Eden Project

Pepsi Pool revealed

For several years now the Pepsi Pool in the Mediterranean Biome has been in hiding behind dense clumps of restios that have thrived in the boggy conditions around the pool’s edge.

But after some strenuous digging by the horticultural team the pool has finally been revealed and is now showing off its flowering aquatic plants.

You may be wondering why it is called the Pepsi Pool – well, the Cape mountain streams and pools in the Fynbos, a species-rich area forming part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa, are dark brown in colour due to natural tannins that leach into the water making it  resemble a famous soft drink. The leaves of many Fynbos plants are packed with tannins to deter browsers and they are highly flammable. In the heat of summer, dry leaves often burn, releasing their tannins into the soil.

The plant you can see floating on the surface of the Pepsi Pool is Aponogeton distachyos, also known as Cape pondweed or Water Hawthorn. The flowers are sweetly scented and edible and can be pickled or used in salads, soups and most importantly, Cape stew!

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Category:

• Horticulture

Tags:

Horticulture, Mediterranean Biome