Orto Botanico dell'Università di Trieste
The Orto Botanico dell'Università di Trieste (4.2 hectares) is a nature preserve and botanical garden operated by the University of Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, northern Italy. The garden was established in 1963 on the grounds of Villa Valerio, a chocolate baron's former estate, shortly after it became university property. In 1968 two small greenhouses were added. The garden's most recent catalog was published in 1990; since then the garden has not been fully maintained. At present, about 1 hectare is planted with specimens including "Aesculus hippocastanum", "Laurus nobilis", "Prunus avium", and "Sambucus nigra , as well as Helleborus, Polypodium, Seseli, and Valeriana. The remaining area is kept in a natural state; species include Carpinus orientalis", "Centaurea forojuliensis", "Pinus nigra", "Quercus petraea", "Quercus pubescens", as well as "Dianthus tergestinus", "Euphorbia characias wulfenii", "Potentilla tommasiniana", "Ruscus aculeatus", etc. One greenhouse contains a collection of about 80 species of succulent plants including Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, and Euphorbiaceae; the other is devoted to species of temperate climates.