Viote Botanical Alpine Garden
The Viote Botanical Alpine Garden ( Italian Giardino botanico alpino Viote ) is one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the Alps . It was founded in the 1930s in the Viote valley south-west of Trento , on the one hand because of the diverse flora of the meadows and peat bog, representative of ecosystems at this altitude, and on the other hand because of the relatively mild climate, despite the altitude of 1540 meters. The area covers 10 ha with around 2000 plant species, many of which are threatened with extinction and their preservation is therefore particularly important.
The oldest part is a large Alpinum , which is dedicated to the various mountain ranges; the special living conditions to which the plants have adapted from these heights are reproduced. In addition to this overview of the living conditions in rocky surroundings, there are also special areas about aquatic environments, medicinal herbs and plant gardens. The Viote Botanical Alpine Garden is part of the Natural Science Museum of Trento (Museo delle Scienze).
construction
The approximately 2000 species in the garden are cultivated under the most natural conditions possible in their respective typical surroundings. They are arranged according to the phytogeographic criterion, i.e. according to the original mountain range: Pyrenees , Alps , Apennines , Balkans , Himalayas , Caucasus and Rocky Mountains .
In other areas it is about plants from pharmacopoeias, cultivations for arable and horticultural purposes , specie tintorie , endemic species of the Alps and plants threatened with extinction.
The ecosystem for aquatic and wet plants is shown in a lake, with a viewing window for visitors. The bottom of the lake is covered with fishweed ( Groenlandia densa ). Irises , broad-leaved cattails ( Typha latifolia ), spawning herbs and horsetail grow on the banks . There are also small fish in the lake, such as the minnow ( Phoxinus phoxinus ).
Pionieri ed alpinisti del mondo vegetale gives an overview of the adaptation of plant species at higher altitudes.
A selection of the types:
Common peony ( Paeonia officinalis Thunb.): It is widespread from the Mediterranean to western Asia and parts of the Alps .
Prickly poppy poppy ( Meconopsis horridula Hook. F. & Thomson): It is common in the Himalayas .
Alpen-Mannstreu ( Eryngium alpinum L.): It occurs mainly in the western Alps, in the Jura (mountains) and in the Dinaric mountains.
Alpine edelweiss ( Leontopodium alpinum Cass.)
Fritillaria tubiformis Gren. & Godr .: It occurs only in the southwest and southern Alps.
Burser's saxifrage ( Saxifraga burseriana L.): It occurs in the limestone Alps.
Access
The garden is open to groups from June to September and by appointment all year round. The Alpingarten has set itself various goals:
- to determine the plants scientifically;
- to preserve endangered plant species and to plant their seeds in the Trentino seed bank ;
- Promote research on alpine plants;
- To disseminate biodiversity and protection of the alpine environment to a larger audience through educational activities.
Medicinal plants
In the meadows of Monte Bondone there are components of the medicinal plant mixture intended for phytobalneotherapy . The hay is collected directly after mowing at heights of 1200 and 1500 m in the many meadows of the Viote valley basin. Important medicinal plants are: arnica , gentian , dandelion , St. John's wort and pasque flowers .
Web links
supporting documents
- ↑ Il Muse sul territorio. MUSE, accessed August 5, 2017 (Italian).
- ↑ Profumi di fiori e poesia di stelle. In: Trentino . June 16, 2016, accessed August 5, 2017 (Italian).
- ^ Trentino Seed Bank. Il progetto. MUSE, accessed August 5, 2017 (Italian).
Coordinates: 46 ° 1 ′ 17.2 ″ N , 11 ° 2 ′ 19.2 ″ E