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2 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
Whether it’s expressing yourself with sweeping
brushstrokes of vibrant colour, or taking a fresh look
at the plants in your home, the Botanics offers many
super opportunities to expand your
horizons this summer.
Get creativethis summer!
he Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s
popular adult education summer school
returns this year with an even wider range of
courses. Discover a new hobby or brush up on
long-forgotten skills, all while enjoying the
magnificent surroundings of the Garden.
New to the summer programme are two
exciting art courses presented by RBGE tutor
Jacqui Pestell:‘Loose style botanical watercolour
painting’ and ‘Silk painting’. “In the ‘Loose style’
course, we will explore the wonderful effects of
runny paint on Japanese mulberry paper.We’ll
use broad brushstrokes and paint washes in a
style that is much freer than traditional
botanical painting,” says Jacqui.“This is the style
I tend to paint in for my personal work, so I’m
looking forward to sharing this with others.
”The ‘Loose style’ course runs from
Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 July.
Jacqui also presents a two-day silk painting
workshop on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July.“This
taster course is great fun, and all the more
rewarding because it results in something you
can wear like a scarf,” explains Jacqui.“We’ll use
bright colours and bold floral shapes to create a
unique design.”
If art is not for you, a number of horticulture
and botany courses offer opportunities to
broaden your knowledge and enjoyment of the
world of plants. Looking after your house plants
is rewarding, but sometimes tricky and
challenging, so RBGE experts are presenting two
morning sessions to share their tips.
‘Caring for exotic house plants’, presented by
horticulturists Bruce Robertson and Cath Evans,
looks at the tropical plants we keep in the
home, while a new workshop called ‘Plants for
your conservatory and home’ explores house
plants from temperate regions.“From stunning
climbers and pelargoniums to cacti to venus fly
traps, we’ll cover old favourites and some
unusual choices,” says Cath Evans.
Both sessions include a glimpse behind the
scenes at RBGE’s own collections of these plants.
The date to diarise for exotic house plants is
Saturday 26 June, while ‘Plants for your
conservatory and home’ takes place on
Saturday 28 August.
If you prefer to leave your houseplants
behind and head outside to get better
acquainted with Scotland’s native plantlife,
there are three day-long workshops on offer:
‘Wildflower identification’ (Saturday 26 June),
‘Lichen identification – a beginners’ guide’
(27 June) and ‘British tree identification’
(Saturday 10 July).
RBGE experts in each field, Phil Lusby, Chris
Ellis and Tom Gifford respectively, give practical
pointers for identifying species.The tree
identification session also includes a ‘Celtic
trees’ tour with Garden Guide Stephanie Ledger,
looking at the traditional uses, superstition and
ritual connected with native trees.
For more information, or to book a course,
contact the Education team, tel. 0131 248 2937
or email [email protected]
T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L B O T A N I C G A R D E N S O F S C O T L A N D I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H I T S M E M B E R S I S S U E 1 6 | S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
To the ExtremeFuturistic science in far-flung spots
A Fascination for FernsPersonal perspective on an ancient family
Celebrating Nature’s SymmetrySummer exhibitions extravaganza
Horticulturist Bruce Robertson takes you
behind the scenes at the Botanics as part of
the exotic house plants workshop.
Tutor Jacqui Pestell presents a
‘Loose style’ painting course
this summer.
Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaf’
T
2 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
.
FRONT COVER
Delicate unfurling frond of the Antipodean tree fern Dicksonia antarctica.
Abundant plantings of this and other tree fern species are the hallmark of
Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer in Galloway. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE.Editor Ida Maspero ([email protected])
Contributing Editor Anna Levin ([email protected])
LayoutJohn-Paul Shirreffs ([email protected])
Printed byJ Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow
The Botanics is printed on ZANDERS mega matt, which ismanufactured using up to 50% recycled fibre. The paper complieswith ISO 9002 and ISO 14001 environmental accreditation.
Enquiries regarding circulation of The Botanics should be addressed toEleanor Carter ([email protected]).
The Botanics is a publication of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,20 A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel. 0131 552 7171, fax 0131 248 2901, www.rbge.org.uk
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a recognised charity and is supported bythe Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Opinions expressed within The Botanics are those of the contributors and do notnecessarily reflect the views of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland comprise:
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Benmore Botanic Garden, near Dunoon, Argyll
Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway
Dawyck Botanic Garden, near Peebles, Borders
4 TO THE EXTREMEFrom opposite ends of the earth to
the cutting edge of genetic science.
8 A FASCINATION FOR FERNSDr Mary Gibby shares her passion
for an ancient group of plants.
10 HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS A new chapter in the history of
Inverleith House Gallery.
11 CELEBRATING NATURE’SSYMMETRYThis summer’s exhibitions showcase.
12 FROM FAMILY HEIRLOOM TO NATIONAL TREASUREDawyck Botanic Garden looks to the
future in its silver jubilee year.
14 WITH MEMBERS IN MINDHow your support makes a difference;
plus Logan’s Gabrielle Reynolds.
16 GET CREATING!Summer school for adults.
more than two centuries of
imagination and creative energy have
been invested in the buildings and
landscape of the Garden at Edinburgh.
Over 700,000 visitors take pleasure in
this beautiful place each year. Those
among them who know the world�s
finest botanical gardens cite three
factors which make this Garden pre-
eminent: the sheer diversity of the plant
collections, the quality with which they
are presented and the stunning backdrop
of Scotland�s capital city.
The Botanics can rightly be proud of
its high standing, but a reputation for
excellence demands constant care and
the commitment of significant resources.
We are fortunate that many people
share the vision of a bright future for the
Garden and are willing to invest in it.
With funding from the Scottish Arts
Council (SAC) we have recently
refurbished Inverleith House Gallery,
the Grade A listed building at the heart
of the Garden. Thanks to the Robertson
Trust, a second landmark building,
the Victorian Palm House, is
also undergoing a remarkable
transformation.
Both projects have benefited from
substantial funds from our principal
sponsors, the Scottish Executive
Environment and Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD). Most recently
SEERAD has awarded even greater
capital funding, totalling over £5.6
million pounds over the next two years.
This will enable us to extend the
Herbarium building, where the results of
our global efforts to preserve a record of
the earth�s botanical diversity are housed.
The funding also provides the means
for a programme of maintenance to
improve the fabric of Inverleith,
Benmore, Logan and Dawyck, and to
meet the requirements of the Disability
Discrimination Act. We are immensely
grateful to Scottish Ministers, especially
Ross Finnie and Allan Wilson for this
investment. Their support, together with
that of our Members, Companions,
Patrons and a growing body of sponsors,
allows us to move ahead with our
ambitious plans for the future.
