Botany at the Cambridge Conversazione

Vince has his eye on Roger's live specimen!
Image: R Horton 

Cambridge botanist Monica Frisch has been in touch to tell us about the botanical exhibits on display at last month's Conversazione.

Over to Monica:

"The Cambridge Natural History Society’s annual Conversazione on 16th & 17th June 2017 attracted, as usual, a wide variety of displays on many aspects of natural history, including plants, from local organisations and individuals.

"Trees were the main feature for three displays:

"Roger Horton put together a display about Black Poplars, often called “Britain’s rarest tree” which reported on his efforts to refind Black Poplars in the Cambridge area. As well as maps and photos he even had a small Black Poplar which he is growing.

Roger was tweeting from the Conversazione:

Roger Horton‏ @Roger_Mhc8  Jun 16

@CamNatHistSoc #conversazione 16/6 Vince @CRTBarton looks at my P. nigra betulifolia poster! @BSBIbotany: He wants to plant my live specimen!

Gwenda Kyd with her display about
Bountiful Birches
Image: M. Frisch

"Another CNHS member had recorded an A-Z of trees – mostly planted – on the Science Park on the edge of Cambridge. 

"From Apple to Zelkova (a genus related to Elms) he had pictures and brief descriptions of trees for almost every letter of the alphabet. X was an exception (excuse puns) though it was suggested Xylem could justifiably be included. 

"Gwenda Kyd focused on Birches and their many uses, with a display including products made from birch bark, bottled birch sap, which could be tasted, and birch wine (which was being saved for a special occasion).

A tank of Floating Pennywort
 with the Cam Valley Forum display
 about this invasive weed
Image: M. Frisch

"Invasive species were part of the displays of the Cam Valley Forum, who had a tank of Floating Pennywort extracted from the Cam, from which they are trying to eradicate it, while Cambridge Conservation Volunteers had a large specimen of Himalayan Balsam.

"Pam Butler and Sandra Chapman, from NIAB, had a display about seeds, including information about the history of seed testing in the UK.

"Many other displays made passing mention of plants, from the Bird Cherry trees which have been infested with Ermine Moth caterpillars, to the species found during the CNHS field surveys of sites around Cambridge.

"Photos of many of the displays are in the Conversazione 2017 album on the CNHS Facebook page here." 

Many thanks to Monica for telling us about this year's Conversazione in Cambridge.