Past Events

2nd Annual Geoff Baylis Lecture. Distinguished Guest speaker Dr Peter Wardle

New Zealand's forest limits and the vegetation above them, compared with South America and other regions.

Species introductions and climatic comparisons show that hardy trees from the northern hemisphere can grow well above the altitudinal limit of native forest in New Zealand. Instead of the subalpine conifer forests of the northern hemisphere we have a belt of tall tussocks, shrubs and large forbs, occupying an environment very similar to that occupied by deciduous beeches in the southern Andes. While this tall-tussock belt is essentially unique to New Zealand and its subantarctic islands, it does share features with vegetation on tropical high mountains. As well as large tussock grasses, these features include temperature climates with muted seasonal variations, and large-leaved rosette plants, some of the tropical examples being arborescent. On the tropical high mountains, this vegetation zone also contains low forest which has been reduced by fire, and as in New Zealand it is receptive to introduced tall-tree species. The term tropicalpine has been used because this vegetation does not fit the altitudinal zonation that has been derived for north temperate mountains; to recognise the similarly special nature of New Zealand vegetation lying between the upper forest limit and typical alpine vegetation, I have proposed the term penalpine.

Peter Wardle is one of New Zealand's foremost plant ecologists with an unrivalled knowledge of how New Zealand's vegetation, environment and ecological processes compare with the rest of the world. His highly regarded book, Vegetation of New Zealand, covers succession, invasion, disturbance, regeneration and many other complex processes. The book is dedicated to Professor Geoff Baylis, whose contribution to botany is honoured in this lecture series.

Seminar room 2.25 Commerce Building, cnr Union St East and Clyde St. Meet in the atrium for nibbles and drinks (gold coin donation). You are invited to join Peter for dinner after. Please email Trish Flemming if you would like to attend the dinner at Indian Summer, Upper Moray Place.

Donaldson's Garden and Moore's Bush

Over the last 40 years Cliff and Linda Donaldson have created a treasure trove of unusual plants. They have nurtured natives from all over New Zealand, including a multi-trunked Kauri that the pigeons fight over, Dysoxylum spectabile (Kohekohe) and several rare species, such as the Marlborough weeping broom, Carmichaelia stevensonii, and Elingamita johnsonii which was discovered by Geoff Baylis on the Three Kings Islands. There's also quite a fern collection, including some which Cliff is keen to have identified. So please bring your hand lens and fern guides. Colourful exotics include collections of Camelia, Rhododendron, Prunus, Magnolia and Fuchsia species, so spring blooms will abound. Weather and time permitting, we will then travel up Leith Valley to Moore's Bush, site of a local Forest & Bird restoration project. Here there are a variety of local and introduced lowland podocarp and broadleaf forest species. Meet at the Donaldson's place, 21 Glenmore St, Glenleith at 1.30pm, or at 1.15 in the Botany Department car park, 464 Gt King St, to car pool, which is a good idea, as parking will be limited.

Warrington and Seacliff

Carol and Chuck Landis live at the old James Powell Convalescent Home in Warrington. Their large garden contains ornamental trees and an extensive variety of shrubs. Many rhododendron, including several original species, will be in bloom and a range of unusual Magnoliidae is also present. An adjoining area of "bush" contains a range of New Zealand trees, shrubs and ferns. The central part, containing about 95 species of East Otago provenance, is surrounded by a belt comprising natives including many sourced from outside the local area. Highlights include Pennantia baylisiana, Alseuosmia spp, and three Ixerba brexioides. The possible effects of companion plants on Ixerba growth are very interesting. The Enchanted Forest at the nearby Seacliff Reserve will also be visited. It contains a variety beautiful mature trees (native and exotic) on the grounds of the old Seacliff psychiatric hospital. Many were planted by Sir Truby King 100 years ago. A new list of significant trees on the reserve will be provided. Trip departs from the Botany Dept carpark at 10:00 (alternatively meet at Chuck and Carol's at 10:30). Return mid- afternoon. Bring lunch; hot water will be supplied. In case of inclement weather we'll try Sunday 28, same times.

An introduction to New Zealand gecko and plant associations

Guest speaker Mandy Tocher.

Highlights of a High Country Summer - from the Lakes to the Landsborough

Guest speaker John Barkla (DOC Otago) will give an illustrated talk on some of his botanical survey highlights from last summer. Come and hear about hidden delights in the Richardson Mountains and the search for elusive Pittosporum patulum in the jungle of the upper Landsborough. At the NEW 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. NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE.

Orokonui Reserve

Led by Ralph Allen, Wildland Consultants. Orokonui is the proposed site of a 'Mainland Island'. Ralph will talk about the sanctuary concept and give some indications of where things would be and how it would function. There will also be a chance to see the tallest tree in New Zealand. Meet Botany Dept car park, 464 Gt King St, 10 am to car pool (10c/km/passenger), or at Orokonui 10.30 am. Bring lunch. Rain date Sun 10 August.

