New Tropical Biodiversity Greenhouse at Rome's Botanical Garden to Study Air Pollution Mitigation

The Orto Botanico di Roma, under the jurisdiction of Sapienza University, has inaugurated the Serra della Biodiversità Tropicale (Tropical Biodiversity Greenhouse) on June 18. The new greenhouse, established through a collaboration with Antoniodeluca Farms Inc., aims to create a permanent scientific, exhibition, and educational platform focused on tropical plant species. Its primary research goal is studying how tropical plants mitigate atmospheric pollution. The greenhouse will house ornamental, medicinal, and industrial plant species, with periodic updates and donations to the permanent collections. The initial planting took place in the area behind the 18th-century Fontana dei Tritoni. The Orto Botanico spans about 12 hectares between Via della Lungara and Monte Gianicolo, on the archaeological site of Horti Getae. Its current layout dates to 1883 when the Italian government and the Municipality of Rome acquired Villa Corsini alla Lungara. The garden features a historic palm collection over a century old, a large historic greenhouse, and specialized greenhouses for succulents and tropical plants. It also includes a Mediterranean wood, one of Europe's richest bamboo collections, a rose garden, and a Japanese garden. The Serra Corsini houses two basins that belonged to Queen Christina of Sweden.