South American Department

The phytogeographic department of South America is cultivated on the terraced slope protected from wind and inclined towards the sea. It occupies 0.71 ha. The department was cultivated in the nursery from the beginning of the Garden; early on it was named the Chile phytogeographic department. Later, the department added exotic plants from Argentina, Peru and Brazil. At that time, it was moved to the lower side of the administrative building, adjacent to the Upper Park and was renamed the South American phytogeographic department. This department has never had a wide variety of species; some aliens of South American origin have become well adapted to our climate and have been introduced not only in the Ajara seaside, but also elsewhere in western Georgia (feijoa, butia, abutilon, passion flower, etc).

In 2016, the department was represented in collections by 18 families, 20 genera and 22 species. Podocarpus nubigenus, Araucaria angustifolia and Araucaria araucana are included in the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) “red list.”

There are 2 distinctive groups where new specimens are planted in this department:

1. Aliens with decorative merits useful for unit and group plantings. These include: Abutilon striatum, Araucaria angustifolia, Bignonia unguis-cati, Cortaderia argentea, Lantana camara, Manihot cartaginensis, Peumus boldus, Podocarpus nubigenus, Passiflora coerulea.
2. Fruit–bearing and decorative plants with edible fruits, also used for arrangement and design of alleys, single or artistic group plantings: Butia capitata, Acca sellowiana, Persea gratissima, Psidium littorale.