In the Edinburgh Garden, the Chinese
Hillside is being extended with new plant
introductions whilst plans for the
Gateway continue to take shape.
We are grateful for your interest and
support in these exciting times of
renewal and development.
Professor Stephen Blackmore
Regius Keeper
Often called ‘the Galapagos of the Indian
Ocean’,the Soqotra Archipelago,off the
Horn of Africa,is home to over 300 unique
plants such as the bizarre dragon’s blood
tree,Dracaena cinnabari (above).For
centuries,the traditional culture of these
four desert isles,governed by Yemen,has
relied on plants to provide life’s essentials.
The new Ethnoflora of Soqotra,by RBGE’s
Tony Miller and ethnographer Miranda
Morris,is the first book to provide
comprehensive information on the
traditional uses of all plants found on the
islands.It describes the flora,including
New book reveals Soqotra’s richesseveral species new to western science,and
shows the unique relationship between
plants and people on the islands.The 600-
page hardback publication boasts beautiful
colour photography and a fully illustrated
key to plant families and species.
Ethnoflora of Soqotra is published on 14
June 2004 by the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh and retails at £75.However,a
introductory offer of £60 plus postage and
packing is available for direct orders until
31 August.To order,contact the RBGE
Publications Department,tel.0131 248
2991 or email [email protected]
Visitors and staff alike are set to benefit from
a new £5.6 million pound programme of
capital investment in the infrastructure of the
National Botanic Gardens of Scotland.The
Garden’s funding body,the Scottish Executive
Environment and Rural Affairs Department
(SEERAD) recently announced that it has
allocated this sum over two
years to fund maintenance and
repairs at Edinburgh, Benmore,
Logan and Dawyck,and to make
modifications in line with the
Disability Discrimination Act.
A much-needed extension to
RBGE’s world-renowned
Herbarium building (right) will
also be built using this additional capital,
allowing for a 25 per cent expansion in
storage space for its scientifically important
collection of pressed plant specimens.The
two million strong collection,representing
plant life from around the world,grows at a
rate of 10,000 a year.
Regius Keeper Stephen Blackmore by the
ornamental East Gate, Edinburgh. PHOTO: IDA MASPEROCONTENTS
foreword
Capital boost for Garden’s infrastructure
A rare lichen last seen in
Edinburgh in 1797 has
made its reappearance in
the Edinburgh Garden.
RBGE’s lichenologists
Brian Coppins and Chris
Ellis were examining
lichens growing on plants
in the Azalea Lawn when
they discovered the
gristle lichen,Ramalina
fraxinea,attached to
a stem.
The gristle lichen has declined,sometimes
to local extinction,in many parts of Britain
due to high levels of sulphur dioxide air
pollution prevailing since the Industrial
Revolution.It is thought that rigorous and
effective measures to reduce air pollution in
the last decades have allowed lichens such as
this to return to areas where they had
previously died off.
The specimen found (left) consisted of
several rigid,strap-like lobes,the largest being
8cm long.Under ideal conditions,this lichen
can attain an impressive length of 30cm.
Cleaner air? Lichens don’t lie…
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is
renowned for the size and scope of its
Rhododendron collection.In April,RBGE staff
exhibited a selection of rhododendrons
from Edinburgh,Benmore and Dawyck
Botanic Gardens at the Borde Hill Camellia,
Rhododendron and Magnolia Festival.
They entered six plants in four competitive
classes of the RHS Rhododendron
Competition,which took place at
the Festival.
The result was a first prize,the McLaren
Challenge Cup,for a stunning Rhododendron
roxieanum specimen
(right),grown at
Dawyck.“ We chose to
exhibit this particular
specimen because it’s a
mature plant,from
material that could
well have been
collected in China by
the legendary plant
hunter George
Forrest,” says Dawyck
Curator David Knott.
RBGE’s other prize
winners were R.aff.magnificum from
Benmore,which took fourth prize in its
class,and R.adenogynum from Dawyck,
recipient of a third prize.
RBGE rhodies come out tops
TH E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 3
NE WS
Mary Mendum (née
Bates),1945 – 2004
In February,the Garden
lost a special colleague,
talented botanist and
illustrator Mary
Mendum. A zoologist by
training,Mary joined the
RBGE in 1987,working
with Paddy W oods on
revisions of orchids and
producing illustrations
for these.She was also
involved in Gesneriaceae research and
the genus Aeschynanthus became her
main interest.
Mary went on seven plant collecting
expeditions to Indonesia,Malaysia and
the Phillipines – these yielded a
number of new Aeschynanthus species,
which she was describing.She was also
a gifted botanical artist who had
paintings published in several
prestigious books and journals.
She is greatly missed her friends,and
by the wider community as the
capable artist,scientist and generous
person that she was.She leaves her
husband,John,and three children,
Neil,Tom and Jo.
“There are two theories about
how this happens,” explains Pete.
“The first is that the distribution of a
particular species was much wider in
ancient times, and that clusters of it
between the now vastly separated
populations have gone extinct for
some reason or other.
“The second theory is that the
species has managed to disperse
from its main range, giving rise to an
isolated colony thousands of miles
away.” As David Long expands,
either could be true for a liverwort
such as Anastrophyllum – liverworts
are among the most ancient land
plants, and over the ages their
distributions would change as the
earth’s climate changed. As for ultra-
long distance dispersal, this is a
theoretical possibility, since liverwort
spores are very light and hardy.
“The question of how a disjunct
population of a certain species here
in Scotland came about is a very
interesting and important one,” continues
David. “If we can answer this question, it
would help us understand the history of the
Scottish flora better, and its relationship to
the world’s other floras. It places our plants
in a global context and, for a particular
species, helps us decide the conservation
value of the Scottish population.”
Modern genetic science offers a means
of unravelling the mystery of how disjunct
populations came about. By determining
how much genetic variation there is
between disjunct populations of a particular
species, one can draw conclusions about
their origins. Pete Hollingsworth explains:
“If distributions are ancient, there should be
major genetic differences between
populations separated by thousands of
miles, as they would have accumulated
different mutations in their DNA. However,
if they are due to recent long-distance
dispersal, there will be very few differences
in their DNA.”
Markers provide a mapThe major four-year project ‘Microsatellites
as genetic markers’ is a collaboration
between the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh (RBGE) and the Scottish Crop
Research Institute (SCRI).
“Using plants including Koenigia and
Anastrophyllum as case studies, the project is
assessing the usefulness of various genetic
techniques in biodiversity work,” says Pete
Hollingsworth. “Most modern national and
international conservation programmes
recognise genetic biodiversity as an integral
element of conservation,” he continues,
“yet there is no clear consensus on how to
measure it.”
