Welcome to the Legends of Leiden Treasure Hunt by Leiden Ludens!

This hunt is all about the world-renowned alumni of Leiden University. As you travel through town, you will encounter several QR codes like the one you just scanned. They each represent 1 of 7 puzzles related to Leiden legends. You can do the entire tour in one go, or do a puzzle every day – whichever way you prefer! (The QR codes aren’t going anywhere).

Puzzle #4

Clusius Garden

 

Carolus Clusius (born Charles de l’Écluse, in 1526 in the North of France) travelled across Europe, collecting and studying plants, before coming to Leiden, where he would live until his death in 1609. He was one of the world’s first botanists and introduced many exotic plants to the Low Lands (such as the Turkish tulip). At Leiden University, he became a professor and the first prefect (director) of the university’s botanical garden, which he helped establish.

Clusius pioneered 16th-century botany, a study rooted in the Renaissance and the resurging interest in science and nature. His hortus medicus has been recreated near its original location, based on the extensive notes Clusius left behind. You can see it in front of you. Renaissance gardens followed strict patterns. The Clusius garden was a strict square divided into four quarters, each representing a different continent.

The garden is represented by the grid below. It is up to you to fill the garden with plants according to the following set of rules:

  • Each square must contain 1 of each type of plant
  • Each row (vertical and horizontal) must contain 1 of each type of plant
  • The two diagonal rows must contain 1 of each type of plant

Good luck!

(Use this pdf to help you fill out the sudoku, or take an editable screenshot with your phone).

 

What types of plants grow in squares A1 and C3?

Type your answer behind the / in the URL. Example: pastatplay.com/youranswer.

All typed answers must consist of alphabetical symbols only (no spaces, numbers or punctuation marks).