Lichens on Twigs Workshop

with Jennifer Bannister and Allison Knight. Leaves are falling and wind is blowing, exposing and dropping twigs. Lichens growing on the newly exposed bark of twigs are good environmental monitors. We thought it would be interesting to get an indication of what is growing on twigs in our area, and then talk about the possibility of a distribution map. Start collecting interesting twigs you come across now. Please note where you found them and what tree or shrub they are from. Air-dry them and store them in a dry place (or in the freezer if you want to slow browsing by invertebrates). Bring: lichens on twigs, hand lens and lunch. Microscopes and laboratory space are generously made available by the Department of Botany, tea and coffee will be supplied by the BSO. Related reading: Try the British website on lichens on twigs for interactive keys and some useful basic information. For common NZ species, see: Lichens on Trees: Identification Guide to Common Lichens and Plants on Urban and Rural Trees in New Zealand, by P. N. Johnson and D. J. Galloway, Landcare Research, Dunedin 1999

Solander, the botanist who came with Banks and Cook to NZ.

A talk by Ted Nye. Solander (1733-1782) was a pupil of Carl Linnaeus. He went to Britain to spread the doctrine of his master on classification of living things. He worked at the British Museum and soon came to the attention of Joseph Banks and, a few years later, was recruited by Banks to be one of the Scientific team on the Endeavour under Captain Cook. Thus Solander was the first professional botanist to visit New Zealand, in 1769. From this it follows that, with the looming 300th anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus in 2007, Dunedin should be the first city in New Zealand to honour Solander by setting up a garden in his memory. At the NEW 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. NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE.

Botanical Illustration Workshop

Led by Monica Peters, in conjunction with the Cleveland Living Arts Centre at the Dunedin Railway Station. This workshop is aimed at people who are curious about plants and want to learn a variety of ways to create good quality representations. Basic drawing materials supplied. Bring a plant to draw, lunch, hand lens and any specialist drawing material (pens, papers etc) if you have them. Course fee $55. More details here.

Israel - Land of extremes

A talk by Barbara Wheeler, Collections Supervisor, Dunedin Botanic Garden. This is a joint seminar with the Department of Botany. Upstairs in the Union Street Lecture Theatre (formerly the Botany School Annexe), in the red-brown building, cnr Union Street (West) and Gt King Street.

Special microhabitats for myxomycetes in terrestrial ecosystems

Talk and superb slides by Prof. Steve Stephenson, Fairmont State College, West Virginia, USA. A slide show on the special places slime moulds occur from arctic tundra to tropical forests. Drinks and nibbles before and after, for a gold coin donation. Meet in the Zoology Annexe Seminar Room, Gt King Street, back behind the car park between the Dental School and the Zoology Department. Dinner at a local restaurant to follow.

Brownfields to green forests

Phytoremediation of soil contaminants using short rotation forestry in the United Kingdom. A talk by Chris French, Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University and The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. A Department of Botany seminar. Upstairs in the Union Street Lecture Theatre (formerly the Botany School Annexe), in the red-brown building, cnr Union Street (West) and Gt King Street.

Does size matter? Vegetation and plant diversity in fragments of indigenous forests in eastern Otago

Ralf Ohlemueller, Botany Department, University of Otago. A Department of Botany seminar. Upstairs in the Union Street Lecture Theatre (formerly the Botany School Annexe), in the red-brown building, cnr Union Street (West) and Gt King Street.

Walking with Western Australian Wildflowers

Meet at 5:30 for drinks and nibbles - the talk will start at 5:45 PM. Adrienne Markey will give a slide show entitled Walking with Western Australian Wildflowers. Before starting her PhD here in Dunedin, Adrienne worked for the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Western Australia. Her love of photography and enthusiasm for Western Australia's wildflowers will guarantee a lively and exciting talk. Meet in the Zoology Annexe Seminar Room, Great King Street, back behind the car park between the Dental School and the Department of Zoology. Bring a gold coin donation towards costs.

Mt Watkin / Hikaroroa

A full day field trip with Robyn Bridges. A cross-country walk to a landform of interest both botanically and geologically. The prominent bump on the horizon, on the left as you head north past the Karitane turnoff, is a volcanic hill 'standing alone in a schist landscape'. Botanical specimens of interest include Coprosma virescens, Fuchsia perscandens and Gingidia montana. Bring all-weather gear, stout footware, food, drink and money for transport. Meet in the Department of Botany carpark, 464 Great King Street, to car-pool. Passengers pay driver 8c/km. Read Wild Dunedin by Neville Peat and Brian Patrick for more interesting details about Mt Watkin.