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Buildings and Structures
Glasshouses
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Palm House
The Palm House provides a centrepiece to the Gardens. Both dramatic and elegant, its curvilinear structure is a classic example of Victorian design. Built between 1844 and 1848, it was constructed to house tropical trees, shrubs and palms.
Among the many interesting plant species on display are economically important ones with historical connections with the Gardens, notably rubber and breadfruit. In contrast to such widely grown crop plants, the cycads on display are among the world's rarest and most ancient species, many being on the verge of extinction in their natural habitats.
Beneath the Palm House is the Marine Display. Tanks contain fish and coral as well as algae - the beginnings of plant life on earth. Plants from tropical mangrove swamps and European tidal rock pools emphasise the diversity of plant life beneath the waves.
About some of the plants found in the Palm House: