It’s a living classroom inside the Chemistry Biology Building. The UWSP Tropical Conservatory is home to 300 different species and cultivars from Central and South America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific islands. The space is open to campus and the community daily from 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. The Tropical Conservatory is entirely maintained by student workers.
The large tropical greenhouse, opened in 2019, includes 103 vascular plant families. Students began a catalog of ethnobotanically important plants in the conservatory. Please enjoy learning about the wide array of trees, edible plants, vines and aquatic plants featured on this page.
You can make a difference in support of our Tropical Conservatory. Just visit the Alumni Foundation giving page and select College of Letters and Science.
Tropical Ethnobotany Collection
Get familiar with the beautiful species of plants in our Tropical Conservatory. The UWSP campus facility is home to species and cultivars found around the world!
Artocarpus heterophyllus
Jackfruit
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal, Dye, Wood
xCitrofortunella mitis
Calamondin Orange, Musk lime
Economic use categories: Food and Beverages
Ilex paraguariensis
Yerba mate
Economic use categories: Beverage
Averrhoa carambola
Starfruit, Carambola
Economic use categories: Food, Beverages, Medicinal, Wood
Theobroma cocoa
Cocoa Plant
Economic use categories: Food, Medicine, Dye, Agricultural Mulch
Lablab purpureus
Hyacinth Bean, Lablab
Economic use categories: Food, Soil Amendment for Farming
Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Medicinal
Manihot esculenta
Cassava, Yuca, Tapioca
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal
Piper nigrum
Black Pepper
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal
Camellia sinensis
Tea
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal
Curcuma longa
Turmeric
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal, Dye
Musa acuminata
Banana Leaf
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Clothing, Medicinal
Ficus Carica
Fig
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal, Fiber
Psidium guajava
Guava
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Medicinal
Vanilla planifolia
Vanilla
Economic use categories: Food, Scent
Coffea arabica
Coffee
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Wood, Medicinal
Elettaria cardamomum
Cardamom
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Medicinal
Colocasia esculenta
Taro
Economic use categories: Food
Dimocarpus longan
Longan
Economic use categories: Food and Medicinal
Artocarpus altilis
Breadfruit
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal, Fiber
Mangifera indica
Mango
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal, Dye, Wood
Punica granata
Pomegranate
Economic use categories: Food, Beverage, Medicinal, Dye, Wood
Persea americana
Avocado
Economic use categories: Food, Medicinal