So what exactly are Pete and his
colleagues investigating? “Different genetic
tools give one different insights,” he
explains. “Because the sequence of the
entire genome for a particular organism
takes years to determine, one simply
cannot compare entire genomes. Instead
genetic markers are used. This approach
samples genetic variation rather than
measuring entire genomes. A familiar
example of genetic markers being used
to determine differences is DNA profiling
in forensics.
“However, there are several ways of
obtaining genetic markers – for example
one can randomly sample a large number of
regions in the genome; or zoom in on a
small set that shows high levels of variation
from individual to individual.” These
different methods could possibly lead to
different conclusions about genetic
relationships between individual plants or
plant populations. So it’s a case of working
out which method supplies genetic
information most suited to various types of
biodiversity research.
Continues ––>
he Iceland purslane, Koenigia
islandica, is a tiny annual with greenish
flowers. It occurs in the arctic and sub-
arctic regions of the northern
hemisphere, especially Iceland, Alaska and
the Faroe Islands. In Britain its only
footholds are on Skye and Mull, where
populations are rapidly declining – much to
the concern of conservationists.
It also grows thousands of miles away
on the other side of the planet, on the stark
and windswept island of Tierra del Fuego at
the extreme southern
tip of South America.
A leafy liverwort
called Anastrophyllum
joergensenii, or
Joergensen’s notchwort,
has an equally
remarkable distribution.
It is rare – in Scotland it
is classified as a Red Data Book species, and
is found on only a few hills in Wester Ross
and Sutherland. A small population grows
on a single mountain in Norway’s
Fjordlands. “However, its main stronghold is
the Sino-Himalaya, where populations
thrive in high mountains in Nepal, Bhutan
and China’s Yunnan Province,” says
RBGE bryologist David Long, who has
been collecting and studying it for a
number of years.
W orlds apart?“What’s fascinating about both
these species is the massive
distances between main
populations, with literally
thousands of miles dividing
them,” says RBGE scientist
Pete Hollingsworth, who is
leading a major research
project into disjunct populations. Koenigia
and Anastrophyllum are two of the subjects
of this study, which is using genetic tools to
investigate the phenomenon.
T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 5
They may seem plain and insignificant, barely worth a second look. But two small native plant species – one a diminutive, flowering
annual and the other a liverwort – have inspired botanists to hunt for them in remote places. What makes these little plants
remarkable? Not their appearance, but their distribution… in isolated pockets at opposite ends of the earth. RBGE scientists tell Ida
Maspero how their investigations of these plants are pushing the boundaries of genetic science.
To the extreme
Disjunct populationsIndividuals of any particular plant species
are never distributed evenly across its range.
They live in clusters or populations,
physically separated by metres or miles.
When these distances are enormous, the
populations are said to be disjunct.
GenomeThe genome of a living thing refers to all
of its genetic material: its entire set of
chromosomes, containing all its genes
and DNA.
Genetic markerA sample area of the genome selected for
comparing the differences between
individuals.
Microsatellite A short repetitive bit of DNA that shows
great variation from individual to
individual; thus microsatellites make
good genetic markers.
Jargon Buster
RBGE’s David Long and Pete Hollingsworth with Keith Watson (Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow)
at Paso Beban, Tierra del Fuego, where Koenigia islandica is found thousands of miles away from its main
distribution in the northern hemisphere.
Trotternish,Isle of Skye,is the main
stronghold of the tiny Koenigia islandica in
Britain. It grows here on open, rocky
slopes. PHOTO: PETE HOLLINGSWORTH
The liverwort Anastrophyllum joergensenii
(right) is very rare in the UK. It is seen here on
Beinn Dearg, Wester Ross. PHOTO: SID CLARKE
Koenigia islandica (left) is a diminutive
flowering plant, one of the few arctic annuals.
“What’s fascinating
about both these
species is the massive
distances between
main populations.”
4 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
T
Biodiversity in context“The project also places Scottish
biodiversity in a global context,” adds
David Long. A better understanding of the
genetic relationships between Scottish
populations of rare plants, and populations
elsewhere in the world, could help set
conservation priorities.”
Whereas methods for measuring
habitat and species diversity for plant
conservation are well established, the
methods of gathering genetic data for this
purpose still need plenty of testing.
As genetic technology advances apace,
new techniques become more accessible
and easier to apply. It is hoped that, by the
time the Garden’s Microsatellites project
concludes early next year, it will have
cracked the code, so to speak, in providing
guidelines on which genetic techniques are
helpful to biodiversity studies, and under
what circumstances.
For botanists trained in the traditional
plant sciences such as taxonomy, working
with genetics provides “an exciting new
angle”, says David Long. “Traditionally we
have described the plantlife of, say,
Scotland. With genetics we can
look deeper and explain the origins
of a flora.”
Let’s return to the liverwort
Anastrophyllum, and what the study has
revealed so far. “It seems that the Scottish
population is remarkably similar genetically
to the Himalayan, so is likely to be a
relatively recent dispersal,” says David
Long. This surprising result indicates that
migration over thousands of miles is
possible. “However, early indications are
that the tiny Norwegian cluster is
genetically quite different from the Scottish
and Himalayan groups, maybe even distinct
enough to be considered a separate
species. So conserving it is crucial.”
Powerful partnershipsThe Microsatellite project has two main
threads: investigating disjunct populations,
and testing the use of genetic markers for
conservation. However, its significance
extends further, to building partnerships
for the future.
“By working with the Scottish Crop
Research Institute, we are transferring
technology,” explains Pete. “The SCRI is a
leader in the field of crop genetics, and by
forging links with them we are able to tap
into their expertise to apply sophisticated
gene technology to plant conservation. In
turn, colleagues at SCRI have access to our
expertise in population genetics and
biodiversity conservation.”
The project funds a post-doctoral
researcher at both partner institutes: Jane
Squirrell at RBGE and Mary Woodhead at
SCRI. “RBGE and the SCRI have
complementary strengths,” says Jane, who
researched microsatellites at the University
of Newcastle before coming to RBGE three
years ago. “Mary and I are in daily contact
and share all our data and observations.”
UK conservation bodies Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH) and English Nature are
partners too, inasmuch as they are “end
users of the data,” says Pete. “The outcome
of this project will make a direct
contribution to these bodies’ practical
implementation of the UK Biodiversity
Action Plan (BAP). As Dr Chris Sydes,
Species Group Manager at SNH, stresses:
“The application of genetics in Scottish plant
conservation is a relatively recent
development, and it has great potential for
casting new light on the taxonomy,
reproduction and world importance of
particular plants. The genetic work being
done at the Botanics can help us answer
these key questions, and so help us plan how
best to conserve a species. So it has very
real and practical value.”
