Herb Garden Plant Identification

On the 31st of October, I took part in my second apprentice plant identification test. Our list of plants this time consisted entirely of herbs that can all be found growing in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens Herb Garden. Here is the selection along with a photograph of each.

Angelica- Angelica archangelica

Southernwood- Artemisia abrotanum

Greater Celandine- Chelidonium majus

Teasel- Dipsacus fullonum

Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea

Purple Fennel- Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpurascens'

Dyer's Broom- Genista tinctoria

Rock Crane's Bill- Geranium macrorrhizum

American Pennyroyal- Hedeoma pulegoides

Lavender- Lavandula angustifolia

Lemon Balm- Melissa officinalis 'Variegata'

Mojito Mint- Mentha x villosa

Iranian Poppy- Papaver bracteatum

Plantain- Plantago major 'Atropurpurea'

Lungwort- Pulmonaria officinalis

Rosemary- Rosmarinus officinalis var.
angustissimus 'Benenden Blue'

Sage- Salvia officinalis

Salad Burnet- Sanguisorba minor

Cotton Lavender- Santolina chamaecyparissus

Wood Betony- Stachys officinalis

Common Tansy- Tanacetum vulgare var. crispum

Tulipa violacea

Valerian- Valeriana officinalis

Blood Root- Wachendorfia thyrisiflora

Long Point

During one of my afternoon breaks, I stumbled across a copy of the Otago Botanical Society's newsletter in the Garden's staff room. In it were detailed a number of upcoming trips to nearby sites of botanical interest. Cup of coffee in hand, I perused the itinerary and decided that it was high time that I went to view some of New Zealand's flora in its natural habitat. So on the morning of the 2nd of November, I dragged myself out of bed and down to the University of Otago's Botany department where I was to hitch a lift down to Long Point in the Catlins. 

Long Point is a rocky outcrop on the very south coast of New Zealand and provides a habitat for a number of coastal plants as well as seals and penguins. It is also very, very windy. Here are some snaps from the day of a few plants that we managed to stumble across.

Long Point

Ranunculus acaulis- Sand Buttercup

Celmisia lindsayi- Lindsay Daisy

Myosotis pygmaea- Flower is 2mm across

Rumex neglectus- Native NZ Shore Dock

Wee Yellow Eyed Penguin pal

Breezy Cabbage Trees (Cordyline australis)

Having worked in the Native section of the gardens for the past month and a half, getting out and about gave me some fantastic context for a number of the plants that I had become familiar with. There is really no better way to learn and gain an appreciation of nature. Thank you to the Otago Botanical Society for having me!

BGCI- Botanic Gardens Conservational International

At the start of October, the city of Dunedin played host to the fifth Botanic Garden Conservation International conference. For one week, delegates representing distinguished botanical institutions from across the globe gathered to discuss the multi-faceted roles that botanic gardens and their affiliated organisations have to play in conserving plants (and humans) worldwide. Also in attendance was myself, Craig Huggan- distinguished bystander and budding horticulturalist. With the botanic gardens all in working order, I was free to get fully involved in the BGCI. And do so, I did.

 BGCI Conference Room

Throughout the course of the conference I attended a variety of talks and seminars that spanned a vast range of topics such as tree conservation, ending world hunger, the effect of establishing a botanic garden in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the importance of community involvement in gardens worldwide. Each talk was delivered with varying degrees of aplomb and highlighted the growing range issues faced by gardens in their astounding and innovative attempts to conserve the earth’s biodiversity whilst educating the world’s growing urban population of the importance of plants within our lives.

Never have I been so bombarded with so much information in such a relatively short space of time.  So much so that I don’t feel that I can even begin to go about condensing it all into a summary that does my time anywhere near justice.

However! A special mention must go to Chipper Wichman of the ‘National Tropical Botanic Garden of Hawaii’ who gave what was for me, the most fascinating and inspiring talk of the whole conference. Making a welcome departure from buzzwords and vague mission statements, Wichman’s plenary detailed the long and fascinating story of the Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) and the extensive work that has been done by the NTBG regarding its propagation and proliferation as a viable food for the developing world. The Breadfruit saga illustrates a powerful example of horticulture being used to benefit lives and left me feeling truly inspired. For more information, have a wee click on this link.

  

Breadfruit- Artocarpus altilis

Thank you to Dunedin Botanic Gardens for allowing me to attend this event. It was a unique opportunity for which I am very thankful!