Plant of the month December 2016

Sequoia sempervirens (Coast redwood)

Family: Cupressaceae
Origin: Oregon & California
Accession: 1971
Location: by the Education Centre

Sequoia sempervirens is the only living species in the genus Sequoia, within the same sub-family as Sequoiadendron and Metasequoia. It is an evergreen monoecious tree living 1,200–1,800 years or more and includes the tallest living trees, reaching up to 379 feet in height. Before commercial logging commenced in the 1850s, it occurred naturally along much of coastal California and SW Oregon, dependent on precipitation especially fog coming off the ocean. As a timber species it is highly valued for its beauty, light weight, and resistance to fire and decay, which has contributed to its current “Endangered” conservation status.

On page 10 of the Autumn newsletter (click on the Public documents tab at the top of this page) you will have read an article about argan trees (argania spinosa) - endemic to Morocco. These can grow to 8-10 metres, but you can see a small one in the temperate glasshouse in the Garden.

The Wikipedia article about argan trees shows a photograph of goats climbing in the trees and eating the foliage - not a problem we are likely to have in the glasshouse I hope!

In the Garden in October - I wonder if they are edible?

Plant of the month October 2016

Colquhounia coccinea (Himalayan mint)
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: SW China, E Malaysia
Accession: 1994
Location: Asian Plants

 



















Colquhounia is a genus of five species of evergreen shrubs. C. coccinea has large, downy, aromatic leaves, finely toothed and borne in opposite pairs on square stems, and can reach up to 3m in height. The tubular flowers are two-lipped, deep orange in colour and are carried on terminal spikes in late summer. It was first described in 1822 by the Dutch botanist Nathaniel Wallich who worked for the East India Company, and was involved in the early development of the Calcutta Botanical Garden. It was named after Sir Robert Colquhoun, a soldier and plant collector.

Explore the wonders and beauty of the rare native alpine plants of Angus at this free University of Dundee Botanic Garden event.

A varied collection of photographs and art pieces of these plants, currently facing survival problems due to factors such as overgrazing and changing tidal conditions, will be displayed and the exhibition will celebrate their magnificence and uniqueness.

The event and exhibition is part of a three-year project run by the University of Dundee Botanic Garden that aims to conserve many of these species as part of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

You can also enjoy guided walks from the Angus Glens to the Sea and meet the great Dundonian botanist William Gardiner.

Free guides and refreshments will also be provided.

The event will take place on Wednesday 14^th September from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.  Entry is free but please note – tickets must be booked for this event before the 13 September 2016.

Book your ticket via Eventbrite uod.ac.uk/glens-to-sea or telephone Neil Paterson on 07931 767089

Plant of the month September 2016

Monarda didyma (Bee balm, Wild bergamot)

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin: N America

Location: Beside pond

A herbaceous perennial native to eastern N America, forming a clump of erect stems up to 1m tall, with aromatic, lance-shaped leaves and showy 2-lipped red or pink flowers 3-4cm in length in dense terminal whorls. The flowers are visited by long-tongued bumblebees - short-tongued bumblebees need to make holes at the base of the flowers to obtain nectar, and these holes may also be used by honeybees. Bee balm was used as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, who recognized its strong antiseptic action, and it is the natural source of the antiseptic thymol, the primary active ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The genus is named after Nicolas Monardes, who described the first American flora in 1569.

Meet Harry the long eared bat who visited the Garden last night with his carer. His friend Benjy, a pipistrelle, was released in the Garden after being rescued last October and cared for by a member of the Tayside Bat Group.

About a dozen people joined Clare on the bat walk she organised in the Garden. The Bat Group had brought sonic detectors so we were able to hear the bats as well as see them in the dusk.

Plant of the month for August
Agave filifera (Thread agave)
Family: Asparagaceae
Origin: Central Mexico
Location: Temperate glasshouse

Agave filifera is a small or medium sized succulent plant that forms stemless rosette up to 3 feet (90 cm) across and up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. The leaves are dark green to a bronzish-green in color and have very ornamental white bud imprints. The flower stalk is up to 11.5 feet (3,5 m) tall and is densely loaded with yellowish-green to dark purple flowers up to 2 inches (5 cm) long.

The specimen in the glasshouse reaches to the roof and hasn't flowered for ten years.

Plant of the month for July

Rosa moyesii (Moyes rose)

Family: Rosaceae
Origin: China
Accession: 1976
Location: Rose garden

Rosa moyesii is a medium to large vigorous deciduous shrub with an attractive branching habit and leaves with 7-13 leaflets. The single flowers are red or deep pink, 6-7cm across, with prominent yellow central stamens, and appear in June and July. These are followed in autumn by large flagon-shaped bright crimson rose-hips. Regarded as one of the finest species roses, it was discovered by Ernest Wilson in 1903, and named after Reverend James Moyes of the China Inland Mission.

Seed Collection - Volunteer opportunity for one or more people:

Looking for someone who would be happy to spend a bit of time collecting seed heads in late summer/ autumn from the Botanic Garden, and a few more leisurely hours extracting the seeds and putting them into labelled packets for sale in the Visitor Centre. The current volunteer is reluctantly handing over after enjoying this task for some years!

