IMPRINT + : maggio 2016

On 19th of May, 2016 a group of students visited the Botanical gardens in Palermo.

Palermo Botanical Garden is either a botanical garden or a research and educational institution of the Department of Botany of the University of Palermo. It is situated within the city of Palermo.

There are at least 12,000 different species. Here you can find the mighty Ginkgo Biloba.

The Aquarium is home to many species of Nymphaea, including Nymphaea alba, Nymphaea tuberosa hybrids of Nymphaea marliacea, the multicoloured Nuphar lutea and Nelumbum nucifera. In addition to this, in the areas further in that are not submerged but humid nevertheless, you can also find Alocasia, Colocasia, Zantedeschia , while in the so-called laghetto,Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and other cyperaceae such as Scirpus Lacustris and Cyperus Alternifolius are really beautiful.

Atop a small artificial hill, there are different species of Bamboo, including a healthy specimen of the drago tree . In the nearby you can also see the tallest plant of the gardens, a superbe Araucaria columnaris , and the largest overall in terms of volume, a gigantic specimen of Ficus macrophylla, with its typical aerial roots, imported from Norfolk Island.

The garden of succulents of the bioecological zone hosts a number of species of the genus Aloe and various other plants of arid regions, including cereus, crassula, Euphorbia and Opuntia. Alongside the collection of succulents, there is an enormous specimen of Ficus rubiginosa , similar to a tropical jungle.

In the Cycadetum it is possible to admire certain species of cicadi that have a remarkable history:Cycas revoluta; Zamiaceae Ceratozamia mexicana and Dioon edule; Cycas circinalis; Dioon spinulosum, Encephalartos villosus, Macrozamia moorei and Zamia furfuracea.

As regards palms, you can find Chamaerops humilis , the only palm native to Sicily, and numerous exotic palms: W. filifera, W. robusta, Phoenix dactylifera, P. rupicola, P. reclinata, P. canariensis, P. roebelinii and p. teophrastii, Chamaedorea, brahea, sabal, Erythea, Livistona, Howea and Trachycarpus.

The Winter Garden has got a number of species native to the warmer climes of Africa, central America, South america, Asia and Australia: Coffea arabica, Carica papaya, numerous species of Bougainvillea, cinnamon (Cinnamomum ceylanicum), Parmentiera cereifera, and mimosa (Mimosa spegazzinii). In the glasshouse of the regions, you can see specimens of Ravenala madagascariensis) (the traveller's palm) and various species of Anthurium, Codiaeum, Pandanus and other plants from tropical and equatorial climes. Two smaller glasshouses house orchids and carnìvorous plants respectively.
In the Experimental zone and zone of practical plantings there are plants which produce foodstuffs, like Saccharum officinarum and Sorghum saccharatum; Persea americana, various cultivars of Banana (Musa acuminata balbisiana), pecan nut . Lastly you can find the medicinal plantings, including Artemisia absinthium, datura strammonium, gingseng (Withania somnifera9, la camphour (Cinnamomum canphora) and the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).