Orto Botanico dell'Università di Genova
Encyclopedia
The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Genova (1 hectare), also known as the Orto Botanico di Genova, is a botanical garden
operated by the University of Genoa
, and located at Corso Dogali, Genoa
, Liguria
, Italy
.
The garden was established in 1803 by Professor Domenico Viviani on the former estate of the Jesuit College of St. Jerome in Balbi. By 1819 its catalog listed 1011 taxa
, of which 60% were medicinal plants of Europe
an origin. It was extended in 1835 by an additional 4,000 square meters spread over two large terraces. The first large greenhouse was built in 1859, and in 1865 additional land was purchased to bring the garden to its current size of about 10,000 m².
Today the garden contains about 4000 specimens, representing about 2000 taxa
. Some date back a century or more, including fine specimens of Cedrus libani, Cupressus sempervirens
, Firmiana simplex
, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Sequoia sempervirens, as well as Angiopteris evecta
, Arbutus canariensis
, Cibotium regale, Cibotium schiedei, Diospyros kaki, Ginkgo biloba, Peumus boldus, Phoenix canariensis, Phytolacca dioica, Quercus laurifolia, and Washingtonia filifera
.
The garden's six greenhouses cover about 1,000 m² on three floors, with contents as follows: fern
s; tropical plants including 25 Ficus
varieties and a Ravenala madagascariensis; tropical aquatic plants; succulents including 30 Euphorbia species; herbaceous plants including Bromeliaceae
and Orchidaceae
; and a Cycadaceae collection.
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
operated by the University of Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
, and located at Corso Dogali, Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The garden was established in 1803 by Professor Domenico Viviani on the former estate of the Jesuit College of St. Jerome in Balbi. By 1819 its catalog listed 1011 taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
, of which 60% were medicinal plants of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an origin. It was extended in 1835 by an additional 4,000 square meters spread over two large terraces. The first large greenhouse was built in 1859, and in 1865 additional land was purchased to bring the garden to its current size of about 10,000 m².
Today the garden contains about 4000 specimens, representing about 2000 taxa
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
. Some date back a century or more, including fine specimens of Cedrus libani, Cupressus sempervirens
Cupressus sempervirens
Cupressus sempervirens, the Mediterranean Cypress is a species of cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region, in northeast Libya, southeast Greece , southern Turkey, Cyprus, Northern Egypt, western Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Malta, Italy, western Jordan, and also a disjunct population in...
, Firmiana simplex
Firmiana simplex
Firmiana simplex, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree or wutong is an ornamental plant or tree of the cacao, or chocolate, of the family Sterculiaceae of the order Malvales, native to Asia. It grows to a height of 12 m . It has alternate, deciduous leaves up to 30 cm across and small...
, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Sequoia sempervirens, as well as Angiopteris evecta
Angiopteris evecta
Angiopteris evecta, commonly known as the Giant Fern, is a rare plant occurring in eastern and northern Australia. Also found growing in nearby islands such as New Guinea and various places in Polynesia and Melanesia. Listed as endangered by extinction in New South Wales, where it has been recorded...
, Arbutus canariensis
Arbutus canariensis
Arbutus canariensis is a species of shrub or tree in the Ericaceae family. It is endemic to the Canary Islands of Spain. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Bañares, A. et al. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 August 2007....
, Cibotium regale, Cibotium schiedei, Diospyros kaki, Ginkgo biloba, Peumus boldus, Phoenix canariensis, Phytolacca dioica, Quercus laurifolia, and Washingtonia filifera
Washingtonia filifera
Washingtonia filifera , with the common names California Fan Palm , Desert Fan Palm, Cotton palm, and Arizona Fan Palm. It is a palm native to southwestern North America between an elevation range of , at seeps, desert bajadas, and springs where underground water is continuously available...
.
The garden's six greenhouses cover about 1,000 m² on three floors, with contents as follows: fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s; tropical plants including 25 Ficus
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
varieties and a Ravenala madagascariensis; tropical aquatic plants; succulents including 30 Euphorbia species; herbaceous plants including Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana...
and Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
; and a Cycadaceae collection.