Botanical Species for Zoos: A Comprehensive Speculative List

AndyJ08

AndyJ08

Well-Known Member
This thread’s purpose is to shed light on a rarely discussed topic- which botanical species are present in zoological gardens and aquariums. After hours upon hours of researching plant habitats, native, ranges, and availability, I am currently formulating a comprehensive species list of plants for any Zoochatters to use in their speculative projects, specifically which plants to use in order for exhibits to be geographically correct. I am planning to update this thread once or twice daily. Enjoy! -AndyJ08-
 
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Caribbean Coastal Forests and Tropical Dry Forests:
Trees/palms:
Cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea)
Florida thatch palm (Thrinax radiata)
Paurotis palm (Acoelorraphe wrighti)
Jamaican cherry (Muntingia calabura)
Sugar apple (Annona squamosa)
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra)
Geiger tree (Cordia sebestena)
Lignum vitae tree (Guaiacum officianale)
Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)
Shrubs:
Autograph tree (Clusia rosea)
Barbados gooseberry (Pereksia aculeata)
Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco)
Coral bush (Jatropha multifida)
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta)
Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima)
Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)
Sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
Aroids, Vines, Ferns, and Flowering Plants:
Boat lily (Tradescantia spathacea)
Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
Turtle vine (Callisia repens)
Giant air plant (Tillandsia fasciculata)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
Golden polypody fern (Phlebodium aureum)

 
Jurek7 said:
I would welcome a list of plants which can thrive in exhibits of ungulates and primates without being eaten. Some zoos have a species or another, but overall such exhibits still look rather bare.
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Mr. Gharial is right, but I will certainly take your question into consideration. Some fast-growing trees such as Moringa Trees, Neem Trees, and Pink Trumpet trees (Tabebuia rosea) would do well with larger ungulates, as would sturdier trees such as larger oaks, sycamores, and the like. Primates are another can of worms, as many are frugivorous, so many fruiting trees may be of value to them.
 
Central American Lowland/Mid-elevation Rainforests:
Trees/palms:
American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera)
Cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes)
Royal palm (Roystonea regia)
Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Balsa tree (Ochroma pyramidale)
Guiana chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea)
Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)
Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata)
Shrubs:
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Firespike (Odontonema strictum)
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
Aroids, Lilies, and Gingers:
Arrowleaf elephant ear (Xanthosoma saggitifolium)
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
Canna (Canna indica)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Jungle velvet (Goeppertia warscewiczii)
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii)
Tri-part philodendron (Philodendron tripartitum)
Vines:
Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)
Baby rubberplant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Inchplant (Tradescantia zebrina)
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)
Bromeliads:
Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata)
Scarlet star (Guzmania lingulata)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
 
AndyJ08 said:
Central American Lowland/Mid-elevation Rainforests:
Trees/palms:
American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera)
Cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes)
Royal palm (Roystonea regia)
Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Balsa tree (Ochroma pyramidale)
Guiana chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea)
Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)
Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata)
Shrubs:
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Firespike (Odontonema strictum)
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
Aroids, Lilies, and Gingers:
Arrowleaf elephant ear (Xanthosoma saggitifolium)
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
Canna (Canna indica)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Jungle velvet (Goeppertia warscewiczii)
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii)
Tri-part philodendron (Philodendron tripartitum)
Vines:
Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)
Baby rubberplant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Inchplant (Tradescantia zebrina)
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)
Bromeliads:
Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata)
Scarlet star (Guzmania lingulata)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
Click to expand...
AndyJ08 said:
Central American Lowland/Mid-elevation Rainforests:
Trees/palms:
American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera)
Cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes)
Royal palm (Roystonea regia)
Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
Cacao tree (Theobroma cacao)
Papaya (Carica papaya)
Balsa tree (Ochroma pyramidale)
Guiana chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea)
Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)
Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata)
Shrubs:
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Firespike (Odontonema strictum)
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
Aroids, Lilies, and Gingers:
Arrowleaf elephant ear (Xanthosoma saggitifolium)
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)
Canna (Canna indica)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Jungle velvet (Goeppertia warscewiczii)
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii)
Tri-part philodendron (Philodendron tripartitum)
Vines:
Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)
Baby rubberplant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Inchplant (Tradescantia zebrina)
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)
Bromeliads:
Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata)
Scarlet star (Guzmania lingulata)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
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I assume that you would check the toxicity of any Flora,before adding to any enclosures.
 
Mexican and Central American Tropical Dry Forests:
Trees/palms:
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
White sapote (Casimiroa edulis)
Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba)
Pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea)
Shaving brush tree (Pseudobombax ellipticum)
Strangler fig (Ficus aurea)
Shrubs:
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra)
Golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta)
Mexican honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera)
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeena)
Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)
Cacti/succulents:
Century plant (Agave americana)
Yucca (Yucca gigantea)
Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa)
Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)
Vines:
Flamevine (Pyrostegia venusta)
Golden chalice vine (Solandra maxima)
Purple wreath (Petrea volubilis)
 
Sorry for the absence over the past two days. I have been busy with Christmas shopping/substitute teacher duties and the like, and I plan to get back on schedule later this week.
-Andy-
 
Do you happen to have a list of vines found in the Gran Chaco regions of South America? Trying to get some specific plant species down for some of my habitats and was curious.
 
