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Continued

This is the Cycas Revoluta - a floral dinosaur of sorts. It belongs to a group that we are familiar with primarily from the fossil record - specifically the Permian era (250 to 290 million years ago) and later eras. This was one of the world’s first seed-producing plants. It grows wild in southern Japan. The cycas is cultivated in many places around the world as an ornamental plant. Right by the entrance, before even reaching the path crossing the lawn, we are greeted by a nice selection of East African acacia trees.
At the same place, to the right of the path, is a strange-looking tree. The layman might never associate it with the eucalyptus family. Nevertheless, eucalyptus it is - specifically, a Eucalyptus melanophloia, whose hallmark are its silvery leaves. The young leaves are heart-shaped while the adult leaves are egg-shaped ellipses with their base hugging the branch from which they grow. This extraordinary appearance makes this variety of eucalyptus popular as an ornamental tree. In Israel it is planted in the Jordan Valley and the Western Negev. Some 170 varieties of eucalyptus have been planted at Ilanot. Only about half of them survive today. We will be able to meet them later on (the eucalyptus species includes approximately 700 varieties).
Left (west) of the lawn is a tree with a green trunk and yellow flowers - Cercidium floridum - a deciduous tree from the deserts of North America. It is well adapted to arid regions. Its leaves are small to prevent moisture loss due to evaporation. The green color of the trunk and branches is a sign that they are rich in chlorophyl, which enables them to take part in the photosynthesis process, which enables it to shed its leaves during periods of drought stress and to continue with the photosynthesis. The tree’s green seed pods were food for the Native Americans and large serving ladles were made from its trunks.
Beyond the small square with the benches is a Laurus nobilis. This is a typical Mediterranean plant. It grows wild on the Carmel mountains and in the Galilee, mainly in the moist woodlandsץ At Ilanot it has managed to grow exceptionally tall.
The eastern flank - the Laurus nobilis marks the end of the main path. We shall turn right (east) along the path that curves to the left. Nearby is an impressive stand of Pinus pinea, recognized by their reddish trunks. The Pinus pinea is the source of the tasty pine nuts. This tree grows in the western Mediterranean, however apparently already during Roman times it got planted throughout the ancient empire’s provinces to enjoy the splendid flavor of its nuts. KKL-JNF planted this variety of pine in its forests in the Judean Hills, the Carmel and Galilee

We have arrived at the Australia Grove. No sooner have we entered the curve and to our left the branches of the Allocasuarina torulosa drape the path forming a beautiful screen. Thanks to this property, the tree is especially effective when planted to prevent noise nuisances and to screen eyesores. The tree grows wild along the fringes of Australia’s rainforests. Its high-quality timber is used for making luxury utensils such as knife stands.
At the nearby rectangular square we shall encounter the Stringybark She-Oak. This is the nickname the visitors have given the Allocasuarina inophloia. The tree trunk is covered with a kind of brown fur, which splits into thin lengthwise hairlike stands. One cannot but admire the look of this unusual tree.
Shortly afterward, to the right of the path, is a Calliltris verrucosa. This Australian conifer, with its scaly Leaves, resembles a juniper. The tree’s endearing feature is its cone, which is covered with wartlike bumps. In Austria these cones remain closed on the tree for years. They only open after a fire, at which time they disperse hundreds of seeds which, following the fire, find plenty of clear space in which to germinate almost unencumbered by competing plants. Gardeners love this tree’s modest irrigation needs.
We now approach another “gate” - this time it is a spot where four paths intersect. One of the shining stars of the climatization garden grows here - the mottlecah (Eucalyptus macrocarpa). This shrublike tree grows wild in Western Australia’s semi-arid regions. Its fleshy arrowlike leaves are covered with a thick layer of hair, giving them their grayish color. The plant is loved primarily for the beauty of its huge red flower, the largest of all eucalyptus varieties. Countless red stamens grow from the flowers, each capped with a yellow hood of pollen. The tree bursts into bloom in mid-October and remains in bloom until mid-winter. Such a large flower is bound to produce large fruit. This tree has been planted in several locations around the country, including in the Western Negev, Nir Oz and Sde Teiman.