It could be an individual, or a team of 2 or more folk to share out the various small tasks involved.  

If you are interested, either individually or with friends, please get in touch with Susan Meek, who would be happy to give further details about what’s involved, at srmeek@blueyonder.co.uk

Plant of the month for June
Telopea truncata (Tasmanian Waratah)
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Tasmania
Accession: 1976
Location: Australia and New Zealand area

The genus Telopea contains five species all confined to the Australian east coast from northern New South Wales to Tasmania. T. truncata is an upright shrub to about 3 metres with deep green narrow oblanceolate leaves up to 10cm long. The blooms occur in a loose cluster of 10-20 individual flowers at the ends of the erect stems and are most commonly red. Telopea is from the Greek telopos, meaning "seen from afar", a reference to the conspicuous flowers.

The Tasmanian Waratah prefers moist acidic soils with good drainage. It has been grown successfully in cooler parts of France, Spain, western Canada and the United Kingdom.

Friends visit to Agrico Wednesday 18th - cancelled

We regret that this visit has had to be cancelled due to the very low number of members interested in going.
Please check the events tab for information on future events.

Plant of the month for May
Magnolia stellate (Star magnolia)
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: Japan
Accession: 1971
Location: beside Education Centre

M. stellata is a slow-growing medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree of broadly rounded habit. It blooms at a young age, with slightly fragrant 7-10 cm white flowers covering the bare plant in early spring before the leaves appear. The oblong leaves open bronze-green, turning to deep green as they mature, and yellow before dropping in autumn. It prefers moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds. It is a commonly grown ornamental, and was first introduced to the UK in 1877 or 1878, most likely by Charles Maries, while he was collecting for Veitch Nurseries.

Plant of the Month for April

Leucopogon hookeri (Mountain beard-heath)

Family: Ericaceae
Origin: Australia
Accession: 1981
Location: Australasia

A flowering shrub found in subalpine woodland and shrubland and in alpine heath on damp rocky soils in southeastern Australia, it belongs to the family Ericaceae, in the subfamily Styphelioideae (formerly treated as a separate family of Australian heaths known as Epacridaceae). In addition, Leucopogon hookeri is now known as Acrothamnus hookeri (since 2005).
It has small grey-green leaves on a slow growing shrub to 60 cm, and its tiny white tubular flowers are followed by pink or red berries.

Plant of the month for March

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite)

Family: Ranunculaceae
Origin: Eurasia
Accession: 1975
Location: Native plants

Eranthis hyemalis is native to damp woodland habitats in Eurasia. It is a tuberous-rooted herbaceous perennial growing to 15 cm, with yellow, cup-shaped flowers held above a collar of leaf-like bracts, appearing in late winter and early spring. The six sepals are bright yellow and petaloid and the petals are in the form of tubular nectaries, which reward early pollinating insects. It is valued in cultivation as one of the earliest of all flowers to appear. Its life cycle exploits the deciduous woodland canopy, flowering at the time of maximum sunlight reaching the forest floor, then completely dying back to its underground tuber after flowering.

PLANT OF THE MONTH FEBRUARY

Jasminum rex (Royal Jasmine)
Family: Oleaceae
Origin: Thailand
Accession: 1975
Location: Tropical glasshouse

Jasmine is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family. It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Eurasia, Australasia and Oceania. The genus name is derived from the Persian Yasameen ("gift from God").

Jasminum rex is a fast-growing evergreen tropical climber with broad, oval, deep green leaflets in groups of 5 or 7.  In winter it produces clusters of scentless white tubular flowers, the largest flowers of any jasmine.

Mostly today the volunteers were clearing branches and twigs blown down by Storm Henry.

FEBRUARY FRIENDS TALK

Sunday 7 February 2016

Professor Michael Tooley, garden designer and author. The Restoration of Gardens of Historic Interest. Education Centre in the Garden at 2pm. Free to members of the Friends; donations welcome from others.

http://michaeltooley.com/

Set for ‘16

This event proved very popular on the day after New Year despite the wet and breezy weather conditions, attracting a wide range of ages and ambitions as can be seen from the photos below. Over 30 attended, walking, jogging or running, and our new record time for 3 laps of the Garden is 14m 25s. The warm drinks and eats following the run in the Education Centre capped off an enjoyable hour.

PLANT OF THE MONTH JANUARY

Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle, Chile pine)

Family: Araucariaceae

Origin: Chile, Argentina

 The monkey puzzle is an evergreen conifer native to Chile and Argentina. It was introduced to England by Archibald Menzies in 1795. Its branches are clothed in sharply pointed, triangular dark green leaves, and mature plants bear cones on the upper branches, usually male and female on separate trees. It has existed for 200 million years, and each tree can live for 1,000 years. Once logged for its fine knot-free timber, it is now listed as 'endangered' on the IUCN’s Global Red List of Conifers.

 Find it in the Americas section of the Garden