Past Events

Hort Talk: Whats Cookin'?tips for cooking local produce

A talk by Steve Ellwood, at the Botanic Garden Centre.

Field trip to Leith Saddle

Celebrating International Year of Forests. This trip is open to members of the public and will be led by various members of the Botanical Society. The trip will follow a well formed track from Leith Saddle up through mixed podocarp broadleaf forest that grades into Libocedrus forest that in turn gives way to mixed tussock/ shrubland. This is perhaps the best piece of representative forest close to Dunedin. Depart from the Botany Department car park, corner of Great King Street and Union Street (West).

Orokonui Ecosanctuary workshop on plant photography with digital SLR cameras

At Orokonui Ecosanctuary, led by BSO photographer David Lyttle. Cost: $29.90 (Donation).

Genetic variation in Alfalfa mosaic virus

A talk by Aiko Lignon. MSc Proposal. School of Physical Education Seminar Room #213–4, University of Otago, 55 Union St, Dunedin

Can we use virus infection to manipulate secondary metabolites in economically important plants?

A talk by Max Corral. Botany MSc Proposal. School of Physical Education Seminar Room #213–4, University of Otago, 55 Union St, Dunedin

Orokonui Landmark Lecture. The meaning of eco: Science or brand?

A talk by Prof. Kath Dickinson, Dept of Botany, University of Otago. St David's Lecture Theatre, University of Otago.

Three talks by the winners of the Botany Postgraduate Research Colloquium

Jaz Morris will discuss how greenhouse conditions affect the physiology of giant kelp? Diego Urrutia Guevara presents a talk about the response of alpine plant and soil composition to induced environmental conditions on the Old Man Range, New Zealand, and Tim Crawford explains profiling low-oxygen electron transport in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Abstracts relating to each talk can be found in the communications section of the newsletter. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open.

Hort Talk: Green Ways to Eradicate Invasive Weeds

A talk by T. J. Irvin, at the Botanic Garden Centre.

A plan for Lepidium conservation at Long Beach

There is a rare un-named native herb in the cabbage family that lives at the sea cave. The Department of Conservation wishes to do work to improve its numbers and future. You are invited to meet this Lepidium and discuss its future. Meet at the cave at the north-west end of Long Beach.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Garden design and plants to attract native birds.

A talk by Philip Dunn, Ribbonwood Nursery. At Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Cost: $5.00 (Donation).

My place in the world: An update on the electron microscopy facilities at the University of Otago

A talk by Allan Mitchell, Technical Manager, Otago Centre for Microscopy. Union St Lecture Theatre, Cnr Union St West & Great King St.

Differential susceptibility to ocean acidification

A talk by Associate Professor Catriona Hurd. Marine Science Seminar Room, Dept of Marine Science, University of Otago, 310 Castle St, Dunedin (corner Frederick and Castle Streets).

Friendly Forest Fungi: mycorrhizae of NZ native forest trees

A talk by Dr David Orlovich in celebration of International Year of Forests 2011. I will discuss the importance of fungus-root symbioses in NZ forests and describe recent research on native mycorrhizal fungi. A Department of Botany Lunchtime Seminar. Note: Special time and Venue: Union St Lecture Theatre, Cnr Union St (West) & Great King St.

10th Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture: Complex relationships with friends and foes: How native plants manage the risks

Speaker Dr Bill Lee Landcare Research, Dunedin; Joint Graduate School of Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland. Plants share a world with many other organisms that represent both potential enemies and possible allies. For their enemies plants are a food source, but plants have developed numerous defences, including co-opting other animals, to protect vital organs. This involves strategic alliances, armed neutrality and active warfare. Plants also develop interdependencies with other biota for obtaining resources, assisting reproduction and dispersal, and limiting herbivory. The talk will explore what we know about these interactions in New Zealand, and discuss some of the extraordinary relationships amongst and between fungi, arthropods, birds, and plants. Emphasis will be on the strategies and tactics involved from the perspective of the plants, and how much plants are prepared to repel enemies and gain friends in natural ecosystems. At Castle 1 Lecture theatre. Nibbles and drinks from 5:30 in the Castle concourse, talk starts at 6:00 pm.

Field trip to Mihiwaka guided by Alf Webb

We will walk through some podocarp forest representative of the Dunedin area, then go on to regenerating shrub-land with a small sphagnum bog. We will see some of the eastern most Libocedrus bidwillii stands, and see wonderful views from the rock out-crops. Depart from the Botany Department car park, corner of Great King Street and Union Street (West).