Oporto botanical garden

[Rafael]

Today i had the opportunity to make a short visit to this place.

Well, i found not so many palms, in fact i found anything more in private neighbour yards...

But, anyhow, take a look...

[Rafael]

Common CIPD????

[Rafael]

Some more...

That's all!

[Palmick]

Hi Rafael:

Thanks for the pics.

I have never been to this garden !...

It was closed to public visiting when i tried, many years ago.

And i didn't have the chance again thereafter.

The building seems to be under refurbishment

and so being, i'm amazed entries are allowed.

Let us hope the net-wrapping will be off soon.

It looks mainly like a olden garden and i think the house architecture

does add a lot to the whole setting.

Regards

[Rafael]

Today, some pics taken from the Coimbra's botanical garden.

[Rafael]

...

[Rafael]

...

AND ....

Jubaea Chilensis fruit/seeds....

THAT'S ALL!

Edited October 27, 2010 by rafael

[Rafael]

Common CIPD????

Or maybe reclinata??

[Palmick]

Hi again, Rafael !

At this one, i've been to hundreds of times throughout the years.

It's much older and bigger than the Oporto's.

And displays many more palms.

It has been one of my learning sources in the early days.

Now, i spot the mislabeling.

It's been a while since my last visit, though.

And i'm impressed by the height gathered by some of the long known palms (and cycads).

But very concerned with the apparent decay of others...:

what on earth is happening to the thick trunked Phoenix ?!

(11th and 13th Coimbra pics)

I'll have to make a personal visit as soon as possible.

Regards

[garrin]

A big 'thank you' from Hawai'i, Rafael! I have never been to Portugal, but close by on all sides. I have always imagined Portugal to be a place with many, many wonderful and varied microclimates. I think you just provided to me the first photos featuring the palms there that I have seen! It met my expectations and more!

Thanks again!

(more photos are welcomed any time.

Garrin

[Jeff in St Pete]

Rafael, thanks for the photos! Those Jubaea are magnificent... I wish they would grow here!

[Rafael]

Miguel, i made my university degree at Coimbra, during 5 years, and, at that time, i have visited this garden for several times, but never looking at palms the way i do now! So it was like visiting it for the first time. It was very pleasant to go there. But i cant understand why the more interesting places of the garden are unavailable (people can only see at some distance). I have visited the Valencia Botanical Garden (http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=24785), and people can move freely between the palms and so. That phoenix that bothers you is a silvestris, i didnt notice any sickness, but there is something weird...

Garrin, i am glad you could see some portuguese shots, thanks for your kind words!

Jeff, why cant you try jubaeas?

[Jeff in St Pete]

Rafael, Jubaea would not survive here, it's too hot and humid and our nights are too warm. However, I think they would grow very well up in the mountains at higher elevations.

[Palmick]

Rafael, i have some pics i took back in 2006 featuring a few of the same palms you captured.

I'll post them on this thread along with some comments as soon as i can take the time.

The fat-trunked Phoenix will be displayed in its past full glory.

It is indeed labeled as P. sylvestris but i think it's either canariensis or a sylv.-canar. cross.

True P. sylvestris usually has a much slimmer trunk with a different leaf scar pattern

plus a slightly plumose leaflet arrangement to the leaves which are, at times, a bit silvery in color.

Anyhow, i do hope this one will eventually recover from whatever stroke it.

It's an ancient specimen, much taller than it looks from Rafael's pics,

due to its planting (as the other palms around it) in a sort of pit (at a lower level).

As Rafael says, parts of the garden are closed to general public,

including the informal arboretum area, which takes up the greater share of the whole garden size.

It has been the rule for as long as i remember.

Although, through times, there have been rare occasions when some inner gates were wide opened to the hidden corners.

Nonetheless i've always managed (by a kind request to an understanding gardener) to briefly sneak into these restricted areas, for a snapshot, label reading or fallen fruit picking.

For those interested, here's a link to the garden's website (english version):

http://www.uc.pt/en/jardimbotanico

Most amazingly, there has been a recent initiative of placing a bookable modular hotel facility (consisting solely of a

double bedroom plus wc) lost amongst the arboretum wilderness. Here's the link to two portuguese TV video-reports:

http://www.uc.pt/jardimbotanico/noticias/Pernoite

http://sic.sapo.pt/online/video/informacao/NoticiasVida/2010/9/um-quarto-de-casal-no-jardim-botanico-em-coimbra10-09-2010-145846.htm

Regards

[Gileno Machado]

Belos Jardins Botânicos. It must be nice to spend a full moon night walking through the palms in Coimbra. For 50 Euro per night it sounds like a bargain...I guess I need to check the TAP airline website now...

[Rafael]

Miguel, precious data, and cant wait to see those pics...

Gileno, you are welcome! Bring some syagrus abreojos (and others) seeds, unless you wont pass through the customs...

[Palmick]

Here are a few pics from Coimbra Botanic Garden taken 4 years ago:

Phoenix reclinata - single trunk, a form also present at other Portuguese ancient public gardens.

[Palmick]

Empty pond

[Palmick]

Syagrus romanzoffiana: crown view from bellow

[Palmick]

Group pic (left to right): Syagrus romanzoffiana, Phoenix reclinata, Butia eriospatha, Trachycarpus fortunei, Syagrus

romanzoffiana (crown out of frame).

[Palmick]

Sabal palmetto (my ID, labeled S. mauritiiformis !!!): crown view and full tree.

In the closest background: Syagrus romanzoffiana, two Livistona australis and Washingtonia filifera.

[Palmick]

Group pic (left to right): Sabal palmetto (my ID), Phoenix canariensis (my ID, labeled P. sylvestris), Livistona chinensis.

[Palmick]

Chamaerops humilis var. arborescens: crown frame, trunk is some meters high.

[Palmick]

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana.

[Palmick]

Unidentified palm. Either volunteer juveniles (offsprings from towering palms above), or a "ground cover" spieces.

They've been keeping this size throughout the years.

Any advice is very wellcome.

[Palmick]

The sole Jubaea chilensis on the garden, in two views.

Butia on the 2nd pic is either eriospatha or (the new) odorata (ex-capitata).

[Palmick]

Livistona chinensis

[Palmick]

Brahea armata nº1

[Palmick]

Brahea armata nº2: former ID label said B. roezlii, now changed to armata

[Palmick]

Livistona spp. (my ID). Try and spot the squirrel.

[Palmick]

Aroid in a pond w/o and w/ flash

[Palmick]

Garden view (Washingtonia filifera and Syagrus romanzoffiana far away).

That's all, thanks for your time,

Regards

[Rafael]

Excelent pics Miguel, thanks for your posts.

[samirbouag]

whaouuuuuu good pics!!

[Rafael]

After Oporto's and Coimbra's Botanical Gardens, now Lisbon's

Brahea armata

Brahea edulis

Rhopalostylis baueri

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

[Rafael]

...

Arenga pinata

Sabal bermudana

Tall and thin Rhopalostylis sapida

Just a cycad

Edited November 4, 2010 by rafael

[paulgila]

that "livistona" in post # 30 looks like sabal sp.to me.

nice pix from everyone! great to see so many "venerable" palms!they deserve our respect!

[Charles Wychgel]

Nice thread Rafael

Here is the Arenga in 2006

Encephalartos lehmannii

Stangeria eriopus(grassland form??)

[Rafael]

The arenga pinata is already seeding

Brought some seeds with me

[edric]

Great work fellas! I really enjoyed the photos, Ed