Traditionally plant science has focused on the
study of the structure of a plant. However
modern advances in genetics have given
botanists a whole new window on the plant
world, at a molecular (sub-cellular) level. RBGE
acquired facilities for molecular studies around
10 years ago. In recent years the demand for
genetic data has risen rapidly – and with it the
need for ever faster means of analysing DNA.
“The breadth and depth of this project in
particular is allowing us to step up the
technological pace of our research,” says
Pete Hollingsworth.
Recognising this increased
need for high-throughput
analyses, RBGE has recently
invested in two new
automated DNA
sequencers, which,
together, have doubled
the capacity of the
previous system, while
reducing preparation time
by 75 per cent.
A better understanding of
the genetic relationships
between Scottish
populations of rare plants,
and populations elsewhere
in the world, could help set
conservation priorities.
Glaciated features of the peak
Endestadnipa, in Norway’s Fjordlands. An
isolated and genetically significant population
of Anastrophyllum joergensenii grows in this
single locality. PHOTO: DAVID LO N G
Taking a break during a field trip: RBGE’s Jane
Squirrell and SCRI’s Mary Woodhead collecting
Koenigia in the Akureyri region of Iceland.
PHOTO: PETE HOLLINGSWORTH
From futuristic science…
Post-doctoral researcherJane Squirrell prepares DNA
samples for analysis in the
Garden’s molecular laboratory.
Dramatic mountain peaks of Langtang, central
Nepal. In the foreground is a typical Himalayan
habitat of the liverwort Anastrophyllum joergensenii –
it lives between rocks at high altitude, among dwarf
rhododendrons. PHOTO: DAVID LO N G
Field studies of disjunct populations have
taken Garden staff around the globe to places
of splendid isolation, breathtaking beauty,
harsh weather… and danger!
David Long has tramped the mountains of
the Himalaya, northern Scotland and Norway’s
Fjordland, hunting down the liverwort
Anastrophyllum joergensenii, which lives under
boulders and in rocky crevices in dwarf scrub
heathlands. In October 2001 his expedition in
eastern Nepal was cut short by a meeting with
armed Maoist rebels, forcing him to re-route to
central Nepal… where, thankfully, he was able
to track down the subject of his study.
Searching for the tiny Koenigia islandica in
Alaska’s Denali National Park in 2002, post-
doctoral researcher Jane Squirrell had a close
encounter of the creature kind.
“We took the tourist bus into the Park, to
take us to a valley where Koenigia had last been
collected in the 1950s. About two hours into
the ride, the bus driver slammed on brakes and
shouted ‘Bear!’ To the passengers’ delight, a
grizzly bear mother and cub were playing less
than 10 metres away.
“Suddenly we realised that this was the
very place where we were due to search! We
reluctantly got out the bus, cautiously eyeing
the grizzly and her cub, who seemed unaware
of our presence so nearby.We knew it’s unwise
to surprise a bear, so as we set off a
spontaneous chorus:‘Hey bear!’ resonated
through the valley.
“We soon developed a stop-start-search
strategy. Heads down, we strained our eyes for
K. islandica in the moss carpet, with frequent
stops to monitor the bears’ position. Finally
mother and cub left us, bounding up the
hillside.Towards the end of the day our
apprehensive search was rewarded –
we found our tiny quarry poking out from
the moss carpet.”
…to extreme travelling
6 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 7
he Victorians loved
ferns for their
architecture – their
elegant structures,
delicate repetitive patterns
and their enormous variety.
The number of variations,
even within one species,
captured the Victorian
imagination and led to the
widespread fashion for
collecting and cultivating ferns.
For present-day fern
enthusiasts, developments in
molecular biology have added
another dimension to explore
this variation in species, and it
is this level that has fascinated
Dr Mary Gibby throughout
her career.
“My early work on ferns
stems from my interest in
plant chromosomes and what
they can tell us about the
evolution of species,” she
says. “In Victorian times,
people recognised the variety
within species, but when we
started looking at
chromosome numbers we
realised there are far more
species than we had imagined.
What were thought to be
varieties were found to have
totally different numbers of
chromosomes, and have since
proved to be distinct species.”
Mary’s interest in ferns
began as an undergraduate
student, inspired by the work
of the late Irene Manton,
Professor of Botany at Leeds
University, who had
undertaken seminal research
on fern genetics. She
developed this interest with
PhD research on the evolution of
Dryopteris, the buckler ferns, and later as a
researcher at the Natural History Museum,
London, continued studies on hybridisation
and speciation in the fern groups Asplenium,
Dryopteris and Polystichum. By the time she
came to RBGE in 2000, her focus was on
the conservation of ferns in the UK.
The complex issues involved in fern
conservation are illustrated by the example
of the Killarney fern, Trichomanes speciosum
– a very rare fern with delicate translucent
fronds, which thrives in deep shade and high
humidity. The Victorians collected it to near
extinction, growing it in enclosed glass
W ardian cases. Botanical surveys
have revealed only 10 remaining
populations in Britain.
The plant that we recognise as the fern is
actually the sporophyte generation (see
illustration), and the surveys were focused
on this. The gametophyte is composed of
tiny strands made of branching filaments of
cells, which look like the green felt of a pool
table. This had gone unnoticed until
botanists searching for similar ferns found
the gametophyte of the Killarney fern in
places where the sporophyte doesn’t grow.
The surveys expanded and now
gametophyte colonies have been recorded
from northern Scotland to the south coast
of England, and even in central Europe,
some 1,000km from the nearest
sporophyte. It is thought that they may
have survived there, persisting by slow
vegetative reproduction, since a warmer
period after the last glaciation 8,000
years ago.
“It’s like having a living spore bank out
there in the wild,” explains Mary. “If the
climate gets warmer and wetter, these
gametophytes could produce sporophytes
again.” This means the Killarney fern is not
an appropriate species for a reintroduction
programme. Instead, conservation efforts
are focused on habitat preservation.
RBGE’s four Gardens showcase the
diversity and beauty of ferns and fern allies.
Of the 15,000 known species worldwide,
the Garden has 6,000 herbarium specimens
and more than 300 species in cultivation,
including the world’s largest collection
of horsetails.
Propagating plants from fern spores is an
exacting job. In the Growing Room at
Edinburgh, horticulturist Andy Ensoll
ensures that the necessary warm, moist
conditions are maintained for the spores to
develop into gametophytes and then to
produce sporophytes. The plants are then
pricked out, allowing them room to
develop, and hardened offbefore being
planted out at whichever Garden offers the
most suitable climate.
InverleithIn the Glasshouses, the Fern House mimics
a warm, temperate rainforest. Ferns of
every shape and size are displayed here,
draped along the banks of the stream and
sprouting from the trunks of the huge tree
ferns, which spread their fronds right up to
the glass roof.
