The area in
which the Palm Centre is situated is not suitable for the
cultivation of cacti and succulents. The high ground water level,
intensive winter rains and
simultaneous low temperatures reduce the survival
rates of these plants. To avoid these unsuitable constraints, the
Cactus House has been built. The Cactus House has been built with
an elevation of 1,5–2,5
metres,
to
protect the plants against high ground water levels and the risk
of floods. It is 22 m by 12 m in length and width. To ensure
sufficient air circulation, a factor critical for cacti and
succulents, the center height of this greenhouse is 7m. Cactus
house has 140 m2 (1.506ft²) of cultivation area in its total
roofed area of 240 m2 (2.583ft²). Adjacent
to its outside wall
there is a terraced 170 m2 (1.830ft²) open air cultivation area
with a rock garden.
The collection
has some 300 species and subspecies of succulents included cactii.
About 100 of these are situated in open air (exterior), the more
sensitive remainders in the greenhouse. The collection mainly
consists of Opuntia, Mammillaria, Sedum, Euphorbia, Agave and
Aloes. There are more than 1000 plants in the greehouse.
Our thanks are
due to the contributions by Mec. Eng Turan Baykal, Cactus Grower
Taner Angay and Landcape Architect Nurcan Yeter from VSP
Cicekcilik Antalya branch, for the enrichment of the collection.
Amber resting area: This is a lawn area with our endemic Sweet Gum (Liquid amber
orientalis) trees, at the south side of the cactus House.
There are stone and wooden seating groups and shade loving plants.
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