Van Beal said:
Do you happen to have a list of vines found in the Gran Chaco regions of South America? Trying to get some specific plant species down for some of my habitats and was curious.
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Sorry about the late reply, but I known that Petrea volubilis (queen’s wreath) and Pyrostegia venusta (flamevine) are native to the Chaco region. Two other interesting species to include in a Chaco-themed exhibit are the Vachellia farnesiana (sweet acacia) and the Anacardium occidentale (cashew) (which is unfortunately assumed by many zoos to be a rainforest species). Feel free to ask any other questions, I’ve just been bogged down with cataloguing new species in my library.
 
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Hello, I’m back. I’m going to kick off this week’s string of post with a new list of plants for a VERY popular zoo geographical exhibit-theme; the Amazonian Lowland Moist Forests:
Trees/palms:
Açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea)
American oil palm (Elaeis oleifera)
Balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)
Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Brazilian rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
Cannonball tree (Couropita guinaensis)
Guiana chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
Heaven lotus tree (Gustavia superba)
Ice-cream-bean (Inga edulis)
Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes)
Trumpet tree (Cecropia peltata)
Shrubs:
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Golden shrimp plant (Pachystachys lutea)
Shrubby whitevein (Sanchezia oblonga)
Aroids, Lilies, and Gingers:
Arrowleaf elephant ear (Xanthosoma saggitifolium)
Canna (Canna indica)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
False bird-of-paradise (Heliconia psittacorum)
Fern-leaf philodendron (Philodendron tortum)
Hairy philodendron (Philodendron squamiferum)
Hanging lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata)
Heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Oak-leaf philodendron (Philodendron quercifolium)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)
Tri-part philodendron (Philodendron tripartitum)
Pinstriped calathea (Goeppertia ornata)
Rose-painted calathea (Goeppertia roseopicta)
Swiss-cheese plant (Monstera adansonii)
Vines:
Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)
Garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea)
Giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis)
Flowering plants and bromeliads:
Baby rubberplant (Peperomia obtusifolia)
Flame violet (Episcia cupreata)
Flaming sword bromeliad (Vrisea splendens)
Nerve plant (Fittonia albiventis)
Scarlet star bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata)
Spotted peperomia (Peperomia maculosa)

 
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Atlantic Forest/ Mata Atlântica:
Trees/palms:
Guiana chestnut (Pachira aquatica)
Ice-cream-bean (Inga edulis)
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
Silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)
Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum)
Shrubs:
Angel trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens)
Barbados gooseberry (Pereksia aculeata)
Blue anise sage (Salvia guranitica)
Brazilian plume flower (Justicia carnea)
Bush allamanda (Allamanda schlottii)
Firebush (Hamelia patens)
Princess flower (Pleroma urvilleanum)
Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora)
Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
Aroids, Lilies, and Gingers:
Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora)
Canna (Canna indica)
Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia seguine)
False bird-of-paradise (Heliconia psittacorum)
Heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Oak-leaf philodendron (Philodendron quercifolium)
Peacock plant (Goeppertia makoyana)
Prayer plant (Goeppertia orbifolia)
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Rattlesnake calathea (Goeppertia insignis)
Silver sword philodendron (Philodendron hastatum)
Swiss-cheese plant (Monstera adansonii)
Tree philodendron (Thaumatophyllum bipinnitafidum)
Tricolor stromanthe (Stromanthe sanguinea)
Walking iris (Trimezia northiana)
Xanadu philodendron (Philodendron xanadu)
Zebra calathea (Calathea zebrina)
Vines:
Arrowhead (Syngonium podophyllum)
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea glabra)
Passionflower (Passiflora carulea)
Purple wreath (Petrea volubilis)
Small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis)
Turtle vine (Callisia repens)
Flowering plants and bromeliads:
Blushing bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae)
Christmas cactus (Schlumburgera truncata)
Flaming torch (Billbergia pyramidalis)
Polka-dot begonia (Begonia maculata)
Scarlet star bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata)
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
Urn plant (Aechmea fasciata)
Wax begonia (Begonia cucullata)
Ferns:
Delta maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum)
Golden polypody (Phlebodium aureum)
Southern sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
 
Austin the Sengi said:
These lists have been quite helpful as far as Neotropical plants go; and some very useful ones might I add!
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Thank you! I unfortunately had to discontinue the listings, as I’ve been bogged down with college work and the like, but feel free to ask any more questions. (I’ve been compiling “ecoregion lists” in the meantime that are highly specific and contain plants as well).
 
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