Palmetum

The Palmetum hosts an impressive collection of Arecaceae, representing numerous genera naturally distributed across all continents. 

Thanks to the favorable climate, there are over 600 specimens and around 100 species cultivated outdoors, making this one of the most diverse and significant palm collections in the region. Many species originating from tropical Asia, Central and South America, and various tropical islands.

Among the most notable are Roystonea regia from Cuba, Bismarckia nobilis, Dypsis decaryi, and Ravenea rivularis from Madagascar, Serenoa repens from Florida — well known for its medicinal properties — Wallichia densiflora from the Himalayas, and Cryosophila argentea from Central America.

Palms (Arecaceae family) are monocotyledonous perennials dating back to the late Cretaceous (70-80 million years ago). They are unique for their columnar habit, with an unbranched stem and pinnate or palmate leaves arranged in a crown. They grow only from the apex and produce fruits such as dates and coconuts. They only have diametrical growth in the first years of life, having reached their maximum circumference they only develop in height.

Linnaeus called Palms “Principes plantarum”; he recognised them as a distinct taxonomic group and described many species.

One of the most fearsome pests of palms is the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), a beetle native to Asia and found throughout the Mediterranean. Extremely damaging to a large number of palm species, it is able to bring about the death of attacked plants in a short time.