Past Events

13th Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture, Peter Johnson "Long Leaves and Fat Roots"

A talk by Peter Johnson, Landcare Research, Dunedin. Long Leaves and Fat Roots. The Baylis Lecture is held annually by the Botanical Society of Otago, in conjunction with the Botany Department. It is named in honour of Dr Geoff Baylis, the first Professor of Botany at the University of Otago. My "long leaves" plant stories will be about Rhopalostylis, Cordyline, Cyathea, Freycinetia, Phormium, Astelia, Collospermum, Xeronema, Pseudopanax, Arthropodium, Austroderia, Chionochloa and Aciphylla. A sample of 110 spp that help to comprise what I see as an overlooked iconic group of the New Zealand flora, from palms to tussocks, each with its own lifestyle and morphology as it relates to wind, youth, old age, the funnelling or shedding of rain and nutrients, and competition. My "fat roots" stories will concern the likes of Griselinia and Coprosma which Geoff Baylis clearly demonstrated to be dependent on mycorrhizal fungi, a finding applicable to most plants throughout the world. As one of Geoff's PhD students in the 1970s, I reckon it is time for me to revisit this topic, so at the time of writing this abstract I have some reagents on hand to help take a further look at root morphology and stained fungi. So who knows what other stories might come out of the soil; (or from aerial roots, or as beneficial fungi in leaf bases of nest epiphytes?) Watch this space. Castle 1, University of Otago (drinks and nibbles starting from 5.15 pm in the concourse)

Trip to Saddle Hill

We will visit a 20 hectare block of dry coastal Otago forest on the Orr's property on Saddle Hill, an area protected by a QE11 covenant. This regenerating forest is located in a steepish gully and has been extensively replanted and maintained by the Orrs. Aside from the flora, fauna of interest is a colony of peripatus which was first located in this area by Anthony Harris. The walk is about 1.5 hours. Good footwear is essential and there is a picnic area where we could have lunch. Meet at the Botany Department car park at 10 am.

Council Focus on Biodiversity

A talk by Councillor Gretchen Robertson from the Otago Regional Council. Councillor Robertson will discuss the Councils focus and strategies for biodiversity in Otago. 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.

BioBlitz - Cryptic Corner

Mosses, liverworts and lichens are a large, but often overlooked, part of our native flora. Luckily it's not hard to stop and take a closer look and appreciate the huge diversity of cryptic species we have in New Zealand. Come along to our workshop to have a hands-on experience alongside some experts in bryophyte and lichen identification and see this tiny flora in a whole new light! Free, bookings essential. Led by Kelly Frogley

BioBlitz - Plants and how to look at them

We all know what plants are, but just how well do we look at them? Could you describe a plant to someone who has never seen it before? Can you even describe it to yourself? If not how can you know it? This walk will encourage you to take a closer look and think about what you are actually looking at. Free, bookings essential. Led by John Steel.

BioBlitz - Is the Leith dirty or healthy? Ask the bugs living in it!

The organisms living in the bed of a stream or river can tell us much about how clean or dirty this stream is. Many of these organisms are excellent bioindicators because they are sensitive to pollution and also reflect the conditions over several months before they are collected. During our walk we will visit several sites at the Water of Leith where we'll collect the aquatic larvae of insect groups such as mayflies and caddis flies. You will learn what these creatures can tell us about how healthy the aquatic community is. After the walk we'll take some of these animals to the Information Centre so we can study them under the microscope—they often look very impressive! Free, bookings essential.

BioBlitz - Lichen walk

This guided walk will reveal some of New Zealand's exceptionally rich lichen flora. Explore the Botanic Garden and Lovelock Bush to discover the diverse growth forms and habitats of these amazing symbiotic organisms. Free, bookings essential. Led by David Galloway

BioBlitz - Leaf Litter

Fine day: Leaf litter in the Botanic Garden will be put through a hand-held sieve onto a tray and the invertebrates will be identified using hand-held trays. Rainy day: A demonstration on sieving leaf litter for invertebrates will be quickly presented. Then, using microscopes set up on tables in the Botanic Garden Information Centre near the Winter Garden, some of the sieved insects, mites, pseudoscorpions and minute wingless wasps will be viewed under binocular microscopes and identified using books and keys. People will help themselves to the bag and look at the litter inhabitants in a Petri dish under a microscope. Free, bookings essential.

BioBlitz - Funky Fungi

Fungi are nutrient recyclers and they are everywhere—in soil, on plants, on our skin and even in many foods and drinks we consume. Many fungi are plant decomposers and many others help plants to grow, so fungi connect much of life on Earth. The Dunedin Botanic Garden is rich in fungal diversity: we will search the gardens for fungi and discover how important they are for a healthy environment. Bring a camera. Free, bookings essential. Led by David Orlovich.

BioBlitz - Love Nature at Lovelock Bush

Join a team of experts from Orokonui Ecosanctuary and Landcare Research to systematically survey life in Lovelock Bush! Learn how to detect, collect and identify native plants and assess bush vitality; introduced pests from bite marks, footprints and poo; birds from calls, flight styles and nests; invertebrates in the leaf litter, soil and beyond! Take home skills to make your backyard a beautiful sanctuary. Free, no bookings necessary.

BioBlitz - Flora Finder Demonstration

See how to instantly identify New Zealand native plants using the camera on your smart device. Flora Finder is an electronic field guide to help you identify some of the most common New Zealand native plants from photographs of their leaves. Throughout the day. Free admission—no bookings necessary.

BioBlitz - Birds New Zealand

How many different kinds of birds can we see, hear and identify? Accompany ornithologists from Birds New Zealand to several parts of the garden to find the birds that live there. Hear life stories of some of the birds. Learn the differences between native and introduced birds. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Free, bookings essential.

Call for volunteers for the BioBlitz at the Dunedin Botanic Garden

Come and join us build a wild plant species inventory in New Zealand's first botanic garden. We are looking for experts, amateurs and beginners to help find, identify and map as many wild plant species as possible. With your help we have the opportunity to extend scientific and public knowledge of diversity in the Botanic Garden. The BioBlitz is a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge or learn more.

Larapinta Trail, Central Australia

Last winter John and Marilyn Barkla walked the 230 km Larapinta Trail in the desert of Central Australia. It was a place of stunning landscapes, botanical surprises, scarce water and strange encounters with dingoes and scorpions. Come and hear how the journey unfolded and help John put names to the many unfamiliar plants they found. 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.

2014 Botany Student Colloquium

The Botany students have invited BSO members to come and hear them talk about their research at this all day colloquium. BSO is donating a prize for the best speaker. In the PE seminar room, Department of Physical Education, Union St.