El Jardin Botanico Francisco Javier Clavijero

While in Xalapa I visited the Jardin Botanico Francisco Javier Clavijero. There is a botanical garden alongside a cloud forest sanctuary.

The botanical garden has an unrivaled collection of Mexican cycad species, and the Ecological Institute is home to Dr Andrew Vovides.

Andrew kindly showed me the collections and told me the fascinating stories behind his collecting trips and the dire state of cycad conservation of these species.

Andrew and his technician Sonja. The computer is connected to the microscope on the left. The monitor is showing cross-sections of cycad leaflets.

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There is an impressive collection of cycads at the botanic garden.

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Andrew with his cycad namesake: Ceratozamia vovidesi

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Various Dioon species from Mexico

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Dioon sonorense grows in the desert in Mexico, and its fronds have an unusual curled architecture.
It is endangered because the plants are harvested for alcohol.

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Dioon seedlings are grown nearby and then sold on site.
These are endangered plants that will prevent wild plants from being harvested.

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Ceratozamia euryphyllidia
looks very un-cycad like! The leaflets are enormous.
It's critically endangered because of habitat loss.

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Ceratozamia hildae is also called the bamboo cycad.
It is endangered because of habitat destruction and over -collecting for ornamental purposes.

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A view of the ecological institute and the National Dahlia collection.
Dahlias are native to Mexico.

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Part of the botanical gardens includes a natural cloud forest. This is a path through the forest.

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