Palm House Plant Life
Asia | Africa | Europe | Australasia | The Americas
Asian Plants
Some of the plants in the Asian Border are used for food or as flavourings. Several species of Banana plants can be seen, at both ends of the bed. Musa cavendishii, on the left side, originates from China, but is extensively cultivated in the Canary Isles. Bunches of bananas can often be seen forming on this plant.
A specimen of Sugar-cane, Saccharum officinarum, can be seen in this border. The plant is actually a very tall species of grass, and sugar is extracted from the cane-like stem.
Alpinia zerumbet is a type of ginger from China and Japan. Originally called Alpinia nutans, it is descended from plants in Liverpool's original Botanical collection, started by William Roscoe 200 years ago.
Two types of spice, both from India, are Elettarria cardamomum, the source of Cardamom, and Murraya koenigii, which is used as an ingredient of curries.
Attractive flowering plants which can be seen growing in the Asian Border include Jasminum polyanthum, which climbs up the metal structure on the left-hand end, and produces its very fragrant white flowers in early Spring. Several varieties of Hibiscus, popularly called 'Rose of China' with large red, pink, yellow or white flowers, can be seen in this bed.
- Alpina nutons
- Codiaeum varieties
- Crinum japonicum variegatum
- Curculigo recurvata
- Cycas circinnalis (illustrated)
- Cycas revolute
- Elletaria cardomomum
- Fatsia japonica
- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- Microlepia speluncai
- Murraya koenigii
Interior view: Versailles planters to be used for portable, flexible dislays
- Murraya paniculatum
- Musa spp.
- Nephrolepsis biserrata
- Phymatodes scolopendria
- Polypodium fern
- Rhapis humila
- Saccharum officinarum
- Trachycarpus fortuneii
species in bold print were used in the original planting
Engraving by Georg Edward Rumpf - 18th century
