Past Events

The Sequoioideae: What can extant lineages tell us about evolution?

Speaker: Jess Paull. In ages bygone, gymnosperms were at the height of their diversity. In the modern age, many face extinction due to the looming threat of climate change. What can this group (and others) tell us about our past and our future?

An Exploration of the Flora of Western Australia

The flora of Western Australia (WA) contains over 10,000 species of vascular plants and that, together with the huge area that the State encompasses, means that the visitor will only experience a tiny fraction of the floristic diversity that WA has to offer. In late August 2023 David Lyttle, together with his wife Belinda, embarked on a two-week camper van trip round the State. After collecting the camper van in Perth they drove north to Kalbarri National Park and then South to the Stirling Range stopping at various points on the way before returning to Perth. Although the spectacular great swathes of wildflowers for which WA is known were not in evidence due to an unfavourable season, they found plenty of botanical interest including a wealth of Banksias, Grevilleas, orchids and sundews. The talk will provide an introduction to the flora of WA as well as covering the journey, the landscapes, aspects of the photography and will be illustrated with a collection of wild flower images taken during the trip.
Artwork from the Botanical Art competition will be displayed at this meeting, and prizes awarded. There may also be an art auction, depending on interest.

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

Field trip to Okia Reserve, Otago Peninsula

Okia Reserve is a large coastal reserve on the Otago Peninsula that is jointly owned by the DCC and Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust. It comprises an old dune system that is rapidly changing from its dominant bracken cover to woody coastal species. The hollows between the dunes hold a variety of wetlands that include turf, bogs and ponds. The Otago Regional Council regard the dune hollow vegetation to be the best example in the Otago Coast Ecological Region. Along with the Pyramids - a significant geological feature, and Victory Beach - the longest beach on the Peninsula, there's plenty to keep us occupied. We'll do a walk that encompasses all these features and have lunch along the way. Meet at Botany Department carpark at 9am or the Okia Reserve carpark at the end of Dick Road at 9.45 am. Leader David Lyttle, email: djl1yttle@gmail.com

Geoff Baylis, fungi, symbiosis and the power of lichens

Location: Archway 2 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago.
Speaker: Allison Knight.

Drinks and nibbles starting from 5:15 in the Botany tearoom.

Geoff Baylis was an eminent botanist who led and nurtured the Department of Botany for 33 years. He drew attention to several critically endangered plants on Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, including the last surviving kaikōmako manawatāwhi / Pennantia baylisiana in the wild, brought back from the brink of extinction. In 2002 the Botanical Society of Otago held the first annual Geoff Baylis Lecture. Geoff described his pioneering advances on the function of arbuscular mycorrhizas, a symbiosis between a plant root and a soil fungus.

Around this period Allison was spending time with leading field botanist Tony Druce, botanical artist Audrey Eagle and innovative micro-photographers Bill and Nancy Malcolm. She collected lichens for David Galloway’s Flora of New Zealand Lichens and Ramalina for Jennifer Bannister’s meticulous studies. Inspired by these notable botanists Allison set out to make knowledge of New Zealand’s exceptional lichen diversity more accessible to a general public and produced an illustrated introductory guide. Lichens, like mycorrhizas, are a mutually beneficial symbiosis between a fungus and a photosynthesizing organism. We now know that the lichen symbiosis is a powerful ecosystem in miniature, made up of organisms from many different kingdoms. Over millennia lichens created soil from bare rocks and became widespread pioneers of life on land. Most are long-lived and all sequester carbon. Lichens are so resilient they can survive temperature extremes, nuclear blasts and outer space. Some make antibiotics with great potential. Many are sensitive indicators of pollution, and some respond rapidly to climate change.

This lecture will highlight the significant contribution that Geoff Baylis made to botany. Allison will discuss lichen evolution, structure, identification and function and integrate current knowledge of the lichen ecosystem into understanding the critical role that lichens play in keeping the earth resilient.

