The Botany Gardens Glasshouses
In 1946 the University purchased the estate of Plas Penglais. Within two years the house was extensively renovated and enlarged, while the wilderness around it was being tackled by the garden staff, who created the lovely garden, with lawns sweeping down to the little brook and beds of shrubby and perennial plants
These beds became known as the Order Beds because each one was planted up with plants belonging to the same flowering family or natural order. On the other side of the brook, on the east side of Plas Penglais drive (across Penglais Road opposite the main campus entrance), a large wooden- framed glasshouse was erected, along with a single storey brick building which now constitutes our present potting- and storage-sheds.
Tropical House
Described by visitors as ‘the Kew Gardens of Aberystwyth’. The plants here include everyday tropical food crops eg. banana, chocolate and coffee; ancient plants that fed dinosaurs; insect eating plants and water plants with ‘armband’ flotation! together with many vivid coloured and textured leaves.
Within the Tropical House is a wide diversity of plant species, including Lycophyta (club mosses), ferns (around ten species), cycads, forty or so species of Cacti and succulents, a banana ‘tree’ (pictured), pineapple plant, date palm and cocoa tree, insectivorous plants and Orchids, and many others grown simply for their ornamental value.
Students and campus visitors are welcome to visit the glasshouses and see these exotic plant species. Entrance to the Tropical Glasshouse is through the potting shed. Please remember that the buildings are only open during working hours (9.00-13.00 – 14.00-16.00, Monday to Friday).
Ferns and Cycads
Flowering Plants (the Angiosperms)
Flowering plants are assembled in beds and displays.
In the classification system devised by Cronquist, the angiosperms are the Division Magnoliophyta, which is subdivided into two classes (ending-opsida), each of which is divided into subclasses (ending-idae). In all, there are 12 angiosperm subclasses,containing 400 families (ending-aceae) and more than 200,000 species.
Class Liliopsida (the monocots)
- Alismatidae - Aquatic herbs
- Arecidae - Palms, aroids
- Commelinidae - Spiderworts, papyrus.
- Zingiberidae - Banana, bromeliads
- Liliidae - Lilies, orchids
Class Magnoliopsida (the dicots)
- Caryophyllidae - Cacti, etc
- Dilleniidae - Nepenthes, Hibiscus, passion-flowers.
- Rosidae - Chenille plant, etc.
- Asteridae - Clerodendrum, etc.
Acknowledgments and contacts
Glasshouse staff: David Summers, Pat Causton, Ray Smith, Tom Thomas and helpers.
Tel: 01970 628612
Original text by Dr Ian Scott and Pat Causton