BenmoreNative ferns are in their element in
Benmore’s moist, oceanic climate. Species
such as the lady fern, buckler fern and
shuttlecock fern are widespread throughout
the wooded hillsides. As you enter the
Garden, the tall, leafy royal fern, Osmunda
regalis, can be seen from the bridge, and a
variety of ferns thrive around the pond. A
feasibility study is currently underway to
assess the viability of restoring the ruined
Victorian fernery.
LoganTree ferns are a prominent feature of
Logan’s exotic landscape, with over 100
specimens of the enormous Australian tree
fern Dicksonia antarctica – the tallest are
now more than four metres high and over
150 years old. The fern collection is
expanding with new species introduced last
year, including some which are very rare in
cultivation. New plantings of Cyathea dregei,
grown from material wild collected in the
Drakensberg mountains of South Africa,
have survived their first Scottish winter, and
Thyrsopteris elegans from Robinson Crusoe
Island (Fiji) is settling in beneath eucalyptus
trees in the Woodland Garden.
DawyckAmong Dawyck’s varied fern collection is
the sword fern, Polystichum munitum. Its
leathery leaflets and rugged nature are well
suited to Dawyck’s climate and it grows in
abundance. The Scottish Rare Plant Trail
features the tiny oblong woodsia, W oodsia
ilvensis, which was collected almost to
extinction in Victorian times and is now
very rare. Many Dryopteris species from
Dr Mary Gibby’s research collection have
been planted on the edge of Dawyck’s
cryptogamic sanctuary, and visitors can
‘spot the difference’, comparing the subtle
variations in these ferns – a challenge to the
untrained eye.
A fascination for ferns
As fern specialists from around
the world gather at RBGE for a
major conference this summer,
Dr Mary Gibby, the Garden’s
Director of Science, tells Anna
Levin about her fascination for
this ancient plant family.A temperate rainforest under glass in the Fern House, Edinburgh. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE
Inset:Dr Mary Gibby in the Temperate House with Dryopteris crispifolia, which is found
only in the Azores. As part of her PhD studies, Mary explained how it evolved from a
hybrid between D. aemula and D. azorica.
Like all ferns, the life cycle of
the Killarney fern is one of alternate
generations.
The sporophyte generation
produces spores which germinate to
give the filamentus gametophyte –
branching filaments of cells – and
the gammae, which allow the
gametophyte to spread vegetatively.
At the gametophyte stage,
‘swimmers’ from the male sex organ
fertilise the ‘egg’, and this develops
into a new sporophyte.
ILLUSTRATION: FRED RUMSEY
Ferns in the four Gardens
8 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 9
“Ferns are part of our heritage and we
want to maintain the breadth of that
heritage,” says Mary. “Only by studying an
individual rare species in detail can we
develop suitable plans for its conservation.
RBGE is an important centre for research
on Scotland’s threatened plants. By working
closely with conservations agencies such as
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), we are
helping conserve our native flora.”
For more information about the Fern
Conference (12 to 16 July), visit
www.rbge.org.uk
On Wednesday 15 September, Dr Gibby
presents a talk ‘My Life with Ferns’ at
7.30pm in the Lecture Theatre,
Members £2, others £3.
N ew stands of Cyathea dregei in the Walled Garden at Logan shortly after being planted in late
summer 2003. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE
T
nverleith House, designed by David
Henderson in 1774 as a family home for
wealthy agriculturist James Rocheid, has a
chequered yet distinguished past. In the
late 1870s it was partially destroyed by fire
and then became the official residence of
successive Regius Keepers. In 1959, Regius
Keeper Harold R. Fletcher relinquished his
residential privilege so that it could become
the founding home of the Scottish National
Gallery of Modern Art – Fletcher had
a rare passion for both art and
botanical science.
Between 1960 and 1984, this new
National Gallery drew visitors from home
and abroad to see its growing permanent
collection of modern and contemporary
art. Temporary exhibitions were also
staged, and sculptures by Moore,
Hepworth and Giacometti were displayed
outside in the Garden.
By 1984, the Gallery of Modern Art had
outgrown Inverleith House, forcing it to
move. In 1986 however, the House re-
opened with a programme of temporary
exhibitions run by RBGE itself, and 1990
saw a major refurbishment of what had
now become the Garden’s own gallery.
Since then, over 100 exhibitions have been
staged – a programme of international
status featuring a diversity of work, from
Rory McEwen, Pierre-Joseph Redouté and
Stella Ross-Craig, to Andy Goldsworthy,
Callum Innes and Carl Andre. Damien
Hirst’s sheep in formaldehyde even paid a
visit in 1994.
Last year, Inverleith House started
receiving annual core funding from the
Scottish Arts Council (SAC) to support its
programme; and was awarded a grant of
£150,000 from the SAC’s National Lottery
Funds for refurbishment.
Now, for the first time, visitors of all
ages and backgrounds have access to an
education space located in the basement.
An Arts Education Officer, funded part-
time by the SAC, will develop a unique
series of events to complement the
Garden’s schools, adult and community
education programmes. In addition,
wheelchair users now have easy access to
the entrance area, where there is a
cloakroom and a small bookshop. New
lighting has been installed throughout, and
there are improvements to the interior
finish, including the staircase.
On 7 August Inverleith House re-opens
with the first UK museum exhibition by the
Los Angeles-based artist Robert Therrien,
who explores the mind of childhood and
the realm of the domestic.
Since Inverleith House is now set to
fulfill, better than ever, its role as a
house for art. Surely Harold Fletcher
would have approved.
Clay in Bloom (7 August to 19 September) is
staged by the Scottish Potters’ Association
to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The
ceramic pieces on show, from the very
large and robust to the small and delicate,
demonstrate a natural affinity between
nature’s plant forms and the tactile medium
of clay.
The 18 exhibiting artists, who were
selected on a competitive basis, have each
taken the plant collections at one of the
National Botanic Gardens of Scotland as
their inspiration. The entire creative
process for each piece is revealed: from the
source idea, through the technicalities of
building, to the finished piece.
The range of styles on show reflects the
broad scope of ceramic practice in
Scotland, and the versatility of clay itself.
“By sharing the creative process we are
highlighting a variety of styles and
techniques,” says SPA chair Fiona Duckett.
Visitors have the chance to discover the
joys of clay for themselves at a series of
associated events called Hands On! Clay in
Bloom. Young visitors can get a feel for clay
at the hands-on area in the Hall. SPA artists
lead workshops and taster sessions for
adults throughout August, introducing
building and decorating techniques.
No experience is needed and the sessions
are drop-in. For details, see the Events
Programme or visit www.rbge.org.uk
Clay in Bloom is made possible by a grant
of £20,665 from the Scottish Arts Council
National Lottery Fund; and funding from
the Craft Pottery Charitable Trust.
oth are collective shows of
specially-made works by top
Scottish artists; and both draw
inspiration from the world of plants
and the dazzling variety of textures and
forms to be discovered within it.
