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Princess of Wales Conservatory - dry tropics

The Dry Tropics Zone
 

 

The Princess of Wales Conservatory
Dry and Seasonally Dry tropics

The Dry Tropics Zone

This zone represents arid regions from around the world. Plants here have taken to many different ways of dealing with the lack of water in their environment, conserving it with waxy skins or fleecy jackets, or storing it in succulent stems. Many of these plants, such as aloe vera, frankincense, myrrh, sisal and prickly pear are also useful to man.

Some of the cacti and agaves are displayed against a Sherman Hoyt painted diorama, forming an atmospheric desert backdrop from the south-western USA, also known for the legendary Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia).

Although coming from opposite sides of the world, the agaves and nearby aloes show many similarities in adaptations for survival in these conditions. Some plants called 'living stones' (Lithops) are so well camouflaged in their surroundings that they are safe from animal grazing - until they flower.

The collection of unique plants from the Canary Islands and Madagascar include many species that grow wild only on these islands and are now under threat due to destruction of their natural habitats. These plants highlight the important role of Kew's collections as a conservation resource.

The Seasonally Dry Zone

The Seasonally Dry Zone is an enclosure watered sparingly in the winter. It contains plants from the East African deserts and savannah which have all adapted in different ways. For example, the baobab stores water in its thick trunk, while acacias shed leaves in the dry season to conserve water. Bulbous plants die back to their below-ground bulbs and many grasses survive as seeds awaiting the next rainfall.

Nearly 20% of the world's population lives on the edge of desert, where drought and often inappropriate farming techniques bring danger to semi-arid ecosystems. Kew is learning more from its living collection, studying the use of plants as sustainable crops for food, fuel, fodder and medicine, and to help slow down the rate of desertification.

Continue the tour

Up arrowBack up to: North Eastern Zone

Forwards arrowCarry on to: Wet Tropics and Cloud Forest

 

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