Šumarski list, Vol. 135 No. 5-6, 2011.
Stručni rad
Woody Plants of the Zagreb Zoo Garden
Igor Poljak
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za šumarsku genetiku, dendrologiju i botaniku
Marilena Idžojtić
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za šumarsku genetiku, dendrologiju i botaniku
Marko Zebec
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za šumarsku genetiku, dendrologiju i botaniku
Sažetak
The Zagreb Zoo garden, which is also the first zoological garden in Croatia, was founded in 1925 in the park Maksimir and still contains woody species that were planted during the formation of the park. Given the importance of trees and shrubs in landscaping, as well as the great historical importance of individual trees, this paper presents a list of woody species and explains the dendrological, horticultural and historical value of the garden.
In the area of about 5.5 ha 238 different species of woody plants from 100 genera were determined (Table 1), of which 38 belong to gymnosperms and 200 to angiosperms. Of these 144 are deciduous, whereas the others are evergreen or leaf-exchanging. The most common genera are: Juniperus(12 species),Prunus(12 species),Salix(10 species),Acer(9 species),Berberis(9 species),Euonymus(7 species),Lonicera(7 species),Picea(6 species),Spiraea(6 species),Cornus(5 species),Cotoneaster(5 species),Fraxinus(5 species),Thuja(5 species) andViburnum(5 species). In total, along with the tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean species in the Tropical House and the Pavilion for Monkeys, there are 262 woody species in the garden. The large number and diversity of woody species, both autochthonous and allochthonous, gives special value to the Zoo and the whole Maksimir Park.
The horticultural value of an area depends not only on plants, their appearance and arrangement, but also on all the other park elements and contents. The essential elements and contents in the garden are wooden benches and low fences that are equal to the ones in Maksimir Park, furthermore educational facilities, paved paths and walkways etc. Out of the large number of buildings and dwellings for animals, the ones of historical significance must be highlighted: The Lion Bridge, Pavilion for Monkeys and the Tower on the First Island. One of the indispensable elements in the Zoo are educational panels and boards. In addition to educational content about animals, the garden also offers its visitors a variety of contents on plant species and natural habitats from which individual animal species originate.
After the time of Haulik, the first list of woody species within Maksimir Park was provided by Ettinger (1889), who stated that a large number of species disappeared from Maksimir due to gardeners’ procedures or the irresponsible behavior of visitors. According to Ettinger (1889) in the whole of Maksimir 162 tree and shrub species were present at that time. This list is extremely valuable and can serve as a basis for planning new planting. Of the trees planted in Hauliks time today a group of four old London Plane trees stand out on the First Island. Apart from that, on the eastern side of the Zoo there are another four significant American Plane trees – two of them located near the Tropical House, and two in front of the former quarters for elephants. Also, it is worthwhile to mention the specimen of white poplar, swamp cypress and yew, of which the swamp cypress deserves special attention, since it is the largest specimen of its kind in Croatia (183 cm in diameter and 34 m in height).
Landscape architect Dragutin Kiš (1981, 1982b) states that the Zoo should undergo pro found changes not only in physical terms, but also in the organization and manner of pre senting animals to visitors. Today, after almost 30 years, significant results can be se en in terms of garden arrangement. Metal grids, wires and concrete were replaced by na tural barriers, such as ditches covered with low vegetation, and water barriers covered with wetland vegetation. To improve the conditions of keeping animals, efforts are ma de to simulate their natural habitats by spatial planning, design of dwellings and plant selecting.
Characteristic species belonging to the forest community of the peduncled oak and common hornbeam grow throughout the area of the Zoo, of which Quercus roburis dominant, followed by Tiliaspp.,Carpinus betulus, Prunus padus, Ulmus minor, Fraxinus angustifolia, Acer campestre,Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Crataegusspp., Cornus sanguinea, Rosa arvensisand Lonicera caprifolium.
Although the Zoo cannot be considered a park, the fact that it is located within the his torical framework of the protected Maksimir Park must be one of the main guidelines for the selection of plant species in landscaping of the garden. In addition, it is necessary to ta ke care of the autochthonous vegetation in the park and forest area of Maksimir, as well as of plant species as the landscaping element for creating the ambiance of animal habitats.
Ključne riječi
dendrological value; historical value; horticultural value; Maksimir Park; shrubs; trees; Zagreb Zoo Garden
Hrčak ID:
71632
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.6.2011.
Posjeta: 2.874 *