Esplora was designed from its start to house a number of endemic and indigenous plants that have grown on this island since before man. Over the past few months, we added new species of plants that are endemic or sub-endemic to add to the biodiversity that our soil patches can sustain.
Together with Birdlife we set up a beautiful Dinja Waħda garden which, as it continues to grow, will allow for more and more insects, birds and other tiny creatures to visit and be able to look for food and shelter in the scorching sun. The idea of having more plants in our patches of soil allows the science centre to be a resting spot for many butterflies, bees, insects of all sizes and lizards that live on or visit this island from time to time.
When you come to Esplora as a visitor, you will be able to spot these plants and notice creatures scuttling around. These creatures all form part of the Maltese biodiversity. Our island, with a Mediterranean climate that these plants have adapted to over thousands of years, allows them to flower and bloom in these weather conditions.
In today’s blog I wanted to highlight some of the plants and animals you might be able to spot during your visit to Esplora Interactive Science Centre.
Jacobea maritima also known as ‘Kromb il-Baħar Isfar’ in Maltese and Sicilian Silver Ragwort in English is a sub-endemic plant that is found in Malta and other neighbouring countries that have shores along the Mediteranean Sea. It grows along the coast and can survive in very harsh conditions. It can also grow in salty conditions without much water. The leaves are long with what look like fingers. Each of them is covered in very thin white hairs that help the plant keep cool in the scorching sun by reflecting the sun rays. In the wild it grows in the cracks between rocks but these days you can spot it in some of our local roundabouts too whilst driving along Mellieħa or Kalkara.
As you walk around the centre you might also come across the national plant of Malta, Widnet il-Baħar in Maltese, Maltese Rock-Centuary in English. (Cheirolophus crassifolius)
This plant grows in cliffs and coastal valleys and produces a very spectacular purple flower. Its leaves are cup-shaped and grow at the very base of the plants creating eye-catching bouquets.
Check out the image below and try and spot one of the most common crab spiders in the Maltese Islands, the Humped Crab Spider or Brimba tal-Fjuri Mħattba (Thomisus onustus). I’ll give you a hint: it’s white and has a humped back.
While you are there, on a sunny day, you might be lucky to spot another endemic species we have on the Maltese Islands , the Maltese Wall Lizard. We have a few different races of these lizards living on our island, each with their own unique colours and markings. These creatures are cold blooded reptiles and so they love to bask in the sun when they can, or move around and spend time resting in the shade. They scuttle around rocks and soil, looking for insects that they could eat. Let us know if you manage to spot one at the science centre or around the Maltese island.
Lastly check out this feature done by David one of our Science Communicators on other endemic and native trees planted around the centre. Try and spot all of these amazing creatures, plants and trees wherever you go in nature and notice how many insects depend on them to survive. Each one has a unique habitat.
