Thick, water-rich leaves, or leaves reduced to spines on fleshy, grooved stems, are just some of the characteristics of “succulent” plants. To withstand such extreme conditions, these species have developed convergent adaptations, even though they belong to different botanical families spread across distant continents. This is clearly evident in the green stems of African euphorbias and American cacti. This greenhouse dedicated to Africa, also features aloes and other less conspicuous species, demonstrating the great diversity among succulents despite many common features. In Africa and America, many species are protected to prevent their harvesting.
LOOK OUT
… for plants with “variegated” leaves. This is an effect caused by the presence of cells and thickenings that reflect light differently to reduce the damage caused by continuous exposure to sun.
The most unusual species in the greenhouse is in a tall, narrow pot. It is Welwitschia mirabilis, which has a long main root (taproot) that extends deeply into the soil. Native to the Namibian desert, it is a gymnosperm, like firs, cycads, and ginkgoes, but it is the only one to consist of just two leaves that continue to grow and fray throughout the plant’s life, even beyond 2,000 years.
Captions:
Aloe vera: Aloe spines are never woody.
Euphorbia grandicornis: Thorns are transformations of branches or, if paired, of leaves, and in this case are called spines.
Living stones Lithops sp. pl.
Haworthia cooperi var. pilifera: The leaves tips emerging from the ground are transparent to let light in.
To withstand the aridity and temperature fluctuations in rocky, very sunny environments, succulent plants have developed adaptations to retain as much water as possible. Their roots are extensive but shallow to more easily absorb the precious liquid which is then stored in specialized tissues in thickened stems or fleshy leaves. The greatest wealth of succulent species is found in southern Africa and Mexico. This greenhouse displays American plants, such as the well-known cacti (Cactaceae) and agaves (Asparagaceae), while the other one features African species.
SEARCH
… in the two greenhouses, to see which family from the American continent has species with leaves similar to those developed by the Asphodelaceae family from the African continent.
The spines of Cactaceae are modified leaves that minimize surface exposure to the sun, reducing transpiration and protecting the plant from herbivores. In this family, spines and flowers, along with stinging hairs and bristles, arise from small circular areas (“areole”), that are essentially very small branches. The stem, green to aid photosynthesis, also serves as a water reserve; it can be columnar, spherical or flattened (as in the prickly pear cactus) or it can be climbing or creeping.
Captions:
The spines trap moist air, limiting evaporation; thanks to the grooves, the plant expands when is hydrated and vice versa. Mother-in-law’s cushion (Echinocactus platyacanthus)
Espostoa lanata: The downy hairs (‘fluff’) reflect the sun’s rays.
Pachycereus pringlei: It can reach a height of 20 m.
Agave ferdinandi-regis: The apical spines are woody.
Ferocactus chrysacantus: Areole are clearly visible.
The highly fragrant flowers bloom at night and are pollinated by bats and moths. Queen of the night (Hylocereus undatus)
Curious structures shaped like elongated, inverted cones surround the trunks of the two cypress trees in the Garden, one on the bank and one on the island. They are called pneumatophores and, literally, they bring air to the roots, submerged in flooded, oxygen-deprived soil. These structures are hollow inside and Native Americans used them as beehives. This tree is also known as the swamp cypress.
ITALY’S MONUMENTAL TREE (cod: 33/E715/LU/09 on the island and cod: 32/E715/LU/09 on the bank)
Scientific name: Taxodium distichum (L.) A. Rich.var. distichum
Family: Cupressaceae
Estimated age: about 145 years old
circumference at 1,30 m: 280 cm (island) 315 cm (bank)
Estimated height: 21,5 m (island) 20,5 m (bank)
The species is native to the marshy areas of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States.
Introduced to Europe in 1640. The distichum variety features drooping or horizontal branches with spreading leaves.
LOOK AT
… the two bald cypresses nearby. They are characterized by the long wooden structures (pneumatophores) surrounding the trunk. Which of the two has the taller ones?
Rich rust-coloured hues are reflected in the pond in autumn, when the cypress trees, before going “bald” and losing their leaves, offer a burst of colour. This phenomenon is very rare among conifers, and in this species, it adds a special touch: along with the leaves, the smaller branches to which they are attached also fall.
