smaller buildings on the sides of the high school, the caldarium and the tepidarium are plants that preferred a warmer climate.

Garden after Linnaeus

These are the oldest part of the garden. It is a rectangular system in which divided into four quarters, the plants were cultivated according to the taxonomy of Linnaeus. Between the sections are fountains. In the center is the intersection of Viale Centrale, the main axis of the botanical garden, and the Viale delle palme, an avenue of palm trees.

Aquarium and lagoon

The aquarium is a large round basin at the end of Via Centrale, which is divided by three concentric circles, each with 8 sections in 24 sections. These each accommodate a variety of water plants.

The " lagoon " located a few meters from the aquarium and also shows a number of aquatic plants.

The greenhouses

By the time greenhouses were built over and over again, now reach a total area of about 1,300 m2.

The oldest is the Serra Maria Carolina ( serra it. For greenhouse ), a gift of Queen Maria Carolina of Austria, also known as the Giardino d' Inverno ( Winter Garden ). Originally this was a heated with stoves wood construction in the second half of the 19th century it was replaced by a cast iron construction.

More:

• A greenhouse with succulents, with plants from arid areas,
• One is used for the experiments,
• One with plants from the region,
• And one with ferns

Research area

A part of the botanical garden is still used for scientific work. The area is located in the southwestern part of the plant. The research refers to plants that are used for the recovery of oils, fibers and resins, currently and in particular experiments with cotton, vegetables, sugar cane and sorghum.

Nuovo Settore

In the southern part of the garden, the plants are planted in accordance with the taxonomy Adolf Engler. The species are arranged according to gymnosperms, angiosperms, Magnoliopsida and Liliopsida.

The Herbarium

The modern herbarium has mediterraneum an area of ​​6000 square meters and is partly covered.

The largest are the Erbario Siculo and the Erbario generals of the Institute of Botany, each with 50,000 or 200,000 copies. Of the latter, about one quarter of the species of Mediterranean vegetation, most of the island of Sicily. The non- originating from Sicily species are from Portugal, Spain, France, Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Corsica, Sardinia, Crete and Cyprus. Also can be found there about 2000 species of algae, 1600 species of lichens, mosses and 4700 species of fungi.

Genbank

The library was established in 1993 and is part of Ribes ( Rete Italiana dei Banchi Germoplasma ), which deals with saving the genetic material of the flora of the region. For this purpose, the seeds are collected from endangered native plants in Sicily and stored in vials and preserved. The seeds are subjected to regular testing for viability.

Biodiversity

The gardens contain at present about 12,000 different species.

Originated in the second half of the 19th century, the gardens were a model for a whole series of major botanical gardens in Northern Europe. Because of the mild climate of Palermo, it was possible there to cultivate a large number to date in Europe rare or unknown plants from all over the world. Similarly, there was through the mediation of Adolf Engler a lively exchange with the Botanical Garden Berlin. Thus, the Botanical Garden of Palermo was responsible for the introduction of mandarin (Citrus deliciosa) and Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Japanese in Europe.

In the old gardens by Linnaeus originally grew around 1580 different species, of which 658 are still growing there, including copies of the Ginkgo biloba.

In the aquarium, there are a number of water lilies (Nymphaea ), including Nymphaea alba, Nymphaea tuberosa hybrids of Nymphaea × Marliacea, and the multicolored Nuphar lutea and Nelumbo nucifera. In a swampy part of the garden Alocasia, Colocasia and Zantedeschia find while in a nearby " lagoon " Genuine papyrus and other sour grasses, such as Scirpus lacustris, a reed, and purple nutsedge grow.

Similarly, some species of bamboo and on a small artificial hill dragon trees grow there. The largest tree of the garden is a huge fig tree that was introduced by Norfolk Iceland in the Pacific Ocean in 1845.

In the garden of succulents you will find some aloes and various other plants of dry regions, including Cereus, Crassula, Euphorbia and Opuntia. A large numbers of ficus species, which are intended to give the impression of a jungle vegetation.

Another part of the garden is devoted to the palm trees, such as the Japanese Sago Palm, which was the garden of Queen Maria Carolina founded in 1793 and the first of its kind in Europe was. Likewise, cycads there were planted from Mexico and the Indian subcontinent. In 1997, the collection was expanded to include some valuable species such as Dioon spinulosum, altensteinii Encephalartos, Encephalartos longifolius, Encephalartos villosus, Macrozamia moorei and Zamia furfuracea.

Together with Chamaerops humilis, the only native palm in Sicily and other exotics you can find about 80 different species and 34 different genera. The genus Washingtonia is represented by the W. filifera.

The Giardino d' Inverno ( Winter Garden ) is home to a number of species that would otherwise only thrive in the warm climate of Africa, Central America, South America, Asia and Australia. This includes among other things: coffee plants ( Coffea arabica), papaya ( Carica papaya), a series of bougainvillea, Zimtgewächsen ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum ) and mimosas. In the Serra della Regione (about: greenhouse of the region), there are some copies of the tree of travelers as well as of ( the traveler 's palm ) Flamingo Flower, spurge and pandanus trees and other plants from the equatorial region. Two smaller greenhouses show orchids, carnivorous plants and cacti.

In the Settore Sperimentale e delle Piante Utili (about: Experimental area for practical applications ), there are sugar cane, sorghum, both for the production of sugar, banana plants, pecan trees and some local rare vegetables. As a medicinal plant there ginseng, wormwood, Thorn Apple, Ashwagandha, Kampherlorbeer and opium poppies are grown.

