Argotti Botanic Gardens & Resource Centre

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Malta - Floriana

Institution Code: ARG

BGCI Member: Yes

About the Argotti Botanic Gardens & Resource Centre

The inner section of the Argotti Botanic Gardens is administered by the University of Malta. The gardens are set in the historical fortifications of Floriana and their origin dates back to the 18th century Knights period but became formally associated with the University of Malta in 1805.

The roles of the Argotti Botanic Gardens include that of maintaining indigenous and exotic collections of plants mainly adapted to Mediterranean-type biseasonal climate as well as cacti and succulents. It is also involved in collecting, preserving and cataloguing specimens for the herbarium and seeds for the seed bank. The gardens are also involved in conservation projects, focusing on the propagation of rare and endangered species including a number of endemics. One long term conservation project concentrates on the Maltese National tree, Tetraclinis articulata. Several undergraduate and postgraduate research projects are undertaken on a yearly basis, which focus on different aspects of plant biology including: the study of phytochemical components and their bioactivity against cancer cells and microbes; microbial dynamics in compost; phytochemical profiles and karyotypes of related plant species and in vitro propagation of rare Maltese plant species.

Additionally the gardens often serve as an open classroom for school children of all ages who attend guided tours customised to the students’ age level and often include hands-on activities. For the older secondary classes the tours are ecology, biology or geography oriented. The gardens are also periodically open to the general public for guided tours and surplus plant sales.

Main Address:
Argotti Botanic Gardens & Resource Centre
Argotti Botanic Gardens
Triq Vincenzo Bugeja
Floriana
FRN 1553 Malta

Telephone: 0035621248984
Fax:
URL: www.um.edu.mt/argotti
Primary Email: argottigardens@um.edu.mt

Staff Details

  • Director's Name: Tony Meli
    Curator's Name: Tony Meli
    Plant Records Officer's Name: Christian Borg
  • Total Staff:
    Horticultural Staff Number: 2
    Educational Staff Number:
    Research Staff Number:
    Administration Staff Number: 3

About the Garden

  • Institution Type: Botanic Garden
  • Status
  • Status: Educational: Yes
  • Date founded: 1805
  • Physical Data
  • Latitude: 35.8962
    Longitude: 14.4820
    Altitude: 0.00 Metres
  • Locality: Information
  • Locality: Garden Name: Il-Gonna Botanici tal-Argotti
  • Local Address:
  • Locality: City:
  • Locality: State:

Features and Facilities

  • Open to public: Yes
  • Number of Visitors: 2500
    Number of Volunteers: 11

Plant Collections

  • Special Collections:Exotic flora, Maltese flora, cacti, succulents. Seed list produced regularly.

Conservation Programmes

  • Conservation Programme: Yes
    Ex Situ Conservation Programme: Yes

Research Programmes

  • Pharmacology: Yes

Education Programmes

  • Guided Tours: Yes
    Courses for School Children: Yes
    Education Programme: Yes