This collection, consisting of 18 beds, follows the classical method of display in which plants are spatially organised according to their phylogenetic relationships (following the criteria of the Ranalian school, one of the schools of thought that proposed that the most primitive flower—originating from cycads—would be hermaphroditic, with a perianth and animal pollination). The collection is primarily didactic in purpose, aimed at understanding plant evolution. Each bed is bordered by a hedge of plants representative of each group.

Gymnosperms. Featuring species considered “living fossils”, such as the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), an emblematic species of Asian flora. Also noteworthy is a specimen of Spanish fir or pinsapo (Abies pinsapo), endemic to the mountain ranges of Cádiz and Málaga, as well as cedars (Cedrus), spruces (Picea), and a dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), another living fossil native to China, discovered in 1944. Among many other conifers, yews (Taxus baccata), junipers (Juniperus thurifera, J. phoenicea) and the araar or Cartagena cypress (Tetraclinis articulata) are also present.

Monocotyledonous angiosperms. This group is represented by relatively cold-tolerant palms (Arecaceae), such as the Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) and the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis), among others; Asparagaceae, such as Agave americana, Yucca brevifolia and wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius); grasses (Poaceae), such as esparto grass (Lygeum spartum) and giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea); and Liliaceae, mostly bulbous and rhizomatous plants, including yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus), several cultivars of bearded iris (Iris germanica) and tulips (Tulipa gesneriana), among others.

Dicotyledonous angiosperms. The largest part of the Systematic Collection includes beds representing different subclasses:

– Subclass Magnoliids, with representatives of the Magnoliaceae (e.g. Magnolia grandiflora, M. liliiflora, M. × soulangeana), Lauraceae (Laurus nobilis), and several perennial herbaceous Ranunculaceae, including the threatened Iberian endemic Delphinium fissum subsp. sordidum, as well as columbines (Aquilegia vulgaris).

– Subclass Hamamelids, with trees from the Ulmaceae family such as hackberry (Celtis australis), mulberry (Morus alba), hazel (Corylus avellana) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), among others, as well as other families of major forestry and ornamental importance: Juglandaceae, such as walnut (Juglans regia), and Fagaceae, such as Portuguese oak (Quercus faginea) and holm oak (Q. ilex).

– Subclass Caryophyllids, including Caryophyllaceae such as Gypsophila struthium and Amaranthaceae such as shrubby orache (Atriplex halimus), among others, capable of growing on gypsum soils (gypsophilous plants) and saline soils (halophytes), respectively.

– Subclass Dilleniids, with Salicaceae such as willows (Salix) and poplars (Populus), Malvaceae such as lindens (Tilia), Tamaricaceae such as tamarisks (Tamarix), Cistaceae such as rockroses (Cistus albidus, C. salviifolius, C. monspeliensis…), Ericaceae such as strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), a small collection of endemic shrubby crucifers of the genus Vella—including Vella pseudocytisus and Vella spinosa—and an important collection of the genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae), among others.

– Subclass Rosids, represented by Rosaceae (e.g. Prunus spinosa, Sorbus aria, Rosa canina), Anacardiaceae such as terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus), legumes or Fabaceae such as Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) and Colutea brevialata, Aceraceae such as sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), Aquifoliaceae such as holly (Ilex aquifolium), Rhamnaceae such as Christ’s thorn (Paliurus spina-christi), and Hippocastanaceae such as horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), among others.

– Subclass Asterids, with species from the Oleaceae family such as mock privet (Phillyrea angustifolia), ashes (Fraxinus angustifolia, F. americana), lilacs (Syringa vulgaris), honeysuckles (Lonicera), and representatives of the Lamiaceae (= Labiatae), dominated by aromatic shrubs (Salvia, Thymus, Sideritis…), among others.