Visitors can expect to discover tropical plants from some of the most threatened environments in the world. They can explore the depths of the rainforest inside the Palm House, where the air is heavy and dense with lush vegetation.
Visitors can find rainforest treasures like the oldest pot plant in the world or the disease-fighting periwinkle. They can also see plants that are endangered in the wild, some even extinct, as well as plants that are a source of huge value to societies around the world.
Rainforest plants cover only 2% of the world’s surface but make up 50% of species, vital to sustaining life on earth. They are essential for research into medicine and sustainable cropping, and are a source of valuable resources for societies around the world.
Visitors can learn about the healing power of the Madagascar periwinkle, now used in the treatment of different types of cancer. They can also discover prehistoric plants like cycads, which were widespread over 250 million years ago.
The Palm House was the first glasshouse built on a large scale, constructed in 1844 by Richard Turner according to Decimus Burton’s designs. It resembles the upturned hull of a ship, and architects borrowed techniques from the shipbuilding industry to achieve this ambitious vision.
2024 / unitedkingdomlovers.uk