Botanical Threads (8 July to 1 August) is
an exhibition of over 60 works, with an
emphasis on embroidery. It showcases the
talent of Group XII, a collective of 25
Scottish-based textile artists who use both
traditional and modern techniques in the
creation of their work.
Though the green kingdom provides the
theme for the exhibition, individual artists
have used innovative techniques in hand-
dyeing, weaving and the manipulation
of paper and plastics to create highly
original pieces.
As Annetta Floydd, spokesperson for
Group XII, states, textile
design and embroidery have
always had an established
place in history: “From the
Bayeux Tapestry to the work
of Kaffe Fassett, textile-based
art is just as important in
providing an insight into our
lives and our landscape as
more well-known media. It is
also enjoyable and
rewarding. We hope that this
exhibition will encourage
visitors to have a
go themselves.”
T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 11
Home is wherethe art is
After extensive refurbishment work,
Inverleith House Gallery re-opens this
summer with new educational facilities
and improved access for visitors,
as Curator Paul Nesbitt explains.
Bird’s eye viewof planet EarthThis summer the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh hosts the Scottish premiere of
the renowned photographic exhibition
Earth from the Air. Prepare to be amazed!
his outdoor exhibition, originally
sited outside the Natural History
Museum, London, features 150
photographs by celebrated French
photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Earth
from the Air documents the characteristics
and patterns of the natural world from an
aerial perspective, providing a unique
record of the state of our planet today.
Camels crossing the Sahara desert, the
Twin Towers on New York’s skyline,
Mount Everest and the frozen landscape of
the Arctic Circle are some of the
breathtaking sights Arthus-Bertrand has
captured in the course of 10 years and
3,000 flight hours by helicopter.
Thirty of the images are displayed as
tactile panels with Braille descriptions,
designed especially for blind and partially
sighted visitors.
Earth from the Air is on show at the
Botanics from early July to end September
daily, during Garden opening hours. The
massive panels will be sited in the Fossil
Garden, outside the Glasshouses. It’s a
must-see spectacular!
For more about Earth from the Air, visit the
website www.earthfromtheair.com
Nature’s symmetry
Simon W ard’s‘Porcelain
Forms’ are inspired by the tree
tomato in the Glasshouses.
‘Change and Decay’ by textile artist Jenni Young.
S 20°57’ E 164°41’
France, New Caledonia. Mangrove swamp of Coeur
de Voh. PHOTO: YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND
Robert Therrien
No title (small table and four chairs), 2003
Painted aluminium, with steel, wood and plastic.
This summer, the Exhibition Hall
at the Botanics presents a season of
contemporary Scottish crafts
with two all-new exhibitions:
Botanical Threads and
Clay in Bloom.
in fabric and clay
10 THE B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
I
B
T
‘The paintingsI
In the early 19th century, Scottish doctor
Robert Wight travelled extensively
throughout southern India, working as
a plant taxonomist. With the help of
Indian collectors he assembled a vast
herbarium collection and described a
remarkable number of genera and species.
He also produced a renowned series of
illustrated books on the
southern
Indian flora.
His collections are now
widely scattered in major
herbaria, but one of the most
important – containing
23,000 specimens – is
housed at RBGE, having come with the
University of Glasgow’s herbarium in 1966. In
addition, 500 of the original paintings
commissioned for Wight’s books were tucked
away in the RBGE library’s extensive
illustrations archive. RBGE taxonomist
Henry Noltie came across these paintings in
the course of his work on the Indian flora,
and realised the rather crude black and white
reproductions in Wight’s books gave no hint
of the incredible quality of the original
watercolours by two Indian artists – Rungiah
and Govindoo.
In 2002, Henry embarked on an extensive
research project to conserve the paintings,
catalogue the corresponding herbarium
specimens and produce a book on the
paintings and Wight’s life and work in India.
“In many other collections of Indian
botanical drawings, the related herbarium
specimens have been lost,” he explains.“This
collection is so important because we have
both elements and because of the level of
scientific documentation. The paintings are
not just decorative but incredibly accurate,
and each herbarium sheet has a fascinating
layered history.”
Despite spending four months in
Madras searching for clues, Henry
was unable to discover any more
details about the artists themselves.
“It was relatively unusual at the time
to credit the artists,” he says.“I’d be
interested to know what they were
doing before this Scot commissioned
them to paint plants for him. They may have
worked in temples painting religious stories,
or perhaps they were cloth painters.”
While the details of the artists’ lives may
be lost, this project ensures that their work
will be conserved, celebrated
and appreciated by a
far wider audience.
Indian treasures unearthedIn ‘Gifts to the Garden’ of the autumn 2003 issue, we reported a
£10,000 donation toward the conservation of watercolours
commissioned by Robert Wight. Here’s the story behind the story.
The Garden has secured additional funds
from Scottish Executive Environment and
Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD). Over
the next two years £5.6 million will be
awarded for essential maintenance at all
four Gardens, and for building and
extension to the Herbarium at Edinburgh.
RBGE has been awarded a Darwin
Initiative grant of £156,022 over three years
for a project in Lao People’s Democratic
Republic, south-east Asia. Lao PDR is rich
in biodiversity but poor in resources. The
project will provide training in tropical
botany, will pave the way for the first
National Species and Threatened Plants
database and will promote collaboration
between protected area authorities and
research institutions in Lao PDR.
Last year, commemorative giving (tree
adoption and garden plaques) generated
over £23,000 plus £3,639 in gift aid. It is
becoming an increasingly important way of
supporting the Garden’s activities.
An award of £10,000 from the Scottish
Executive under the Entente Cordiale will
enable the major outdoor exhibition Earth
from the Air to come to RBGE this summer.
A Copus grant of £5,850 from the Royal
Society supported the ‘Real Life Science’
events presented at the Botanics in April as
part of the Science Festival.
RBGE is grateful for sponsorship-in-kind
to the value of £5,000 from law firm DLA
towards legal work costs for Visitor
Gateway consultant contracts.
If you wish to support the Garden in any way,
please contact the Development Office on
0131 2482866 or email Becky Govier
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
welcomes grants and donations to help
continue its plant conservation, scientific
research and education programmes in
40 countries worldwide; and to provide
visitors to its four Gardens with a
welcoming experience. Here’s a round up
of recent gifts.
Gifts to the Garden
hough the Botanics is held in great
esteem and affection locally, few people
realise the extent of the Garden’s work
in research, education and conservation,
and so the impact that RBGE makes on the
world stage is not felt here.