• Acalypha hispida
• Aeonium leucoblepharum
• Agapanthus umbellatus
• Aloe arborescens
• Aloe ciliaris
• Aloe saponaria
• Aloe thraskii
• Aloe xcaesia
• Aloe xriccobonii
• Aloe xspinosissima
• Annona cherimolia
• Antholyza aethiopica
• Antigonon leptopus
• Araucaria columnaris
• Archontophoenix alexandrae
• Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
• Arenga engleri
• Artemisia absinthium
• Astrophytum capricorne
• Astrophytum myriostigma

• Bambusa macroculmis
• Begonia maxima
• Begonia x ricinifolia
• Bombax ceiba
• Bougainvillea aurantiaca
• Bougainvillea splendens
• Bougainvillea trolli
• Bougainvillea valverde
• Brahea armata
• Buddleia davidi
• Butia capitata

• Calliandra portoricensis
• Calodendrum capensis
• Caralluma europaea
• Carica papaya
• Carica quercifolia
• Carya olivaeformis
• Ceratozamia mexicana
• Chamaerops humilis
• Cinnamomum canphora
• Cinnamomum zeylanicum
• Coffea arabica
• Caryota mitis
• Centaurea ucriae
• Ceratozamia mexicana
• Cereus peruvianus
• Chamaedorea ernesti - augusti
• Chamaedorea metallica
• Chamaedorea oblongata
• Chorisia speciosa
• Citrus maxima
• Citrus paradisi
• Citrus reticulata
• Citrus volkameriana
• Clivia nobilis
• Coreopsis tripteris
• Crescentia alata
• Crinum longiflorum
• Cycas circinalis
• Cycas revoluta
• Cyperus alternifolius
• Cyperus papyrus

• Datura stramonium
• Dionaea muscipula
• Dioon edule
• Dioon spinulosum
• Doryanthes palmeri
• Dracaena draco
• Drosera longifolia
• Drosera rotundifolia
• Dypsis decaryi

• Echidnopsis cereiformis
• Echinocactus grusonii
• Echinocactus ingens
• Echinocereus blanckii
• Encephalartos altensteinii
• Encephalartos arenarius
• Encephalartos horridus
• Encephalartos longifolius
• Encephalartos villosus
• Encephalartos woodii × natalensis
• Eriobotrya japonica
• Erythrina corallodendron
• Erythrina crista -galli
• Erythrina humeana
• Erythrina viarum
• Euphorbia candelabrum
• Euphorbia caput- medusae
• Euphorbia dendroides
• Euphorbia lactea
• Euphorbia nivulia

• Fatsia papyrifera
• Ficus altissima
• Ficus aspera var parcelli
• Ficus benghalensis
• Ficus benjamina
• Ficus bibracteata
• Ficus carica
• Ficus elastica
• Ficus elastica var decora
• Ficus elastica var variegata
• Ficus heterophylla
• Ficus hispida
• Ficus indica
• Ficus infectoria
• Ficus lyrata
• Ficus macrophylla
• Ficus magnifolia
• Ficus microcarpa
• Ficus palmata
• Ficus pumila
• Ficus religiosa
• Ficus sycomorus
• Ficus watkinsiana
• Furcraea selloa

• Ginkgo biloba
• Grevillea robusta
• Grewia malococca
• Gymnocalycium tilcarense

• Heteropteris chrysophylla
• Howea forsteriana

• Iochroma coccinea

• Jacobinia magnifica
• Jubaea chilensis

• Livistona decipiens
• Livistona mariae

• Macadamia ternifolia
• Macrozamia communis
• Macrozamia moorei
• Mamillaria centricirrha
• Mammillaria elongata
• Mammillaria perbella
• Melaleuca glaberrima
• Melaleuca linariifolia
• Mimosa spegazzinii
• Musa cavendishi
• Musa paradisiaca ×

• Nelumbo nucifera
• Nepenthes distillatoria
• Nolina stricta
• Notocactus apricus
• Notocactus rutilans
• Nymphaea alba
• Nymphaea × Marliacea
• Nymphaea tuberosa
• Nuphar lutea

• Opuntia angel manni
• Osteomeles schwerinae

• Parmentiera cereifera
• Papaver somniferum
• Paulownia tomentosa
• Pennisetum setaceum
• Peperomia caperata
• Persea americana
• Phoenix canariensis
• Phoenix dactylifera
• Phoenix reclinata
• Phoenix roebelinii
• Phoenix rupicola
• Phoenix teophrastii
• Pinus banksiana
• Poinciana gilliesii
• Pseudolobivia aurea

• Ravenala madagascariensis
• Ravenea rivularis
• Rhapis excelsa
• Rhopalostylis cheesemanii
• Rhopalostylis sapida
• Rhizophora mangle
• Russelia equisetiformis

• Sabal bermudana
• Sabal minor
• Saccharum officinarum
• Sagittaria lancifolia
• Sarracenia purpurea
• Scirpus lacustris
• Serenoa repens
• Sophora secundiflora
• Sorghum saccharatum
• Sparmannia africana
• Stapelia leendertziae
• Stapelia variegata
• Strophanthus scandens
• Syagrus romanzoffiana

• Trithrinax campestris
• Tipuana speciosa

• Washingtonia filifera
• Washingtonia robusta
• Wigandia caracasana
• Withania somnifera

• Yucca aloifolia
• Yucca elephantipes

• Zamia floridana
• Zamia furfuracea
• Zephyranthes rosea

Curiosity

For several years, lives a colony of Ring-necked Parakeets, who had escaped from the nearby Villa Giulia and feel very comfortable in her new subtropical habitat in the garden.