Picture caption:
The scales that form the female cones, when separated, remain attached to the seeds.
They float in water and, carried by the current, contribute to seed dispersal.
The tallest tree in Lucca might seem like just a relatively young “little one,” compared to some of its species in its native country. In the United States, coast redwoods can exceed 100 metres in height and live for over 1,000 years. Hyperion, the world’s tallest tree, at approximately 116 metres, would easily tower over a small 33-storey skyscraper.
Italy’s monumental tree (cod: 34/E715/LU/09)
Scientific name: Sequoia sempervirens (D.Don) Endl.
Family: Cupressaceae
Estimated age: about 175 years old
Circumference at 1,30 m: 576 cm
Estimated height: 35,20 m
It is an evergreen tree native to the Pacific coast between California and Oregon. This species includes the tallest and longest-lived specimens on Earth. It was introduced to Italy around the mid-1800s.
LOOK OUT
…as you move along the paths, the perfect vantage point to observe the large lightning wound on the trunk, which is slowly healing.
Despite the massive trunks and impressive heights reached by coast redwoods their foliage is not particularly broad. The branches grow mainly downward but do not extend much, even at the bottom of the tree, so the overall crown resembles a narrow cylinder.
Drawing caption: The male reproductive organs (strobili) are present on the same tree together with the small female cones that, when ripe, open to release the seeds
Likely arriving from the grounds of “Villa Reale di Marlia”, this magnolia has been part of the Garden’s history for for almost the entirety of its existence.
With its venerable age, revealed by its majestic hollow trunk and sturdy, gnarled main branches, it continues to brighten the garden with its large, fragrant white flowers.
Historical sources relate that many magnolias once lined the Garden’s main avenue, and their cut green branches were sold as ornamental in Northern Europe.
Italy’s monumental tree (cod: 28/E715/LU/09)
Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora L.
Family: Magnoliaceae
Estimated age: about 195 years old
circumference at 1,30 m: 425 cm
Estimated height: 15 m
It is an evergreen tree native to the river environments and floodplains of the southeastern United States. It was introduced to Italy in 1750 at the Botanical Garden of Padova.
LOOK
…closely AT at the pine cone-like structures: they are multiple fruits composed of numerous woody “frutticini” (fruitlets) that, when ripe, open, releasing red seeds attached to a filament.
TOUCH the leaves on the ground: they are stiff and smooth on the top.
When flowers were still rare on Earth, magnolias were among the few species to possess them.
The current species are very ancient, and even today their flowers are large and relatively primitive.
They are pollinated by beetles, that voraciously chew even the tissues of the reproductive structures and petals which, fortunately, are sturdy enough to withstand such a lack of gentleness.
Drawing caption: Multiple fruit called “folliceto”
On this side of the knoll, the spiral path that runs along it begins at a reproduction the garrigue, a semi-natural Mediterranean environment characterised by dwarf, cushion-shaped shrubs growing sparsely on arid, rocky soil, often burned and grazed. In summer, these environments have a scorched appearance, but in spring they turn into a true botanical paradise bursting with scents and colours.
LOOK AT
… the shrubs at the base of the panel: they are rich in aromatic oils. Just touch them lightly to capture their scent with your hand
The garrigue is home to many species of orchids. At the base of the knoll, the brownish serapis, with its distinctive flowers, is common. Above what appears to be a large tongue, there is a helmetlike structure where pollinating insects find shelter during the coldest hours. Indeed, inside this cavity, the temperature is higher than outside.
Picture caption:
Cistus salviifolius
Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus
Satureja montana
Serapias neglecta
Iris lutescens
Lilium bulbiferum subsp. croceum
Centranthus ruber
The spiny spurge (Euphorbia spinosa) contains substances that are unpalatable to animals that feed on the plants.
A charming spiral path allows visitors to ascend and descend the knoll without ever having to retrace your steps, immersing yourself in an authentic glimpse of Mediterranean vegetation. The large, shady holm oaks, symbols of the evergreen forest, give way to the species of the Mediterranean scrub, a dense formation of dark-green shrubs. Mastic trees and strawberry trees grow at the summit, while phillyrea and fragrant myrtle grow along the slopes. Depending on the season, flowers and berries brighten the undergrowth with their colours.
