Greenhouse of succulent plants
Ferocactus hamatacantus
(Muehlenpf.) Britton & Rose
One third of our planet has more or less a desert climate. The sometimes extreme conditions we can find there imposed on the plants some adaptation necessary to their survival.
Roots’ lengthening, the reduction and the thickening of the leaves, stems and roots contribute to make stocks that will be available during the regular lacks of water; and give to these plants their so particular form.
Echinocactus grusonii Hildm.
The plant’s morphological modification allows a resistance to withering and the succulence is the plant’s answer to arid climate.
If the cactuses from the American continent or the baobab from Madagascar and Africa are representative of a low water needing plant life, about 40 other plant families count more than 10 000 species growing in arid environment, multiplying the examples of adaptation.
Orbea variegata
Haw.
Lyon Botanical Garden’s greenhouses shelter 1 200 species representing succulence throughout the world’s desert areas. These plants belong to different families such as :
- Agavaceae
- Apocynaceae
- Asclepiadaceae
- Asteraceae
- Bombacaceae
- Burseraceae
- Cactaceae
- Crassulaceae
- Cucurbitaceae
- Didieraceae
- Euphorbiaceae
- Geraniaceae
- Moraceae
- Etc…