Future Events

Open ecosystems in forested landscapes: an overlooked biome for species assembly in New Zealand

Speaker: Bill Lee

The talk explores the origin, diversity and contribution of non-forest ecosystems below treeline to the richness and diversity of the New Zealand flora, especially in comparison to the well known Alpine and Forest biomes. Open ecosystems are dominated by light-demanding species and have played a major role in the diversification of genera, giving rise to many species with restricted distributions across diverse habitats. They also present distinctive conservation challenges in addition to predator and weed control but are foundational for the protection of our biological heritage.

Lichen themed talks

Two of the recipients of a BSO grant to attend the 2025 John Child Bryophyte and Lichen Workshop give presentations. Lily Donahue's talk is “Second Skin: lichens and the pliable plane”. She will cover the historical associations of lichens and textile (including the chemistry of lichen dyes and potential future research to be done on NZ lichen species as sources of dyes). Kacey Hutchison will also give a lichen themed talk.

QEII covenant near Waimate

Meet at the botany carpark at 8.30, return around 5pm. Please RSVP to Lydia Metcalfe (027 726 5556)

Lichen Bioblitz, Dunedin Botanic Garden

This bioblitz is part of the Wild Dunedin festival (www.wilddunedin.nz) and will tie in with the international City Nature Challenge (www.citynaturechallenge.org). Our challenge is to find and photograph as many species of lichen as possible, and put them on iNaturalist. Wild Dunedin is organising several iNaturalist sessions in advance, keep checking www.wilddunedin.nz/cnc for updates. So if you can recognise a lichen, or take photos, or help put photos on iNaturalist do come and enjoy the challenge. Help will be given on identifying the lichens. Contact:  Allison Knight, allison.knight.nz@gmail.com or text 027 4878265

Lichen Foray to Knights Bush

This 230 ha property bordering the Clutha River conserves some of the last remaining native forest from the lakes to the sea. There are hundreds of lichens for your enlichenment amidst regenerating and old-growth kanuka, silver and mountain beech, ancient totara and matai on the southern slopes, regenerating podocarp/broad-leaf forest on the river flat and kowhai/divaricating shrubs on the sunny north faces. Tracks are steep and could be slippery. 4WD is recommended and carpooling is needed as parking is limited. Meet 9 am at Botany Dept. to carpool. Contact: Allison Knight 027 4878265, allison.knight.nz@gmail.com

AGM and photo competition

Please consider joining the committee.

The photographic competition is a popular and eagerly anticipated event for anyone interested in botanical photography. Enter your best photos and learn what makes a good photograph and how to improve your photographic skills from our panel of expert judges. Your photographs may be chosen for the BSO Calendar so this is your opportunity to have one month of fame. Start organising your entries now and don’t wait until the last minute.

Grahams Bush track

This is an out/back walk from the back of Sawyers Bay to Mt Cargill Road (total elevation gain of 330m over 3kms, if you go all the way). While primarily through second growth forest, large podocarps can be spotted. This classic damp Dunedin gully also holds numerous ferns, lichens, and bryophytes. Bring, a lunch, water bottle, warm clothes and wear sturdy shoes. Meet 9:00am at the Botany Department to carpool, return 2pm.  Leader Gretchen Brownstein 021 065 8497

Orchids on Whenua Hou

Speaker: Kelly Phillips. Details TBA

Natural history of New Zealand flowers

Speaker: Phil Garnock-Jones.

New Zealand flowers are often described as small, plain, and simple, but our flowers have some unusual features too and there is substantial flower variation within large clades like Veronica sect. Hebe, Myosotis, and Pittosporum. Phil will show and talk about some of the flowers he studied and photographed for his book "He Puāwai – a Natural History of New Zealand Flowers" (2025), such as hutu (Ascarina lucida), hangehange (Geniostoma ligustrifolium) and tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa). He will also include some Otago examples and some flowers studied by Otago botanists.