On a work trip to Italy on 4th April 2009 I took the opportunity to visit Orto Botanico in Padua. Founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic, it is the world’s oldest academic botanical garden that is still in its original location! Here’s an album of pictures of mostly edible plants I took that day!
Gingko biloba
Platanus orientalis from 1680!
Magnolia liliiflora
Musa basjoo
Cercis siliquastrum
Koelreuteria paniculata( Golden Rain Tree) has edible shoots and the seeds were roasted
There are many records of Tamus communis being eaten traditionally in the Mediterranean countries (from Spain to Palestine), butcareful preparation is needed to boil away the saponins
Viola banksii from Australia
Cardamine enneaphylla
Asparagus acutifolius
Polygonatum hybridum
Asparagus tenuifolius
Asparagus tenuifolius
Polygonatum odoratum
Melittis melissophyllum is sometimes used as a flavouring in drinks, like maibowle
Hosta fluctuans
Hosta nakaina
Hosta capitata
Hosta crispula
Hosta elata
Hosta rectifolia
Hosta decorata
Oenanthe pimpinelloides
Smyrnium olusatrum
Ferula assa-foetida (?); most accessions of this Indian spice are wrong in European botanical gardens
Crambe cordifolia
Boehmeriabiloba
Rumex patientia
Sagittaria platyphylla
Polymnia uvedalia, north American relation of yacon
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