Sniff the air. Do you smell the delightful scent of essential oils? Many sclerophyllous plants emit essential oils to minimise the evaporation of water. The oil remains as vapour around the plant, reducing evaporation.

Sclerophyllous plants grow in many areas where the summers are hot and dry and the winters temperate and humid – such as the Mediterranean. This room houses many plants that are typical of the Mediterranean region. There are also some subtropical plants from Asia.

Read more about the plants in this room:

• Camellia sinensis

• Citrus limon

• Ginkgo biloba