Past Events

Weekend field trip to the Catlins

Building on last year's popular formula, this trip will explore several exciting botanical locations over two days. Saturday will be spent at Purakaunui Bay and its sandy beach flanked by enormous sandstone cliffs, followed by a look at the rare alluvial forest of Purakauiti Stream with its giant specimens of Pittosporum obcordatum, Melicytus flexuosus and Olearia lineata. Sunday will be based around Nugget Point with an opportunity to check out forest restoration and Olearia hectorii recovery at Otanomomo Scientific Reserve on the way home. Accommodation on Saturday night will be at Nugget Point Lighthouse Keepers house (numbers limited). Day trippers are welcome to join us on either day. To reserve accommodation or find out more contact John Barkla ph. 476 3686 (evenings) by Wednesday 2 November. Leave from Botany carpark at 8.30 am Saturday.

Ghosts of Indian Princes - 4th Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture

Assoc. Prof. Kevin S. Gould will present the 4th Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture with a talk entitled Ghosts of Indian Princes - The Remarkable Properties of Red Pigmented Plants. The eastern states of North America play host each year to one of natures most spectacular phenomena. From Maine to North Carolina a rich mural of reds, carmines, crimsons, scarlets, and purples accompanies the leaves of deciduous trees as they embark on the processes leading to winter dormancy. New Zealand, too, has its share of vermillion spread across all orders of plants from the liverworts to the angiosperms. Such displays have long been considered an extravagancy without a vital function. In contrast, recent research suggests that the red pigments anthocyanins can in some instances be critical for plant survival. Anthocyanins seem to empower plants to tolerate a diverse assortment of environmental stressors, including exposures to strong light, ultraviolet radiation, drought, cold, fungal infections, and even protection from herbivores. The pigments are, moreover, potent scavengers of free radicals, the reactive atoms and molecules that have the potential to destroy DNA, membranes, and proteins. Red-pigmented plants also hold the potential for the advancement of human health; the consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods is associated with a lower risk of non-infectious diseases, including coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, ischemic stroke, Alzheimers, and certain cancers. These remarkably versatile pigments are evidently natures Swiss army knife.

Plus: Audrey Eagle Botanical Drawing Competition Display and Prize Giving. NOTE SPECIAL VENUE: Castle 1 lecture theatre, Otago University. Keep this date free.

Trees on campus

A guided walk by University of Otago Grounds Officer, Robert Scott, to see the University of Otago Commemorative and Memorial trees. In 1980 the University established a Register as a permanent record of commemorative and memorial features within the campus grounds. The Register was updated in 2001 with an improved page layout, better photographs and more flexibility in adding or altering existing pages. Currently 41 items are listed throughout the campus commemorating staff, students and benefactors of the University. Meet at the Botany Dept car park at 9:00 am.

Leaving the white line: A journey in conserving the rainforests of the Adelbert Mountains, PNG

Talk by Matt Scott. The Adelbert Range in northern Papua New Guinea, boasts a remarkable biodiversity, hosting up to 57 mammalian species and some 336 avian species. Many of these species, like the Fire-Manned Bower bird, are found nowhere else in the world. However, there has been significant pressure from the government to log these virtually pristine forests as part of a large forestry concession. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is using innovative solutions to help protect the landscape and biodiversity of this region. I will discuss the project, the people and my personal experience working in the Adelbert Range. 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.

Expedition to The Crater

Expedition to The Crater, a bold ring of basalt in a schist landscape on the side of the Taieri Ridge. It's a steepish walk up through pasture to this 20 million year old volcanic remnant, to look for botanical relics in the ephemerally wet basin and on the craggy rim. Bring hand lens, lunch, plenty of water and all-weather gear. (Rain date Saturday 24 Sept). Meet at the Botany Dept Car Park at 9.00 to car pool.

Weeds & I; a weed-led tour of SE Australia, NW Queensland, and Southern New Zealand

A pictorial tour from Ian Radford. During the course of his research career, Ian has studied several weeds in depth, including Hieracium spp., and collected many botanical slides from far-flung places. These include the N Coast of NSW, the Northern Tablelands, Hunter Valley NW Slopes, Kosciusko National Park, Victoria and Tasmanian Alps, Townsville region and far North Queensland, and the high country of Southern New Zealand. 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.