LOOK AT
… what appear to be the butcher’s broom leaves. The presence of small flowers, red berries or tiny scales reveals instead that they are modified, flattened branches called cladodes.
In the Mediterranean climate, hot and dry in summer, plants must limit the evaporation of water barely available in the arid soil. To combat water stress, species have developed common adaptations: their leaves often have a small surface area, contain essential oils, are leathery, and covered with waxes and cuticles or dense hairs to retain moisture.
Picture caption:
The silvery hairs on the underside of holm oak leaves are denser on those exposed to the sun, while they may be sparse or absent on those growing in the shade.
Quercus ilex
Pistacia lentiscus
Phillyrea angustifolia
Ruscus aculeatus
Myrtus communis
Juniperus communis
Helleborus viridis
Cyclamen hederifolium
Native to the East, camellias conquered 19th-century Europe and quickly became the centrepiece of the aristocratic gardens of the Lucca area. Among the many ornamental varieties, derived mainly from Camellia japonica, many were dedicated, during the Risorgimento, to patriotic ideals of the country and historical figures. The Garden preserves many ancient varieties, whose conservation is a priority for the Tuscany Region, as well as several botanical species, including the critically endangered white Grantham camellia, which grows wild only in a few forests of southern China.
SMELL
……the flowers without touching them. Beautiful, colourful, and with evocative names, only the so-called winter camellias can also boast a pleasant scent.
A precious tea infusion is obtained from the apical leaves or shoots of Camellia sinensis. The small production of Italian green tea in Sant’Andrea di Compito was started thanks to the seeds of a camellia cultivated in the Garden.
Captions:
Ancient variety with irregular double flowers. In cultivated varieties, humans selected the number of petals, colours and shapes of the flowers.
Camelia ‘Stella di Compito’
C. japonica ‘Stella di Compito’
Single flower
Camelia ‘Rubra Simplex’
C. japonica ‘Rubra simplex’
Semi-double ‘anemone-shaped’ flower
Camelia ‘Anemoniflora Alba’
C. japonica ‘Anemoniflora Alba’
Dedicated to the 16th-century mercenary captain who became a symbol of Risorgimento values
Camelia ‘Francesco Ferruccio’
C. japonica ‘Francesco Ferruccio’
Ancient variety with irregular variegated double flowers
Camelia ‘Stella Polare’
C. japonica ‘Stella Polare‘
The Botanical Garden’s prestige grew thanks to the work of its directors, physicians and botanists, who established a network of contacts and collaborations with distinguished Italian and foreign scientists, leaving behind valuable museum collections linked to education and the naturalistic exploration of the Lucca area. Over time, the spaces were redesigned to meet new and diverse needs.
The first heated greenhouse for succulent species and tropical rarities was built in 1826. Other important transformations followed, particularly under Cesare Bicchi, who directed the Garden from 1860 for nearly fifty years. The municipality of Lucca acquired ownership of the Garden in 1903.
LOOK OUT FOR
… the oval plaque that Bicchi dedicated to the founders and the directors who preceded him, and the one that tells that in 1843 the Garden hosted the Assembly of Italian Botanists.
The collections, research and the teaching activities declined after 1906, but starting in the 1970s, new acquisitions, studies, and adequate care restored the Garden as a leading institution in biodiversity conservation through local and national projects.
Captions:
Table of fungi commissioned by Puccinelli. The herbaria, the historic library collection, the xylotheque, and the other collections belong to the “Cesare Bicchi” Museum.
Benedetto Puccinelli, director from 1834 to 1850, compiled a flora of the Duchy of Lucca and initiated research on the fungi of the Lucca area.
Attilio Tassi, director from 1850 to 1860. The catalogues preserved in the library testify to the exchanges of plants and seeds with other botanical gardens.
Cesare Bicchi, director from 1860 to 1906, initiated a study on the grape varieties cultivated in the Lucca area.