The Centre, has been continuing with
studies on the cultivation, adaptation and growing characters
of the Datca Date Palm; “Phoenix theophrastii”, one of the
two Palm species endemic to the European continent.
Additionally the Centre has supported the introduction of the
“Golkoy Palm” a sub-species of “Phoenix theophrastii’, to the
world botanical community. Apart from Palms, we have been
experimenting on the cultivation and adaptation of various
Cycads, and various other plants and trees originating from
South Africa, Australia and Americas in
our relatively cooler
Mediterrenean Climate. The Centre has in the recent years
gained experience on the endurance and adaptability of these
varieties to colder climates. On this topic we have been
helpful to the International Palm and Botanical Communities
and researchers, through internet.
4000
m
(43.056 ft²) of the land, has been allocated to Water and Bog
gardens. Their developement were started in 1992 with the
small lake. After 3 years of
work, the small lake, now “Tourtoise
Lake” and its island
were completed. This has also facilitated the ground water
level-swamp area management. In 2004 with
the
construction of 19 circular ponds, “Dream Garden” was created,
where 17
varieties
of water lilies and other water and swamp plants are exhibited.
In 2005, during the second development phase of the Botanical
Garden, a rectanguler pond where water plants are exhibited,
was added.
In 2005 the “Cactus
and Succulent House” project, the construction of which
started in the spring of 2004, was completed. In the spring of
2005, exhibition of some 300 varieties of cacti and succulents
started inside and outside the Cactus House. Also in the
same year an “Exotic Fruits
Collection” in a small area behind the
Cactus
House, containing tropical, subtropical and interesting fruit
bearing plants has
been created.
The “Oleander Cafe”,
a rest area for the visitors, was designed and completed in
June of 2005. The Centre has a collection of 30 varieties of
Oleanders. The most important member of the collection is the
“Nerium Oleander Esener” which has single pink flowers
and variegated leaves in the shape of sickles. In 2006 the
construction of the Tropical Greenhouse and the plantings were
completed.
Due to its
limited resources, the Palmiye
Merkezi (Palm Centre)
has as yet no Research Laboratory. Nevertheless, studies are
being conducted in greenhouse nursery environment, in the
areas of germination, nutrition, development of new varieties,
and seed life (viability) for the our native palms.
Twin and triplet Jelly Palms; “Butia capitata” and “Butia
yatay” which have been
cultivated in
our Centre have yielded their first fruits in 2003. Hybrid
palms which
we have developed in 2003
by cross breeding the Dwarf Palm “Phoenix roebellenii”
and Senegal Date Palm“Phoenix reclinata” are continuing
to grow.
Almost all
of the palms cultivated in the Palm Centre, have been grown
from imported seeds. Today, however, through our Seed Bank
sales, we provide seeds for many palms and plants which are
commonly not available in Turkey. In 2005 we started export of
seeds to other countries. From 2005 we also started sales of
seedlings of new variety of palms to growers in addition to
seeds, to broaden the varieties in cultivation in our country. |