Trip to Okia Reserve

The Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust and Save The Otago Peninsula have invited BSO to join them on a Conservation Week walk. Okia Reserve has a particularly high level of endemism and botanist Peter Johnson will be there to point out some of the rare plants hiding in the dune hollows and in the crevices of the basalt rock pyramids. It's a flat 20 min walk out to the Pyramids and there's a well-marked track on out through the dunes to Victory Beach. Meet at the Botany Dept Car Park at 9.15 to car pool, or go straight to the car park at the end of Dick Rd by 10 am. Contact person Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust Office 479 0011; email yept@clear.net.nz or Lala Frazer 478 0339 evenings.

Tunnel Beach

Half-day visit to the dramatic coastal sandstone cliffs, caves, tunnels and arches just south of Dunedin. It's a short 20 min walk down to the mouth of the tunnel, where a stunning natural arch is still covered in a close mat of coastal turf plants, despite continued grazing and trampling. Look out for; tiny selliera (Selliera radicans), sea primrose (Samolus repens) and tiny button daisy (Leptinella dioica) and their low-growing companions. A hand lens and kneeling pad would be handy. Dress for the weather and wear shoes or boots with a good grip - the drop-offs are sheer! Queries to Allison Knight, 487 8265. Meet at the Botany Car Park for car pooling, or at the Tunnel Beach carpark 20 min later.

Otago in the time of the moa

A talk by Geoff Rogers. A look at how we might paint a picture of Otago's prehistoric landscapes using all the investigative tools used by landscape ecologists and archaeologists. 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.

Trip to Sutton Salt Lake

Led by John Barkla. NZs only inland saline lake, with water half as salty as sea water. Salt-tolerant herbs line the margins of the lake, which occupies a shallow depression in the schist landscape near Middlemarch. Surrounding grasslands and shrublands have not been grazed since 1991 and contain uncommon plants such as the endemic speargrass, Aciphylla subflabellata, while the rock tors harbour an undescribed native forget-me-not. There will be a species list we hope to add to. Its an easy walk, bring your lunch and be prepared for frost. Back mid - late afternoon. Contact John Barkla, 476 3686 (evenings).

Eco-sourcing local plant material for use in restoration projects.

A talk by Philip Dunn, Ribbonwood Nursery, Dunedin. As well as selling native plants to the public, Philip is involved in a number of bush restoration projects. These projects are located both locally and across the Otago region. Phil will talk about his involvement in these projects. 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.

Mushrooms and other fungi of eastern North America

A talk by Dr Steve Stephenson, University of Arkansas. The forests of eastern North America support a large and diverse assemblage of macrofungi. What are some of the more colorful, unusual and interesting fungi to be found in these forests? What are their ecological roles? 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.

Fungal Foray to Knight's Bush

Trip to Knight's Bush (Tuapeka West) to collect fungi with David Orlovich. The bush on the banks of the Clutha River contains beech, kanuka and mixed broadleaf/podocarp forest, so it should be a great locality for many exciting fungi. Bring hand lens, a basket or bag for collecting fungi, greaseproof paper (for wrapping specimens in the field) and a camera if you have one. Leave 8 AM from the Botany Dept carpark. More details will be posted closer to the date.

AGM and The World's most beleaguered biome: Temperate grasslands and their conservation status.

A brief AGM will be followed by a talk by Emeritus Professor Alan Mark. Prof. Mark writes: "I will discuss/describe/show pictures of most of the World's temperate grasslands and discuss the conservation status of each, including New Zealand". 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.

Old Man Range Field trip with Prof. Alan Mark

The Botanical Society are invited to join an open field day that Prof. Mark has advertised in the ODT (see letters column 22 Feb.) in response to a runholder challenge for Prof. Mark to produce a photo of his exclosure there at 1220 m, confirming the tussocks within are healthier than those recently burnt (and grazed) in the surrounding area. The trip will provide an opportunity to have a closer look at some of the recent ecological work there and also to discuss tenure review in general. We will leave the Botany Dept at 8 AM Sat April 9, to arrive at the foot of the range about 10.30. We plan to leave about 3.00 PM and arrive back at the Department of Botany about 5.30-6.00 PM. 4WD vehicles recommended but cars should be OK. If you wish to attend this field trip, please contact Ian Radford in advance, so that numbers can be determined for transport etc.