Future Events

Friday Afternoon Trip to the Dunedin Botanic Garden

Join us for an afternoon visit to the Dunedin Botanic Garden to view the Craspedia collection.

This is our second trip to the gardens this month, offering Otago Botanical Society members a special behind-the-scenes look at the glasshouses and propagation area.

🗓 Date: Friday, 26th September 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM 📍 Meeting Point: 82 Lovelock Ave

If you’d like to attend, please contact Lydia Metcalfe to RSVP

Field trip to Mahaka Katia Scientific Reserve (Pisa Flats)

Mahaka Katia Scientific Reserve (Pisa Flats) is situated on an elevated terrace above Lake Dunstan just north of Cromwell. It is a unique example of Central Otago dryland habitat that has mostly been lost to agricultural development and residential subdivision. Pisa Flats is one of the few remaining places where populations of a number of rare, native, dryland endemic species can still be found. These include Raoulia monroi, Lepidium solandri, Convolvulus verecundus, Myosotis uniflora and Craspedia argentea. Myosotis uniflora is classified as At Risk – Naturally Uncommon and the yellow-flowered form is more or less confined to the Pisa Flats. We are timing our visit to hopefully coincide with its spring flowering. Craspedia argentea is known only from this location and is considered Threatened – Nationally Critical. If we have time, we will possibly visit the saline sites at Springvale Scientific Reserve or the Chapman Road Reserve both near Alexandra to look at Central Otago spring annuals, a suite of dryland species that includes Myosotis brevis, and the tiny buttercup relatives, Ceratocephala pungens and Myosurus minimus.

We will meet at the Botany Department carpark at 8.00 am and travel to Cromwell and then on to the Reserve. Bring lunch, warm clothing, rain gear and suitable footwear. Travel time from Dunedin to Cromwell is approximately 3 hrs. Contact David Lyttle | djl1yttle@gmail.com | 027 654 5470

Endemic plants and animals of Otago – what have we got and how do we know?

Scott Jarvie, Senior Scientist Terrestrial Ecology, Otago Regional Council.

Otago has a high diversity of plants and animals, reflecting the region’s contemporary landscapes, geological past and climatic history. Over 450 species have so far been identified as only naturally occurring in Otago, meaning they occur naturally and breed exclusively in the region. In this talk, I will provide an overview of our regionally endemic species in Otago and how this was determined, with a focus on our plants. Other projects that have contributed to our understanding of our regionally endemic species will also be touched upon, including a project assessing the extinction risk to species regionally and a project compiling type localities for species.

Rewilding in Action: the hands-on mahi, the podcast, and the thinking behind it

Speaker: Maureen Howard, BSc Hons, PhD (Psychology).

Join Maureen on her rewilding journey as she explores what rewilding looks like in our small part of Aotearoa through her podcast Rewilding in Action; as well as her thinking about what this term means – so far! Maureen will share some useful things she has learned along the way, from hands-on experience in assisted native regeneration, to the technical ins and outs of creating a podcast.

Field trip to Heyward Point Scenic Reserve

This reserve near Aramoana, is a rare example of coastal podocarp/broadleaved forest with many special features including fragrant tree daisy (Olearia fragrantissima) and climbing daisy (Brachyglottis sciadophila). With luck, lunch will be in the sun admiring the interesting shrub and herb communities on the dramatic coastal cliffs and headland. We'll do a return trip from the end of Heyward Point Road. Meet at the Botany Department carpark at 9 a.m. Leader John Barkla 027 326 7917.