Drawing afternoon at the Otago Museum

Bring your favourite drawing materials for an afternoon of art at Tūhura Otago Museum. You can wander around the museum collections for inspiration or find a seat with a view into the trees. Everyone welcome, come for a bit of fun and maybe you start, work on, or just think about an entry for the drawing competition. Meeting place - Atrium Level 1

Aramoana Ecological Area

Our first stop will be an area behind the Arboretum. Here we will work to make a plant list (both natives and weeds) and note native plants which should be there and where they should be planted to assist the Aramoana Conservation Trust and the ORC with the site-led management plan. We will then a walk along the boardwalk to admire the saltmarsh and dune slacks. Finally a walk out on the mudflats to check on the health of the binding plants on the low dunes which form the outer barrier of the saltmarsh. Gum boots and warm clothes essential (and perhaps a snack). We won’t be walking on any saltmarsh vegetation. Meet at the Botany Department at 9am for carpooling or the Aramoana Domain at 10am. Return time 3pm. Contact Bradley Curnow bradleycurnow@yahoo.com.au

Ben Rudds Hut / Back side of Flagstaff.

A day trip to explore the tracks around Ben Rudds Hut. This land is owned by OTMC and is now a QEII covenant. In the past few years, the club has been doing weed control and planting. Check out the OTMC website for interesting history of the site. This trip is along well maintained tracks but there will be mud and ~200m of elevation gain/loss. Good footwear required and dress for all weather types. Meet at Botany Department car park at 9am and return time 2pm. Contact Gretchen 021 065 8497

Members night.

Come along to our mid-winter botanical gathering. If you like, bring a plant or a book to swap. Show off your latest photos or drawings. Or tell your best botanical find story. Drinks and nibbles provided (gold coin donation).

Frasers Gully.

A nice sheltered walk for a winter morning on a well-formed track through local native bush. Meet at the carpark end of Frasers Road (off Kaikorai Valley Rd) at 10am. We’ll plan to make our way along Kaikorai Stream for an hour or so (perhaps 1km), and then turn back to reach the carpark by noon. The more adventurous among us may decide to do the full 4km loop up to Dalziel Rd and back; others might like to regroup at local Cableways Bar & Bistro for lunch or snacks. Bring good walking shoes, water and a snack, and clothing for the weather. Sunday will be an alternative day in case of bad weather. Contact Angela Brandt (brandta@landcareresearch.co.nz) | 021 121 5657

Plant composition under native and exotic forests in Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Speaker: Aimee Pritchard

How canopy type and management techniques influence plant composition is a globally debated topic with varying points of view. Understanding these influences is important for the future of native regeneration and forest management techniques in Aotearoa New Zealand. This talk encompasses non-vascular and vascular plant diversity in forests and how they are influenced by canopy type, management regimes, and various environmental factors.

Slope Point and Environs, Southland

Leaders: John Barkla / Gretchen Brownstein.

On this trip to the far south we will visit both public and private reserves to see the diversity of plants and vegetation along the south coast, including coastal forests, coastal turfs, coastal cliffs, estuaries and sand dunes. The local QEII reps will lead us around some of the hidden gems of the area. We will be doing a series of shorts walks (between 5min to 1 hour at various sites) depending on site, so there will interesting plants to see for all levels of fitness. Come prepared to be flexible, with good walking shoes, warm clothing, food, and water. Limited accommodation at Slope Point is availble on the Saturday night. Travel 200km (one-way). Please contact Gretchen to book a place on the trip.

AGM and Photo Competition

We will have our AGM and then announce the winners of the photo competition. 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.

Manuka Gorge Lichen and Bryophyte walk

A short trail of Sycamore trees exploding in a lichen and bryophyte community, with a scattered native understory will lead us to Mount Stuart Tunnel. The tunnel was built around 1875 and is 442 metres long. The cool damp air may require warm clothing. If we turn the torches off, we might be rewarded with a glow worm show. The entrance of the tunnel walls are coated in hornworts, liverworts, moss and ferns. Having a hand lens and head torch on this trip is highly recommended. This is a short walk (~1km return) on well- formed tracks. Meet at the Botany Department carpark 9am. Returning to Dunedin by 2pm.

An Introduction to the Natural History of Chatham Island

Speaker: On Lee Lau. Chatham Island/Rēkohu/Wharekauri on the eastern edge of Zealandia is home to a high proportion of New Zealand's endemic flora and fauna. Join On Lee for a talk about encountering this flora and fauna in some special sites over the past few years while visiting the island to support freshwater fish research with Otago Uni. On Lee comes from a botany background in the Americas and has gained an appreciation for birds and bugs while working at Tūhura Otago Museum for the past 10 years. The talk will include a virtual visit to some of the island's rākau momori in kōpi groves, including the 2023 Winner for Rākau o te tau/Tree of the Year NZ Aotearoa.