Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Cacti and Succulents
Thispartofthegardenispopularwith
childrenforitsWildWestlook
(above)
and
forthemanyspidersthatusethethornsof
thecactiassupportsfortheirintricatewebs.
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Jardim Botânico
%
Carpet Bedding
Thepurple,red,
green,yellow,whiteand
golddiamonds,lozenges
andcirclesofthismuch-
photographedpartofthe
garden
(left)
demonstrate
therichnessandvariety
ofcolourtobefoundjust
intheleavesofplants.
^
Economic Plants
Ifyoucannottella
mangotreefromanavo-
cado,thisistheplaceto
learn.Theplantsgrown
hereareusedforfood,
ibre,oilordye.Among
themareseveralwhose
namesweknowbutmay
neverhaveseen-such
ascoffee,cocoa,sugar
cane,cottonandpapaya.
Dragon Trees
Ifeveraplantlookedlike
itsname,thedragon
tree
(Dracaena draco)
is
it.Theleshlikebranches
havescalygreybarkthat
looksandfeelsreptilian,
whiletheleavesarelike
clawsortalons.When
cut,thetree“bleeds”a
vividredsapwhichsets
toformaresinousgum
knownasDragon's
Blood,oncehighlyprized
asadye(itturnscloth
purple).Longbefore
Portugalcolonized
Madeira,sailorscame
heretoharvestthesap
ofthesestrangetrees,
whichstillgrowwildin
Madeira,theCanary
IslandsandCapeVerde.
&
Medicinal Plants
(
Seaside Plants
Staffcarryout
researchusingtheplants
growninthissectionto
indherbalremediesfor
maladiesfromheadaches
torheumatism.
Thoughnotthemost
colourfulorspectacular
varieties,Madeira'smany
coastalplantsmustbe
admiredfortheirtenacity.
Mostofthemmanageto
growonrockycliffsor
sandyshores,withmini-
malfreshwateranda
regularsoakinginbrine.
)
Parrot Park
Thecloseryougetto
thesouthernpartofthe
garden,thelessyouwill
beableto
avoidthe
squawksof
therareand
exoticbirds
thatare
housedinthe
ParrotPark
(left)
.
*
Topiary Garden
Thisknotgarden
(above)
ismadeof
clippedbox,and
plantedwithshrubs
thatcanbecutinto
spirals,pyramids,
chesspiecesand
animalshapes.
Some of the best views are to be had from the “Lovers' Cave”
at the topmost point of the garden.
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