The only time Garden staff
are visible to visitors is
when tending living
collections. Most of the
work – whether plant
hunting in the Himalayas,
studying specimens in the
Herbarium, or drafting conservation
legislation – takes place behind the scenes.
The new Gateway project sets out to
open those doors, and to ensure that all
visitors are welcomed with the opportunity
to discover all they want to know about the
Garden, and to explore ‘green’ issues.
“With over 700,000 visits per year, we
have a unique opportunity to tell people
about biodiversity and conservation,” says
RBGE Head of Development Mike
Robinson. “The Gateway is an ambitious
project, but its message is vital. Increasingly,
people are not experiencing wildlife and the
countryside first-hand. If we cannot
reconnect people with nature, we’re
heading for serious problems in the future.”
The Gateway, like the Garden itself, will
be a multi-faceted experience. It will be a
gateway in the literal sense, through which
visitors will enter the Garden. Once inside,
exhibitions, interpretation and contact with
staffwill provide a gateway to an
understanding of the Garden’s work and
conservation as a whole. This will
open a gateway to a greater
awareness of the natural world.
“ We are designing a visitor
experience for the 21st century”,
says Director of Public Programmes
Ian Darwin Edwards. “We want to
create a space that will be ever-
changing and full of topical interest – not
just what’s in flower in the Garden, but
what’s happening in the world today.
“Many visitor attractions are based on
computer interactions, but we are
developing the concept of ‘real life science’.
The Gateway will be a dynamic
environment with the buzz of a newsroom,
including live video and satellite links, so we
can connect with colleagues at field stations
and other botanic gardens.
“ We won’t just provide entertainment –
we hope to change the way people feel and
behave. Whatever their reason for coming
to the Garden, we want visitors to have an
uplifting, enriching experience.”
For more information about the Gateway
project, visit www.rbge.org.uk or email
he cool, almost montane conditions
Dawyck provides for the cultivation of
plants complements the warm,
temperate climate of Logan in Galloway
and the oceanic climate of Benmore
in Argyll.
The grounds that visitors walk through
today is the woodland garden of what was
a considerably larger and older designed
landscape, parts of which can still be seen
from the Botanic Garden. This designed
landscape is the result of three families’
creative efforts over the last 300 years.
The first family known to have owned
Dawyck was the Veitch family (1491 to
1691). They are credited with introducing
the first exotic tree species to Scotland at
Dawyck. A survivor from this era, a
European silver fir (Abies alba) planted in
1680, still stands in Heron Wood.
The next family to own Dawyck were
the Naesmyths (1691 to 1890), great
improvers who continued the tradition of
first introductions at Dawyck. They were
largely responsible for the planning and
construction of the designed landscape at
Dawyck in the mid-1800s. This coincided
with the intrepid Scottish plant collector
David Douglas’s expeditions to the Pacific
Northwest of America, which resulted in
many tree introductions to the UK. One of
these, the appropriately named Douglas fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), planted at
Dawyck in 1840s, is a
majestic sight today.
The Balfour family
purchased Dawyck in 1890.
F.R.S. Balfour, the son of the
new owner, considerably
enhanced Dawyck’s
reputation of being among
the richest collection of
trees in the British Isles. The early 1900s
saw two now famous plant collectors
travelling in China: George Forrest (in
Yunnan Province) and Ernest Wilson (in
Sichuan Province). The climatic conditions
at Dawyck favoured Wilson’s introductions
from cooler Sichuan Province, with Wilson
himself visiting Dawyck in 1911 and 1922 to
see how his collections were faring.
In 1978, Dawyck became part of the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Initial
work concentrated on the removal of
dangerous trees and the construction of
new paths to make the Garden safe and
accessible to visitors. Simultaneously, large
areas were cleared of invasive growth in
preparation for the first plantings of wild
origin plant material, allowing Dawyck
to fulfil its potential as a
botanic garden.
In recent years the search for
new wild origin plant material has
taken me on plant collecting trips
to China, Nepal and Japan. Ten
years after the first of these, new
introductions are beginning to
flower and fruit for the first time.
Dawyck has benefited from pioneering tree
planting by previous generations. Now we
are planting for the future.
Today, visitors can marvel at the majestic
historic trees by following the David
Douglas Trail, or learn more about the
threats facing our own native flora by
following the Scottish Rare Plant Trail. At
different times of year a network of paths
lead the visitor through carpets of
snowdrops and daffodils, pools of
Himalayan poppies, lush herbaceous
plantings or outstanding autumn colour.
Our priority for the future is to improve
physical and intellectual access to the
collections via new paths and bridges,
and the provision of interpretation in
the Garden.
A hidden gem in the Scottish Borders celebrates its silver jubilee this year. Twenty-five years ago, Dawyck Botanic Garden near Peebles
became the third Regional Garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Curator David Knott reflects on its past and future.
What is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to you? A place to admire plants from all
over the world? A beautiful park to bring the kids on a sunny day? Or a world-renowned
scientific institution? Whatever your perspective, the answer is all this and much more.
Through the Garden Gateway
From family heirloom to national treasure
Our priority is to
improve physical
and intellectual
access to the
plant collections. We want to
create a space
that will be full of
topical interest.
Architect’s three-dimensional model of the proposed Gateway facility.PHOTO: MILLENNIUM MODELS
12 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 13
T
T
Cool pools of blue poppies (above), Meconopsis
‘Slieve Donard’, are a joy in early summer.
PHOTO: DAVID KNOTT
Dawyck’s striking stone urns and steps (left)
were created by Italian craftsmen for Sir John
Naesmyth in the mid-1800s.
Pete Brownless takes us on a tour of the world'shardy gesneriads, insearch of an
Green fingers in mind
£3,102 to fund the rebinding of John
Hutton Balfour’s correspondence, held in
the Garden’s Archives.
£3,000 to provide new display cases for
the Rock House.
£3,000 to fund a place on the Garden’s
MSc course in the biodiversity and
taxonomy of plants.
£2,500 to create and design much-needed
botanical teaching materials for the
schools’ education programme.
£2,500 to fund a bursary on the Garden’s
HND course in plantsmanship.
£2,000 towards publishing a catalogue for
‘Evergreen’, a retrospective exhibition to
be held at Inverleith House.
£2,000 to create ‘A life behind the lens’,
an exhibition of photographs by the
Garden’s former principle photographer
Sid Clarke.
£1,500 towards the cost of a feasibility
study for the renovation of the Victorian
fernery at Benmore Botanic Garden.
£1,500 to commission illustrations for a
new book on Vireya rhododendrons by
Dr George Argent.
£1,000 for the conservation of a 19th
century plan of the Garden.
£560 to improve air circulation for the
orchid collection.
£500 to provide official and protective
clothing for horticultural interns and
placement students.
