The South Africa Greenhouse

The South African greenhouse, built over the years 2006-2007, has very particular characteristics compared to most existing greenhouses, as it shows different environments in South Africa and not just single species.

Different environments were chosen, due to their very high biodiversity due to environmental and floristic conditions different from those of all other regions of the world.

The are represented Fynbos, the Karoo, the Namaqualand and other typical environments of the region.

To recreate them in the greenhouse, about 500 species were imported from South Africa, as live plants or seeds. Among these there are representatives of families such as Restionaceae and Proteaceae and of genera, such as Pelargonium, of particular interest from the scientific point of view and ornamental and medicinal uses.

An extraordinary environment was later recreated, the quartz fields, with its extraordinary species that can live in extreme conditions due to their completely exceptional adaptations.

A video in LIS is available: the Greenhouse of South Africa

Read more:

Caramiello R., Fossa V., Guglielmone L., 2008. The greenhouses of the Botanical Garden of the University of Turin. Neos Edizioni, 30 pages.