The Glasshouses at the Botanical Gardens

Constructed in the early 1990’s on the site of the original wooden Tropical and Show glasshouses which had become dangerous and needed to be demolished this landscaped glasshouse is where you will find plants from around the world which experience Mediterranean-like temperatures.  

These Mediterranean-like areas of the world including Chile, South Africa and Western Australia experience temperatures which can fall to just above freezing but rarely below.

In this glasshouse you will find plants from around the world which have various economic uses. It also contains a collection of foliage begonias and hybrid epiphyllums.

Some of the plants you may see include:

Native of Africa this is a species of aquatic flowering plant belonging to the sedge family and forms tall stands of reed-like swamp vegetation in shallow water.

Papyrus sedge has a very long history of use by humans, notably by the Ancient Egyptians (the pith being used as a source of papyrus paper, one of the first types of paper ever made). The highly buoyant stems can be made into boats. It is now often cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Derived from Musa acuminata which is native of SE Asia this variety is a result of thousands of years of selection resulting in the most familiar dessert banana cultivar.  The ratio of pulp to seeds increases dramatically in these "seedless" edible cultivars with the seeds themselves being reduced to tiny black specks along the centre of the fruit.

Commonly known as strawberry guava or cherry guava this native of Brazil is widely cultivated elsewhere.

Commonly known as Carob, St John's-bread, or Locust bean this tree is native to the Mediterranean. 

It is widely cultivated for its edible pods.  The ripe, dried pod is often ground to carob powder, which is used to replace cocoa powder. Carob bars, an alternative to chocolate bars, are often available in health-food stores.  The production of locust bean gum (LBG), used in the food industry, is the economically most important use of carob seeds. LBG is used as a thickening agent, stabilizer, gelling agent, or as a substitute for gluten in low-calorie products. 

The unit "carat", used for weighing precious metal and stones comes from the ancient practice of weighing gold and gemstones against the seeds of the carob tree by people in the Middle East. The system was eventually standardized, and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams.

Originally native to the forests of Ethiopia and the mountainous regions of Yemen this familiar plant is now widely cultivated elsewhere around the world. The first written record of coffee made from roasted coffee beans comes from Arab scholars, who wrote that it was useful in prolonging their working hours. The Arab innovation in Yemen of making a brew from roasted beans, spread first among the Egyptians and Turks, and later on found its way around the world.

This evergreen fern commonly known as the Bird’s-nest fern has a wide tropical distribution from tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, India and eastern Africa it often lives on other trees where it collects water and humus in its leaf-rosette

This showy climber is found naturally from India to Vietnam and is commonly known as Nepal Trumpet Flower, Herald's Trumpet and Easter Lily Vine.  It has large white, fragrant flowers.

A showy, epiphytic orchid native to Ecuador (their national flower), Colombia and Peru first introduced in the early 19th century.

Also known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups these insectiverous plants are native to SE Asia.  

Nepenthes species usually consist of a shallow root system and a prostrate or climbing stem, often several metres long.  From the leaf tendril, which in some species aids in climbing, the pitcher forms. The pitcher contains a fluid which is used to drown the prey. 

The lower part of the pitcher contains glands which absorb nutrients from captured prey.  Prey usually consists of insects, but the largest species (e.g. N. rajah and N. rafflesiana) may occasionally catch small vertebrates, such as rats and lizards.

This cultivar of a Brazilian bromeliad can be seen growing epiphytically as it would in the wild.  Its vase-like structure means that it can retain water during dry conditions and also plays host in the wild to numerous creatures such as mosquito larvae and tree frogs. 

This handsome climber from southern India has several common names such as Indian clock vine, Mysore trumpetvine, brick & butter vine, lady's slipper vine and dolls' shoes.  It is hummingbird pollinated in the wild.