£375 towards improvement of the
Nursery facilities.
£308 to support the phenology study
programme – the weekly monitoring of
first flowerings.
Thanks to all Members for their continuing
support of the Garden’s work! If you are not yet
a Member and wish to help the Garden grow,
contact the Membership Office, tel. 0131 552
5339 or email to [email protected]
Memberswith
14 T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4
abrielle first visited Logan on a college
study tour, and two things made a
memorable impact on her: the first was
Curator Barry Unwin feeding the students
fiery leaves of Drimys. “It was like eating raw
chillies” – and the second was the strange
sensation that the geography of Britain had
turned upside down.
At the time she was studying at the
Somerset College of Agriculture and
Horticulture and it felt incongruous to travel
so far north and find herself
in a gentle climate among
Chilean flame trees,
Brazilian gunnera and
Tasmanian tree ferns.
“I was amazed to see
plants growing in Logan
that we couldn’t get away
with in Somerset,” she says.“Though
Somerset has a mild climate, it is slightly
wetter with a heavier clay soil, and a lot of
species such as the Mediterranean plants
need a sandy, free draining soil –
the difference in soil can matter as much
as temperature.
“There are plantings at Logan that are
generally thought of as only suitable for
growing outdoors in Cornwall and the
Channel Islands. I’ve seen many of those
gardens and Logan is so much better! I don’t
think people realise quite what a unique
environment we have here, and how much we
can achieve horticulturally.”
Gabrielle had initially trained as a
veterinary assistant, but she missed the
outdoor life and so changed to horticulture –
fulfilling early indications that she would
become a ‘plantsman’:“I was always in the
garden, even as a young child. My mum has a
horrendous photo of me in a saggy nappy
with a trowel in my hand!”
After graduating in horticulture from
Somerset College, she came to RBGE to study
towards the Diploma in Horticulture
Education, and it was here that she met her
husband Colin Belton, then the Garden’s
Technical Officer.
Gabrielle moved to Logan in
2001 to join Colin, who had been
appointed Garden Supervisor,
and Gabrielle now freelances as a
gardener and garden advisor.
Living at the Garden in one of
the staff cottages means the
luxury of 24-hour access –
Gabrielle is fond of strolling through Logan
on summer evenings, enjoying the night
scents and the bats flitting about the trees.
“I love the peace and tranquillity at
Logan,” she says.“And the continual sense of
discovery – there is always something new to
see. My favourite place is probably the
viewpoint looking across the Garden to the
Galloway hills. I also have a soft spot for the
Terrace: you can hear the Garden from there,
becoming more aware of bird song in the
trees behind and the bees buzzing away in the
big patch of echiums.”
The Logan Regional Committee has been
gaining momentum with regular Members’
events such as garden demonstrations and
guided walks. As the newly-elected Convener,
Gabrielle is building up the profile of the
group and has a varied programme planned
for the year ahead. Events this summer
include the Galloway Garden Festival, a
family fun day out and a visit to Edinburgh
with a tour of the herbarium and library. This
year’s ‘Gardeners Question Time’ at Stranraer
Library in August will feature TV presenter
Ian Billet of Simply Gardens, along with
Logan Curator Barry Unwin and other home-
grown experts!
These events are open to all Members,
and, as well as encouraging people locally to
join the group, they are also a perfect
opportunity for Members in other areas
to visit Logan, which is at its most glorious
in summer.
Please see the Events Programme for details, or
contact the Membership Office, tel. 0131 552
5339 or email to [email protected]
GListening to LoganGabrielle Reynolds, Convener of the Logan Regional Committee, tells Anna Levin
about life at Logan, and her future plans for the local Members’ group.
Living at the
Garden means
the luxury of
24-hour access.
A firm favourite with bees,
Echium nervosum from Madeira
thrives on the Terrace at Logan.
Your Support CountsEvery year, money raised from the
Membership Programme is channelled
directly, via the Small Projects Fund, to
various areas of the Garden’s work. This is a
valuable cash injection for many projects and
activities. In April, the National Membership
Board agreed on the allocation of around
£24,000 as follows:
T H E B O T A N I C S S U M M E R 2 0 0 4 15
G
We grow most of our garden plants for their
flowers.While we admire their beauty, flowers
are a vital part of the life cycle of a
plant, allowing sexual reproduction.
While many floral favourites are
pollinated by flying insects, there is a
secret world of plants pollinated by
crawling insects.
You may have marvelled at the
giant flowers of Aristolochia, found in
the Glasshouses at the Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh.This plant is pollinated by
flies, attracting them with its flesh-like colour
and foetid smell. In the same family,
Aristolochiaceae, Asarum species are herbaceous
plants whose ground-level flowers are often
pollinated by ants. Asarum species are
found in China, Japan, America and Europe.
They enjoy a moist, shady situation in acid soil,
spreading by creeping
runners to give good ground
cover and are hardy to at
least -15°C.
Many have leaves which
rival cyclamen for their
intricate patterns, but peep
below the leaves from June
until September and you will
be astounded by the complexity of the flowers.
Hard and waxy, often with rings of hairs,
they have a musky odour and seem irresistible
to ants.
Perhaps the best for foliage effect is Asarum
hartwegii from northern California, which has
stunning silver veins. Asarum maximum from
China has large flowers which rival
Auricula primulas in their complexity
of colour and texture.
The flowers of Asarum are followed by
small black berries.These are also favoured
by ants, who happily haul the fruits
around the garden, so seedlings may
appear many metres from their parent
plant. If you wish to try propagation by
seed, it is best sown in a cold frame as
soon as it is ripe in the early autumn.
Stored seed will require three weeks’
cold stratification and should be sown
in late winter. It germinates in spring, in
about four or more weeks at 18°C.They
can also be propagated by division of
the runners in spring and autumn.
On a walk around any of Scotland’s
National Botanic Gardens you’ll see a vast
range of flowers pollinated by insects,
cacti pollinated in the wild by bats and
Puya species by humming birds.
However, in the Peat Garden, Rock
Garden and Alpine Yard, where
asarums flourish, the action is at
ground level.
Pete Brownless is Head of the Garden Nursery
Email [email protected]
The waxy flowers of
Asarum have a
musky odour and
seem irresistible
to ants.
Creature ComfortsCatering for insect visitors can bring a new dimension to your garden, creating a
fascinating hub of activity for some of nature’s most industrious creatures. Pete
Brownless suggests a rather unusual family of plants for this purpose.
Asarum maximum
Growing up in the Garden –
Gabrielle at Logan with her one-year-
old daughter Ruth. “People, rather than
plants are the main attraction here for
Ruth. She loves the pretty colours of
the flowers, but she especially enjoys
charming the visitors!”
