Insights
Discover a remarkable atlas of plant biodiversity covering 3,500 plant species from around the world, visit the Botanical Museum, which tells how studies have evolved and traces the links between botany and medicine, explore the Renaissance medicinal herb garden, and find out all about Goethe’s Palm.
Visit
The Botanical Garden of Padua lies between the Prato della Valle city square and the Basilica of St Anthony. It was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. Visits can be by guided tour or self-organized, in which case the admission price includes an audio guide, with a version for children too — ‘AudioPen Kids’.
Events and activities
A Botanical Garden to explore and experience. Besides being the venue for a spring festival, Risvegli, dedicated to science and nature, the garden hosts events and shows all year round, with exhibitions and activities that take the visitor on a trip through the world of plants.
Research and collections
Research laboratories, the herbarium, the museum collections and the historical library are core elements of an activity that combines leading-edge research with the conservation of a rich historical and naturalistic heritage. A scientific mission begun in 1545 that continues today and every day.

barcoding
cycas
DNA

DNA barcoding - Cycas

Biodiversity

Cycas is a group of gymnosperms distributed in Australia, Africa and Asia, with many species listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened or endangered. Correct species-specific identification of the specimens found in botanical gardens can have positive repercussions in terms of conservation and possible reintroduction into natural habitats. To this end, a DNA barcoding approach was applied for molecular characterisation of the Cycas collections conserved in the Botanical Gardens of Padua and Palermo and for the identification of specimens that are unknown or of doubtful attribution.

DNA barcoding - Cycas

Project contacts

In collaboration with