Succulents

In this greenhouse you will find plants from the dry regions on Earth. Many of them are thick-fleshed since they have water reservoirs in their leaves and structure, this is called succulent.

The greenhouse is divided into geographical sections: on the right side of the walkway are plants from the New World (North and South America), amongst them many cacti (Cactaceae) and agaves (Asparagaceae). On the left side of the walkway are the plants from the Old World. Amongst them are plants that on first sight seem cacti. However, these are representatives of Euphorbiaceae, spurge family, in appearance they seem similar to cacti. They represent on the African continent a similar ecological niche as cacti in America and have in their evolution developped similar appearances (convergent evolution).

On the side of the Old World you will seem some old palm farns (Cycadaceae). They moved in 1969 from the old gardens 'Alter Botanischer Garten' with some other plants to the Morgenstelle site.

Another area where you can find succulents in our garden ist in the courtyard next to the offices, here you can see some hardy succulent plants. In the entrance to the greenhouses is a displac case where we show some special South American cacti since 2016: Copiapoa and Sulcorebutia.

Attention! Please do not touch plants, many of the plants in drylands are not only thorny or prickly, but also poisonous!