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OmAN
BOTANIC GARDENS Dr Darach Lupton writes on creating an oasis for native plant conservation in Oman
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hroughout their history botanic gardens have had a variety of changing roles. From the early medicinal and pleasure gardens to the vibrant gardens of the botanically fervent Victorian age to the modern, ultra high tech visitor attractions we see around the world today, botanic gardens have traditionally attracted visitors, gardeners and scientists through exotic plant displays, often showcasing collections from far flung corners of the globe. Although this is still the case in many places the overall scope and design of botanic gardens has shifted greatly from their early days. In more recent times botanic gardens have become key players in both the conservation of plants and in the education of the people who come to see them. For example, they play a role in mitigating the effects of climate change and habitat loss. Botanic gardens are in some cases the last refuge for threatened plants, they often hold vital collections and knowledge as to the storage and cultivation of the world’s most fragile plant species. It is clear botanic gardens have moved and continue to move towards the frontlines of plant conservation and environmental education. It is these very issues that initiated and drive the design, construction and remit of the nascent Oman Botanic Garden. Oman, a country of approximately 300,000 sq km lies on the south-eastern shores of the Arabian peninsula. It is a desert country, steeped in tradition and environmental beauty. The climate is harsh with summer temperatures in excess of 48C and an average annual rainfall of 100mm. One could be forgiven for assuming that an ultra-arid, baking hot county like Oman would possess a native flora dominated by only a few hardened, parched plants, wizened by their years beneath an unrelenting sun. This is a common misconception held by locals and visitors alike. Images of scorched landscapes, devoid of plant life, prevail in the minds of all but a few people. However, those of us privileged enough to spend their days in
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the mountains, deserts and wadis of Oman immersed in the bountiful wildlife can paint a very different picture. A picture of stunning, often unique plant life, where strange natural forms, colours and aromas combine to produce a wealth of plants and plant communities unparalleled in the region. There are ancient trees, giant succulents, parasites, lush ferns, thorny shrubs, enormous grasses, minute herbs and numerous regionally and globally endemic (found nowhere else) plants. To date over 1,200 native plant species have been recorded in Oman, however ongoing research by Oman Botanic Garden indicates that this figure may be a significant underestimation. So how can an ultra-arid country like Oman contain such floral diversity? The answers to this question are complex and dependent on the interaction of a host of factors. It is perhaps better to think of the answer in terms of an intricate web of prehistoric land movement, historic plant migration and evolution, geological and landscape processes, climate, habitat formation and human environmental interactions. The interaction of these processes and conditions contribute significantly to Oman’s inimitable botanical diversity. Journeying from north to south or east to west one begins to grasp the wealth of habitats throughout Oman’s landscape. In northen Oman the Musandam peninsula, with its high mountains and plateaus, provides a home for a dazzling array of herbaceous perennials and several important tree species. Plants of note include, the Arabian almond (Prunus arabica) [photo 1], the miracle tree (Moringa peregrina) and numerous beautiful bulb species, e.g. Moraea sisyrinchium Gladiolus italicum [photo 2], Ixilirion tataricum [photo 3], and Leopoldia longipes. Moving south from Musandam, the magnificent Al Hajar mountains rise from the coastal plains forming breathtaking peaks such as the renowned Jabal Al Akhdar (2400m asl) and Jabal Shams (3000m asl). The mountains abound with wadis, high altitude alpine ridges, expansive plateaus and
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Left to Right; Photo 1-The majestic Prunus arabica flushed with new growth following rains in March 2014, Photo 2-A stunning Gladiolus italicus in full bloom, Musandam 2014, Photo 3-Ixiolirion tataricum, a beautiful bulb species in Musandam
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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / Summer 2015
