Until November 15, the Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes in Paris will host the “Tropical Fall” exhibition. Take advantage of the All Saints holidays to visit it and take the children to discover surprising plants that grow without soil, clinging to trees, 3 m or 30 m high in the canopy.
In nature, in tropical rainforests, orchids, ferns, anthuriums … live very well as well. Patrick Blanc, botanist and inventor of plant walls observed these plants during numerous expeditions: “They don’t need soil to live, but some are quite smart and also make their own humus.
The leaves of the Bromeliad, a family of plants to which pineapple belongs, interlock with each other and form a kind of cylinder. These cylinders allow the plant to collect water but also dead leaves which decompose and form humus. Platycerium (stag horn ferns) have another tactic. When the leaves die, they fold in on themselves. “
“Some ferns can accumulate 20 to 30 kg of humus without detaching from their host tree.”
Patrick Blancto franceinfo
In France, you can observe epiphytic plants, especially near waterfalls. They cling to algae, moss and even rocks.
In this exhibition, you will be able to see many American epiphytic plants with firecracker pink, bright red, flashy orange flowers. These bright colors are there to attract their favorite pollinators, the hummingbirds. These little birds with long, thin beaks collect nectar from the tube-shaped flowers.
You will also be able to see Medinilla, with huge hanging pink flowers, very common in the forests of the Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea.
“These plants are much more adaptable than you think.”
Patrick Blancto franceinfo
They are called the air girls. In their natural environment, tillandsias grow without soil, clinging to trees or to electric wires.
You will find in the Grandes Serres an ephemeral shop to learn more about these pretty, undemanding plants.
“Tropical fall”, until November 15, Large Tropical Greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris. Daily, except Tuesday. For all audiences. Price: from 5 to 7 euros.