Bid to propagate endangered Maltese plant species

An HSBC University Foundation was launched yesterday to assist students studying finance, management and accounting and to ensure plant conservation and continued propagation of endangered Maltese plant species at the Argotti Botanic Gardens, in Floriana.

HSBC will be providing Lm20,000 each year for the next five years, Lm3,500 of which will go towards plant conservation and mass propagation of rare or endangered Maltese endemic and indigenous species.

The bank's chief operating officer, Tim Fitzpatrick yesterday presented an additional Lm1,000 to Joseph Buhagiar, curator of the university section of the Botanic Gardens, in the presence of university pro-rector Charles Farrugia. The sum, which is over and above the funds donated through the foundation, will be used to produce a number of display stands at the garden.

The HSBC University Foundation will be administered by a board chaired by university rector Roger Ellul Micallef. The vice-president will be appointed by HSBC and the treasurer will be the university's finance officer.

The university will shortly appoint two members to sit on the board.

The Argotti Gardens date back 250 years. The area originally comprised two private gardens, one belonging to Emmanuel Pinto de Fonseca and the other to Ignatius de Argote.

On his election as Grand Master in 1740, Pinto sold his garden to de Argote who used the land to build a summer residence.

He further embellished the garden with fountains, and a unique Nymphaeum and introduced exotic plants, some of which are still growing today. These include the Dragon Blood Tree (Dracaena Draco), a huge specimen which is still showing signs of growth after over 200 years.

De Argote also built a new entrance gate which is still used today as the garden's main entrance.

An interesting structure dating from de Argote's time is an ornamental grotto whose interior was once completely lined by a mosaic of rustic rock, pieces of red coral calcite crystals, seashells and coloured pebbles. The coat-of-arms of de Argote is still intact but the rest is in poor condition.

A marble statue of Diana carrying a bow in her hand and standing on three dolphins themselves resting on a basin forming a fountain used to complete the centrepiece of the grotto.

The statue was taken to the President's Palace at San Anton in 1984 and replaced by a poor copy of the original.

Students from primary and secondary schools, sixth forms and postgraduate students pay educational visits to the botanic gardens.